Higher education is becoming less affordable by the minute. The average student loan debt in the US is currently hovering around 30k. It seems that fewer people can afford to get a college degree than at any point in the last 40 years. Still, the pressure to perform and impress potential employers very much remains. Fortunately, there's a way around this. You can save a good deal of money by committing to free education online. Khan Academy is an excellent place to start. It covers just about any topic you can think of. It is well suited for high school students as well as those returning to education after 30 years.

This is a great way to acquire knowledge and even master some efficient skills. However, if you need proof of it - a piece of paper of some sort - an online course won't exactly give you a college degree. You can, on the other hand, get a certificate. Many online platforms will do this for a small fee. This will give you a chance to prove that you can perform specific tasks or have a firm grasp of a particular topic. Suddenly, you'll look a lot better in the eyes of potential employers.

This means that a good part of your online education will not require you to pay any tuition. Still, some expenses may be necessary. Since it's way too easy to get into debt, you will want to keep your spending under control. Keep an eye on your financial situation, focus on good planning, and be smart about it. If you're not the sort of person to stick to a budget, certain smartphone apps can help you overcome this problem. Assess your income, your expenses, and see how much you can afford to spend. With intelligent management, you'll be able to achieve a lot - without investing a fortune.