One of the best things about us humans is that we have the capacity to learn throughout our lives. Information keeps our brains hopping. With a new year started, why not check out one or all of these 5 Free Ways to Learn Something New.
1. Take Advantage of All That Public Libraries Have to Offer-Public libraries offer tons of FREE resources for learning new things. Check with your local system to see which of these resources are available to you.
- DVD and Audiobook Checkout
- Paperback, Hardback, and Ebook Checkout
- Online Databases (Ranging from Genealogy Research to Investment Data Centers)
- Online Tutoring Services
- Guest Speakers
- Business and Computer Classes
- On Site Craft Classes
- Art Exhibits
2. YouTube-This video sharing powerhouse is a treasure trove of free resources for picking up new skills. A quick search reveals video tutorials on topics such as:
- Cooking Lessons-Check out these great sites on YouTube that offer free cooking classes.
- Fitness and Nutrition-YouTube Channels such as BeFit, eFit30, and FitnessBlender. (Always check with your physician before you start a new exercise or nutrition program.)
- Home Repairs-DIY Network and Ehow Home
- Random Scholarly Knowledge-The Crash Course channel on YouTube is really fun.
3. Online University Courses-The explosion in the number of free online university courses offered in the last few years is pretty amazing. Many colleges now have these “open” classes as an integral part of their outreach to the larger world. A quick Google search will show a range of offerings through schools such Duke, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Stanford, and The University of Texas System. Topics run the gambit from education and health to mathematics and social science.
4. Local Business and Nonprofit Classes-Often businesses and nonprofit organizations will offer free classes or seminars to community members. For example, at various times during the year, our local hospitals offer free classes on everything from childbirth to nutrition topics. Check into whether the health systems near you and these other types of businesses offer classes or workshops that may be of interest to you.
- Community Centers
- Home Improvement Stores
- Museums
- Park Services
- Outdoor Retailers
- Specialty Grocery Stores
5.TED Talks-Standing for Technology, Entertainment, and Design, TED talks are recorded presentations by many of the world’s leading experts on a wide variety of topics. These talks have become well-known for their quality and the thought-provoking discussion that flows from them. Find out more about everything from “Using Design to Make Ideas New” to “How Food Shapes Our Cities”.
As you can see, free opportunities to learn something new are all around us. We just have to reach out and grab the new knowledge that is waiting for us.
For more on a great start to the New Year:
1. How to Set and Keep Goals to Make This the Best Year Ever | Jen @ Girl in Garage
2. 15 Ways to Stay Organised at Work During 2015 | Elizabeth Harrin @ A Girl’s Guide to Project Management
3. How Personal Style Will Help You Achieve Goals Faster in 2015 | Cherene Francis @ Aura Image Consulting
4. Completing Those Unfinished Projects in the NEW YEAR | Angela Lerew @ Unexpected Elegance
5. 42 Ways to Practice Perfectly & Become an Expert at Almost Anything | Amy Garro @ 13 Spools
6. Easy Exercises to do on a Cruise Ship | Amanda Woods @ Adventures All Around
7. 10 Simple Ways to Eat Healthier This Year | Dawn @ Reveal Natural Health
8. 31 Days to a More Fabulous You | Julie Bonner @ Mom Fabulous
9. How to Make This the Best Gardening Year Ever | Kendra Spencer @ a Sonoma Garden
10. 5 Ways to Make this Your Best Monarch Season…Ever! | Tony Gomez @ Monarch Butterfly Garden
11. 12 Scriptures for Goals and Guidance | Julie @ Loving Christ Ministries
12. How to Build a Starter Emergency Fund in 30 Days or Less | Jackie Beck @ The Debt Myth
13. Family Verse of the Week Challenge for 2015 | Jamie Yonash @ Life is Sweeter By Design
14. Hot Work at Home Jobs for 2015 | Holly Hanna @ The Work at Home Woman
15. A Year of Intention | Hilary Bernstein @ Accidentally Green
16. 2015: Our Best Year Yet | Ashley @ Leaving the Rut
17. Create a Better Life Story | Bronwen Warner @ Tummy Time and Beyond
18. Get Ready to Get MDfit | Tom and Anne @ Eat & Be Fit
19. 5 Free Ways to Learn Something New This Year | Sarah Fuller @ Earning and Saving with Sarah Fuller
20. Healthy Leek Soup | Mirlandra @ Mirlandra’s Kitchen
21. Health Resolutions: Baby Steps to a New You | Ellen Christian @ Confessions of an Overworked Mom
22. 5 Ways Busy Moms Can Get Motivated to Work Out | Diane Nassy @ philZENdia
23. Be Prepared for the New Year | Jennifer Dunham Starr @ The Memory Journalists
24. 3 Steps to a Healthier Life in 2015 | Joe Goodwill @Average Joe Cyclist
25. New Year’s Resolution: Cook More Often! | Kim Pawell @ Something New for Dinner
26. I Should What? 28 Ways to be Happier | Karen Young @ Hey Sigmund
27. 9 Ways to Get Healthier In The New Year | Amy Maus @ Home and Farm Sense
28. In 2015 Resolve to Take Control of Your Money | Kristia @ Family Balance Sheet
29. Eucharisteo: A Year of Thanksgiving | Lani Padilla @ Simply Fresh Vintage
30. No More Tears at IEP Meetings: Make This Your Best Year Ever! | Lisa Lightner @ A Day In Our Shoes
31. Learn to Save Money on Groceries | Melissa Buckles @ Everyday Savvy
32. How to Achieve Your New Year’s Resolution – For Real This Time! | Michelle @ Dishes and Dust Bunnies
33. 52 Weeks to a Better You: Week 1 – Go to Bed Early | Mindi Cherry @ Moms Need to Know
34. Food Street: How a Community Has Joined Forces to Start a Street Farm | Sam Walker @ Bubble ‘N Squeak
35. Organizing Coupons with the Binder Method | Sara Steigerwald @ Sisters Shopping on a Shoe String
36. How to Make This Year the Happiest Yet | Shambray @ Shambray.com
37. A New Year, A New You | Sharon Rowe @ How to Get Organized at Home
38. 5 Ways to Get Paid for Losing Weight This Year | Anna @ Real Ways to Earn Money at Home
39. Tips for Successful Whole30 | Deanna Michaels @ From This Kitchen Table
40. 75 Ways to Be Healthier in 2015 | Maryea Flaherty @ Happy Healthy Mama
41. How to Make 2015 the Best Year Ever! | Jennifer @ My Boys & Their Toys
Bonus links:
Fashion Resolutions: How to Add Style to Any Outfit | Ellen Christian @ The Socialite’s Closet
These are great tips! I didn’t realize some of the big, well-known universities offered free online classes. How awesome would it be to be able to add “Harvard courses” to a resume! 😉
Very nice and without the student debt!
Thanks for the nice list! I love my local library and I’m a frequent youtuber, but I hadn’t thought about checking local businesses for free classes. I’ve been hanging out at Code Academy (codeacademy.com) a lot lately so I can learn PHP. I’m tired of messing up my website. You can learn HTML and CSS there for free, too!
The Code Academy tip is a great one. Thanks much for sharing.
I love the TED talks! So much great information to be found.
I love how the TED Talks cover such a range of topics.
I believe it’s important to learn new things all the time and learning for free means I can afford to learn more. Thanks for sharing!
Love your site. Sending some Pinterest love your way.
Youtube and Ted talk are my go-to sites for learnings. Amazing how learning is just a click away nowadays. 🙂
The Internet has definitely revolutionized learning. Thanks so much for stopping by. Sending some G+ love your way.
Thanks so much for sharing this with us at the Let’s Get Real Link Party. The new year is so full of possibilities, so why not improve ourselves. I use many of these resources and they are great. I will be featuring this during this week’s party. Please stop by after the party goes live at 5pm EST and pick up a party badge
So flattered to be featured. Truly, thank you so much. Always love the Let’s Get Real Link Party.
The library, yes! I love the library. Books are such a wealth of knowledge, and can teach pretty much anything 🙂
Thanks so much for dropping by. Feels like -35 at your place? Oh my goodness! Sending some Pinterest love your way.
Great post! I Love Ted talks and spend a lot of time at the library. Thanks for the great list and for linking up to On Display Thursday.
Love that the TED talks cover so many subjects. Always enjoy linking up at On Display Thursday.
Thanks Sarah for sharing these tips that would work just as well in 2016 as 2015. I saw it at the share-wealth-sunday-blog-hop-36. I’m grateful for the resources available at our local libraries. It sure saves big bucks with the amount of reading I do! Happy 2016 from Nancy A @ obloggernewbie.blogspot.com.
Yes, the library is an amazing treasure trove of resources.
Wowser! I’ll have to settle in and visit this page for a while! So much here! THANK YOU! All those links! Yes, I agree,…there are so many ways to learn something new on the internet. Its actually quite amazing. I pretty much automatically turn to YouTube whenever I am unsure how to do something. And once you find someone you like on YouTube, you can subscribe to their station. There is also Periscope, but I don’t know much about it. Thanks for a great post! Happy New Year!
Yes, Periscope is rapidly growing as a way to learn things or experience events and places through live or recorded video.
Great tips! I use YouTube a lot when I get stuck on technology related things! Thanks so much for sharing at Share The Wealth Sunday!
xoxo
Lisa