10 Things to Do with the Money You'll Save Attending an Online College

In most cases, taking a degree through online programs is far more affordable than bricks-and-mortar colleges and universities, for various reasons. So since you'll save money, there are probably lots of things you'll be tempted to buy. However, here are some that will be useful to finishing your degree, as well as a few fun ideas.

1. Buy an iPod to download language lessons to. An iPod Nano is the ideal tool for learning languages. I learn mine while I'm sleeping. (Why would you want to learn a new language? Besides broadening your mind, see item #10, below.) The Nano fits nicely under a pillow, and has a lock so that you can't inadvertently press any of the buttons while sleeping. Or you could save money and register at one of those "get a free iPod" websites. But you'll have to annoy 5-10 friends to do the same thing, else you won't get your freebie. What's more important? Friends or free iPod? Or you could enroll at South Kent College, in Dover, England. They're giving away free iPods to students so that they can catch up on missed lectures. (Does that encourage students to miss lectures? No more, I think, than students already do.)

2. Study additional materials related to your degree. If you do buy an iPod, or another digital player, consider that more and more lectures are provided by professors in MP3 format. You may want to add these to your 'to listen to while sleeping' regimen; they will sink into your subconscious, where your innate creativity will mesh their content with similar knowledge you previously absorbed. Moreover, an argument of some weight may be made that 'The Cognitive Role of 8th-Century Olmec Little People in a Socio-Economic Profundity' is an effective treatment for most known variants of insomnia.

   Professors are typically interested not just in your ability to spout facts, but also in the breadth of knowledge you have on a given subject. Especially one that culminates in a degree. If you listen to extra-curriclar lectures in your subject of concentration, you will exhibit that desired breadth.

   If you really want to spend money, companies like The Teaching Company have plenty of lectures to offer in your field of study. But PBS station WGBH also has amazing free lectures, which you can download from the site and listen to with iTunes on your computer, or with your iPod/ MP3 player.

3. Get a subscription to the iTunes music store or something similar, because you're going to want some music to listen to while you work. And of course, you'd never illegally download content from a file-sharing site. It's been proven that listening to certain types of music not only helps people concentrate but also to later remember what you were studying. Scent and sound are both effective "keys" by which to recall memories. Just make sure that if you listen to a particular song or album, that when you write an exam, you recall exactly the same music in your mind - in case you cannot listen to music while taking the exam. [Some online degrees require an in-person final exam.]

4. Buy a wireless laptop. They are unbelievably affordable these days. Even if you take your degree online, there are times when you might want to use the library at your local college/ university. Or work in a cafe by yourself or a local study buddy. I'm guessing most universities/ colleges also probably have a wireless network set up in the library, and sometimes across campus. That means you can sit pretty much anywhere and access material online. As well, many schools have free access to online professional journals, including PDF documents for download. As long as you are a member of the college, whether online or not, you will have access to such content. But you may be required to work in the library to access it.

5. Get a gym membership. One of the largest expenses in on-site education is food. Many colleges and universities have more fast-food offerings than a typical mall's foot court, and the smells compete to stuff weight upon unsuspecting students. This weight, known as the 'Frosh-15', refers to pounds gained in the first year of attendance. Since you are taking online/ distance courses from home, you stay away from this and can keep your svelte figure. (On-line, everybody's svelte) Provided you eat sensibly and frugally.

   If you cannot always do that, consider toning up a little after on-line learning. No space at home for exercise? Membership at a nearby Y or gym may prove a good buy. Staying healthy makes an incredible difference in your stamina and thus your ability to spend sustained time studying. Healthy blood flow improves concentration and recall ability. An online education means you don't get the benefits of walking to and from lectures, so you have to make up for it in other ways.

6. Take a break and go on a date. As transportation to and from lecture halls won't be an issue, savings on gas, parking, or public transportation will become evident. Money saved here can be applied to Mr or Ms Hotbod, recently met at the local gym, during dates. (If you're married/ spoken for, take your significant other.) Note, though, that getting together itself often requires transportation costs. You may be able to diminish these by regularly running the 10 miles or so to your date's digs, thus contributing to your desired sveltness, and providing an excuse to take a shower . . . soon. From your date's place, however, don't skimp on transport to wherever the two of you will be going, or you may have to walk back (or run, if things are being hurled at you).

7. Beer. If you don't have time/ inclination to date, treat yourself once in a while anyway, or to celebrate when you get your online diploma or degree. Yes, another well-known collegiate expense can be entirely eliminated -- or at least sharply reduced -- by your not attending campus bars and bashes. Money saved here by not consuming large quantities of brewed hops may be applied to other concerns . . . such as single malt whiskeys procured locally. Or not. By not consuming any alcohol before an exam, incidentally, you run the risk of doing well at your studies and during exams, and having money to celebrate your resultant academic success.

8. Get a second online degree, or a fun/ creative diploma. One's not always enough anymore. Career experts have been saying since the 1980s that the average professional will change careers three or four times in their lifetime. I have already had to change careers several times, and expect 2-3 more changes. Have something else to fall back on is highly recommended. Find some suitable online degree programs from the home page of this site. If you're not sure what degree to take or what program, check our library of articles. There are several there to guide you through the online degree choice and application process.

9. Put the money in an online savings account in preparation for step 10. Online savings accounts give you the best bank interest rates while keeping your money protected (up to US$100,000 per person per institute, if you live in the US.) And since you are online for your studies anyway, it'll be easy to manage your funds. If you want to learn more about how to open an online savings accounts, see OSAWatch.

10. Travel. With all the money you've saved by on-line, treat yourself after you finish your degree. You may find a trip to someplace pleasant affordable. Spring break, for instance, is something best experienced in person, and there are many, many flights south. Here you may meet your on-line - and other - classmates in a quiet and congenial setting . . . or you may meet them instead in Palm Springs or Cancun.

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