An online education -- for free!

Earn degrees for free

An Israeli entrepreneur has created a free online degree-conferring university. Shai Reshef, 55, has founded University of the People (UoP). He says:

"Education, just like democracy, should be a right, not a privilege ... With a few keystrokes, UoP takes the concept of social networking and applies it to academia, providing a global chalkboard for all students."

Operating as a non-profit, UoP offers two degrees: business administration and computer science. Run and taught by volunteers, he will expect those enrolled to pay basic costs - $15 to enroll, and about $15 per exam.

Reshef is currently based in Tel Aviv, but the school is applying for U.S. accreditation, and will operate out of Pasadena, California.

And if you want to study just for the love of learning ...

Check out Open Courseware Consortium. It's composed of colleges and universities worldwide that make their courses available online for free.

U.S. participants include the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the University of Michigan.

Cut back on these, save $1,000/year

"Organic produce" is one of things the author, Kelly B. Grant, wants you to cut?

Yes, because not all organic produce is necessarily worth the money.

Fruits and vegetables like kiwis, sweet corn and broccoli require very little pesticide to grow. Others -- like avocados, onions and pineapples -- have thick or peelable skins that reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals.

So don't buy produce just because it's labeled organic.

Anyway, here's a link to 7 Things You're Wasting Money On:

1. Bottled Water
2. Extended Warranties
3. Gym Memberships
4. Overdraft Fees
5. Organic Produce
6. Auto Insurance
7. Music Downloads

No cash? No problem!

Websites where you can barter your skills (say, plumbing work) for a benefit that normally takes money (say, a vacation) are all over the Internet.

One person in England recently traded several old cellphones for a secondhand motorcycle, while others have traded gardening for babysitting. They are swapping skills from physical therapy to French lessons, to a woman offering services as a "secretary/stripper."

According to this Washington Post article by Kevin Sullivan, some of these websites are:

http://swapaskill.com
http://U-exchange.com
http://swapthing.com
http://swapz.co.uk
http://whatsmineisyours.com
http://homeexchange.com (For home exchanges for those who don't want to pay for a vacation home)

And, of course, there's that old standby, Craigslist.

Going green and off the grid

The New York Times's Adam B. Ellick visits a former college professor who now lives and works on an organic farm that produces its own power and, for the most part, avoids the whims of the wider economy.

Food for thought ...

Here's a link to the NYT video: Going Green and Off the Grid

Ultimate cheapskates now have to spend more ...

I've always been a cheapskate. Now more and more people are elevating it to a high art, says this story from AP.

They're going way beyond sharpening their coupon scissors, replacing already cheap store-brand fabric softener with vinegar and even making their own detergent.

But what jumped out at me is this revelation -- a surprise to others but us cheapskates:

Many cheapskates such as VanDeventer haven't lost their jobs and are not in danger of losing their homes. Many have stashed a good chunk of cash away. (Italics mine.) But the economic uncertainty is catapulting them to new levels of thriftiness.

Now I'm going to break my own rule. If you're financially solid, with a stable income and high-enough net worth, I think now is the time to loosen your purse strings.

Major governments are trying all kinds of ways to stimulate their economies. The U.S., the European Union and China are trying to spend their way out of this recession by investing in infrastructure, etc. When people acquire jobs, they are going to spend, and the economy will begin to recover.

If you have no financial worries, I encourage you to spend more. My wife and I do take-out once in a while. (We love the shawarma sandwich at our local restaurant.) We're now doing it more. We are not shoppers, but if something is worn we don't go out of our way to mend it. We replace it instead. And if we want Parmiagiano-Reggiano cheese for our cooking, we buy it. We don't try to substitute.

So, until the economy recovers, and if you can afford to, spend more.

A "how to" site for newbies

Bookseller Barnes & Noble has launched a new "how-to" site this morning called Quamut, which apparently is Latin for "how to."

Part of the site is about energy conservation:

http://www.quamut.com/quamut/home_energy_efficiency