Can You Learn to Code For Less Than $100?

Can you really learn to code for less than $100? Sure you can.

Not only is it doable, but I’d argue that $100 (or less) spent wisely can teach you how to code better than a bootcamp or expensive course ever can teach you.

Let me explain…

There are tons of tutorials and courses online that vary in price ranges. Some are informative and worth your time, but many are poorly formatted and a waste of your time.

And let’s not forget — there are tons of programming languages to choose from …

So, how do you pick the correct course or tutorial? The key is to be brutally honest and frank with yourself …

The most common mistake people make when learning how to code is focusing on the wrong things.

I can’t count the number of times a friend has told me,

“I want to learn to code but I don’t know where to start.”

This problem is all too common and real. You want to learn to code, but you don’t know where to start.

How do you ensure you get the best bang for your buck while online course shopping?

Many people enrol into a ~$10,000 bootcamp, or a ~$400 online course to become a jack of all trades. That is, the bootcamp/course will teach you a little bit of JavaScript, a little bit of NodeJS, a little MySQL, and maybe sprinkle a little REST API work.

Here’s the problem with this:

You will leave such a bootcamp/course being an expert at nothing, but having exposure to all components of software. And you’ll be down several hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

“So what? It’s a great to understand all parts of software development” … you argue. Of course it is. But let me tell you something …

When you get your first coding job, you will likely not be using all of the skills you learned, and you will likely not be working on all parts of the technology stack.

Rather, you will focus on one part of the stack, and temporarily forget about the rest. Then a few weeks or months later, you may be asked to work on another part of the stack. And this is where a big chunk of your learning happens. It happens when you’re pressed, under pressure, and need to deliver.

So, what does all of this have to do with learning to code for less than $100?

The answer lies in being specific about what part of the technology stack you want to learn.

When you don’t know what you want, you are more likely to spend big bucks on courses that won’t help you progress.

When the “I want to learn to code” thought strikes your mind, ask yourself the following question:

What piece of software excites me?

By answering this question, you will instantly know what to focus on! Hence, you will also avoid the most common mistake new developers make.

So, let’s say you want to learn theUI/UX of software. Great — focus on a course that teaches you CSS and HTML.

“Okay, but how?” … you ask.

Well I decided to put my money where my mouth is. Here are a few cheap and informative courses I found after a quick search on Udemy:

1. Build Responsive Real World Websites with HTML5 and CSS3

Note two things:

• Price — At the time of this article, it’s priced at 17.99 CAD, which is equal to ~$14 USD
• 4.7 stars, and over 73 thousand students enrolled

To prove this was not a fluke, I found another course:

2. Build Websites from Scratch with HTML & CSS

Note two things:

• Price — At the time of this article, it’s priced at 17.99 CAD, which is equal to ~$14 USD
• 4.7 stars, and over 53 thousand students enrolled

This is what I found after 3 minutes of searching. Both videos have excellent ratings, fair prices, and a large number of satisfied students.Imagine if you spent just a few extra minutes searching for something very specific rather than something generic — you’d be amazed at the results.

And if you’re in the mood for something free, YouTube is your friend. For example, with a quick search on YouTube, I found:

1. Build An HTML5 Website With A Responsive Layout
2. HTML and CSS Tutorial for Beginners | The Ultimate guide to learning HTML and CSS

Again, this is what I found after just one minute of searching. Both videos have high like-dislike ratios and are well-received by the public.

And who says you are limited to Udemy and YouTube? You have the entire internet to find content! But this is only useful if you know what you are searching for.

So these resources I found are for HTML and CSS. But what if you want to learn JavaScript?

Well, I leave you with a challenge. I’ll give you 20 minutes. What specifically do you want to learn about JavaScript? Angular? React? Just JavaScript in general?

Once you have the answers to these questions, start searching. And when you find a worthwhile resource, leave a comment on this article with your findings! And I promise you, you will be pleasantly surprised by what you find.

The main takeaway …

Instead of allowing uncertainty to dictate your purchasing decisions, a little honesty with yourself and 20 minutes of tailored research can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Learning to code should not be expensive, and luckily, it is not expensive. You need to be clear on what you are looking to learn, and spend a few minutes conducting tailored research on that specific topic.

So, will these courses make me a good developer?

This is a key question.

Just because you spent close to nothing learning how to code, you don’t instantly become a good developer. A course on Udemy, or a series of videos on YouTube can teach you just as much if not more than a bootcamp or degree can, but you still need to do one crucial thing to become a good developer …

Practice.

Finding value online does not mean you don’t have to spend time honing your craft.

So remember, nothing is a substitute for good old fashioned practice.

I hope you found this article helpful. If you did, please repost, share, and comment. Also tap the👏 50 times (or less if you want).

Oh, and on the topic of a $100 education, I am working on a little thing. It’s an exclusive, content-rich community that teaches you how to build a lasting career in tech while spending less than $100. It’s called 100 Dollar Education. If this sounds interesting to you, you can apply to become a member here!

Anyway, if you made it this far, I thank you. See you soon.

Can You Learn to Code For Less Than $100? was originally published in Hacker Noon on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.