HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT COURSES WHEN YOU'RE BROKE AND STARTING ONLINE

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HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT COURSES WHEN YOU'RE BROKE AND STARTING ONLINE

When you’re starting out online with limited funds, every decision matters. Time, effort, and money are valuable resources, so choosing the right courses can be the difference between struggling for months or fast-tracking your success. Unfortunately, many beginners fall into the trap of learning the wrong things first, wasting time on low-return knowledge when they should be focusing on high-impact skills.

Let’s break it down—what courses should you avoid when starting with little money?

COURSES THAT DON'T IMMEDIATELY HELP YOU MAKE MONEY

If you're broke, your priority should be making money as soon as possible. Learning something interesting but not profitable will set you back. Avoid courses that

- Teach concepts without application (e.g., "Philosophy of Business Success")
- Focus on long-term mastery instead of quick results (e.g., learning a coding language that takes years to monetize)
- Require a lot of investment before earning (e.g., paid ads strategy without funds for campaigns)

Better choice: Learn skills that bring immediate income, such as freelancing, affiliate marketing, or digital sales.

COURSES THAT REQUIRE ADVANCED EQUIPMENT

Some courses require you to invest in expensive tools before you can apply them. If you’re broke, buying high-end gadgets or software isn’t an option. Examples include

- Video editing requiring an expensive laptop
- Graphic design courses needing costly Adobe software
- 3D modeling requiring high-end PCs

Better choice: Start with low-cost, accessible skills that work with basic tools, such as copywriting, social media management, or virtual assistance.

COURSES ON COMPLEX TOPICS YOU CAN’T IMMEDIATELY APPLY

If you have no income yet, don’t spend months learning something you can’t monetize soon. Examples include

- Advanced programming courses when you don’t have clients
- Legal studies without a plan to apply them
- MBA-style business management courses when you don’t own a business

Better choice: Focus on skills with fast implementation, such as content creation, sales, and e-commerce. These can generate money within weeks if applied correctly.

COURSES THAT REQUIRE A LARGE BUDGET TO START

Some business models sound exciting but require significant capital before profits come in. If you're broke, avoid courses like

- Dropshipping with paid ads (without ad budget, success is difficult)
- Stock trading (requires high-risk money to start)
- Amazon FBA (large inventory costs before seeing profit)

Better choice: Choose low-cost models like organic affiliate marketing, freelancing, or reselling digital products, where you make money before spending big.

FINALLY, CHOOSE SMART, NOT JUST INTERESTING

When money is tight, your first goal should be financial stability. That means focusing on courses that

- Teach immediate income-generating skills
- Require little to no investment to start
- Have low barriers to entry
- Can be applied instantly without advanced tools

Success online isn't just about learning—it’s about learning the right things at the right time.

Choose wisely, start earning, and then reinvest in deeper learning once you have income.


My name is Jbm Sopuruchukwu. I'm a Digital Strategist, Afritell College of Information Technology. Please follow me on Facebook: Jbm Sopuruchukwu.

Thank you.

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