Let’s face it, the job market has been a struggle. And while some are ready to pick up their laptop and head back to class, many can’t afford it—or they simply don’t want to accumulate more debt.
Thirty-one percent of InHerSight readers say they’re considering going back to school, but many acknowledge this cost and everything that comes with it. Between careers, caregiving, and managing daily mental loads, committing to a full program can feel impossible.
Here’s the good news: You don’t need a degree program or a student loan to grow.
If you can carve out a few hours this weekend, or any weekend, you can walk away with a new skill, badge, or project to show for it by Monday morning. These quick and wallet-friendly tools are built for time-crunched women who are ready for real results fast.
The evidence? I’ve done this myself.
I wanted to learn more about media law, but didn’t have the time or funds to invest in law school, so after digging online, I found and completed a Social Media Law certificate course using Purdue Global University. It was free, self-paced, and completely changed how I approached my freelance work and content creation. It also reminded me that progress doesn't require perfection, just action. Plus, it gave me a sense of accomplishment with a certificate I could print out, an announcement to post on my LinkedIn profile, and a skill I could add to my resume.
If you're ready to learn something new, here are 10 upskilling ideas that are free or nearly free and totally doable by Sunday night.
10 ways to upskill for free—or super cheap—this weekend
1. Brush up on the basics with Free Google Skillshop Certifications
Google’s Skillshop platform offers free, beginner-friendly courses and certifications in areas like Google Ads for Search and Display, Google Analytics 4, YouTube Content Strategy, and tools such as Gmail, Google Sheets, and Google Meet. Most courses take one to three hours and include a certificate you can add to your resume or LinkedIn. These are great if you work in marketing, administration, communications, or want to boost your digital skill set.
2. Stay organized using PMI Kickoff™ for Project Management
The Project Management Institute offers a free 45-minute course that introduces the basics of managing a project. You’ll get interactive lessons, downloadable templates, and a certificate of completion. This is a great option for anyone leading projects in marketing, events, education, or operations who wants to understand project structure without diving into a full PMP certification. The bonus is it won’t tie up your entire weekend, and you’ll walk away with a new skill.
Read more: Want to Be Irreplaceable at Work? Become a Continuous Learner
3. Access LinkedIn Learning via public libraries
While some jobs do provide access to LinkedIn Learning, others do not. So dust off that library card, because it could be the thing that helps you upskill this weekend. Many public libraries offer free access to LinkedIn Learning, where you can take short, self-paced courses ranging from 20 minutes to three hours in everything from Excel formulas, public speaking, and time management to emotional intelligence, business writing, job interview prep, graphic design, and beginner coding. Whether you're switching careers, managing a team, or just brushing up on workplace skills, there’s something here for every stage. Most lessons can be completed in one to three hours and end with a certificate. Check your local library’s website or ask a librarian how to sign up using your library card.
4. Master free courses from Udemy
Udemy offers a vast selection of free courses across various subjects, many of which are designed to be completed in under two hours. Whether you're looking to enhance your productivity, delve into digital marketing, or acquire new technical skills, there's likely a course that fits your needs. For example, A Mini Course on Time Management gives you seven quick tips for better focus and daily structure, while Personal Finance 101: Everything You Need to Know covers budgeting, saving, credit cards, and basic investing. Both are great picks if you want to feel more in control of your time and your money by the end of the weekend. To explore available options, visit Udemy's Free Courses and filter by subject or duration to find a course that aligns with your interests and time availability.
5. Learn code foundations with Codecademy
If you're new to coding and want a structured introduction, Codecademy's Code Foundations Skill Path is a great place to start. This free course covers the basics of programming, including key concepts and languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It's designed to be completed in about four hours, making it perfect for a weekend learning session. Codecademy also offers a Basic plan that's free, providing access to this and other introductory courses. For more advanced content, real-world projects, and additional resources, they offer Plus and Pro plans that range from $14.99 to $19.99 per month (billed annually). The good news is, the paid plans come with a seven-day free trial, allowing you to explore the additional features before committing. You'll gain a solid understanding of how coding works, which can help you decide which programming language or field you'd like to explore further.
Read More: 8 Tech Courses We’re Taking to Level Up Our Skills
6. Create your personal brand at Canva Design School
Want to refresh your personal brand or are you thinking about launching something new? Canva’s Design School offers free mini-courses that can help you pull your visual identity together in less than an hour. Become a certified “Canva legend” by taking courses like Graphic Design Essentials, where you’ll learn the fundamentals of design, understand color theory, and create mood boards. You’ll also get access to free templates you can use for resumes, social media posts, or digital portfolios. It’s a quick creative reset with practical results you can apply right away. You can even show off your Canva skills in your current job by creating clean, on-brand visuals for team presentations or content. Other short courses cover topics like how to design a standout resume, create engaging Instagram posts, or plan content like a pro, no graphic design experience needed.
7. Level up Alison
Study for the job you want, on the Alison website. At Alison, in-demand skills are just the start of advancing your career. You can create an account and browse the 5,000+ free courses on topics including business management, information systems, law, human resources, health care and others. It also helps you map out whether you want to upskill in your current career or find a whole new direction instead. You can earn a certificate within a few hours or spend an entire weekend working toward a diploma.
8. Learn big ideas in small doses with TED
TED is best known for its thought-provoking talks, but it also offers short lessons and online courses that make it easy to learn something meaningful in under an hour. You can explore quick introductions to topics like body language, social media, or data science through free TED-Ed videos. For a deeper experience, TED’s self-paced courses dive into areas like public speaking and creativity. These interactive classes are done with a cohort and cost $35. Whether you're brushing up on communication skills or feeding your curiosity, TED is a great option for personal growth in your spare time.
9. Impress your tech team with a ScrumStudy SFC™ certification
If you’ve heard the term “agile” tossed around at work and wondered what it means, this short course is a great place to start. The Scrum Fundamentals Certified (SFC™) program from ScrumStudy is completely free and takes about two to three hours to complete. It covers the basics of agile project management, Scrum roles, and key terminology. Once you finish the course and pass a short quiz, you’ll receive a downloadable certificate. It’s an easy way to boost your resume with a recognized credential and get familiar with a framework used in workplaces across tech, healthcare, education, and beyond.
Read more: The Power of Microcredentials: Elevate Your Career With Specialized Skills
10. Enroll in free online college courses from top universities
Remember how I mentioned earlier that I received a certificate from Purdue Global? Well, here’s more ideas if that’s the type of upskilling you are looking for. If you want to go beyond bite-sized skills and dive into deeper learning, several platforms offer free access to actual college courses from respected universities. On Coursera, you can explore classes from institutions like Yale, Princeton, and Purdue Global. Purdue Global also offers a free Remote Work Certificate course that covers productivity, communication, and legal best practices. It takes about five to seven hours and includes a digital badge.
edX also partners with over 160 universities, including Harvard, MIT, and UC Berkeley, with courses in topics like data science, humanities, and engineering. Stanford Online has self-paced options on everything from child nutrition to quantum mechanics. You can also explore Open Yale Courses to watch full lecture series on philosophy, economics, and more. If you want even more options in one place, Class Central aggregates thousands of university-level courses from platforms like edX, Coursera, and others, many of which are free to audit. Whether you’re looking to build credentials or just learn something new, these platforms offer a flexible, no-cost way to access top-tier education.
The bottom line
You don’t need a classroom, tuition, or even a full hour of spare time to grow. Start with what you have, an hour here, a quiet evening there, and let that be enough. Each of these tools can help you take one solid step toward the career, confidence, or creativity you’re craving.
Because growth doesn’t always come from going back to school. Sometimes it comes from clicking “start” this weekend.
