What I have found is that it needs great care choosing what to do or you can waste a lot of time. Some years ago I studied Crystal Reports as there was an up and coming project. Two weeks into the project it was scrapped on a director's whim. Having done it in my own time and expense and never having use it again it was a bad investment. When I was out of work I started an online web programming course. It all honesty have not a lot of interest in it but there seemed to be a lot of jobs. This was on line and again paid for. Opps, company and money disappeared. The only time I have used the bits I learned was some voluntary wick for a charity. I am now wary!