My mom, in the late 60's, paid for her master's degree at an accredited university with a summer waitressing job. It enabled her to get a career as a teacher.

My mom, in the late 60's, paid for her master's degree at an accredited university with a summer waitressing job. It enabled her to get a career as a teacher. Separately, my father built a 2k square-foot house on 5 acres of land for $10k in the 70's (about $100k adjusted for inflation). He did this on a telephone lineman's budget without a degree.