If you’ve resolve to learn to code this year, one of our favorite Lifehacker U courses is just starting up: Harvard’s CS50X. It’ll teach you the beginnings of computer programming from the ground up. You can audit it online or even try for a certificate for free. It’s happening now, so if you want to get involved, don’t wait.

Here’s what Harvard has to say about this course:

CS50x is Harvard College’s introduction to the intellectual enterprises of computer science and the art of programming for majors and non-majors alike, with or without prior programming experience. An entry-level course taught by David J. Malan, CS50x teaches students how to think algorithmically and solve problems efficiently. Topics include abstraction, algorithms, data structures, encapsulation, resource management, security, software engineering, and web development. Languages include C, PHP, and JavaScript plus SQL, CSS, and HTML. Problem sets inspired by real-world domains of biology, cryptography, finance, forensics, and gaming. As of Fall 2013, the on-campus version of CS50x was Harvard’s second-largest course.

Be sure to check it out soon (since you’ll miss it otherwise) and Lifehacker U for more ways to learn for free.

CS50X: Introduction to Computer Science | Harvard edX via Reddit

from Lifehacker http://lifehacker.com/learn-to-code-at-harvard-for-free-1493232185
via IFTTT

Saving for retirement is all about figuring out exactly how much money you’re going to need when you’re older. If you’re not really sure where to start, The Simple Dollar has an equation to get you started.

The calculation isn’t exactly perfect, but it’ll give you a rough estimate of what you’ll need to save. You’ll need to go through the following:

1. Calculate 80% of your current salary.
2. Factor in inflation by typing in 1.03^(number of years until you retire).
3. Multiply #1 by #2. This is what your salary will look like in the future with normal inflation.
4. Subtract what you’ll receive from Social Security (this is on your Social Security Statement) from the number you got in #3.
5. Multiply the final number from #4 by 20. This is the amount of you’ll need to save for retirement.

It’s a bit complicated, but once you figure it out you’ll have a rough estimate of what you need to save for retirement. Head over to The Simple Dollar for a more detailed explanation.

How to Quickly Figure Out Your Retirement "Number"| The Simple Dollar

Photo by U.S. Navy Imagery.

from Lifehacker http://lifehacker.com/quickly-figure-out-your-retirement-number-with-this-equ-1463722765
via IFTTT