Best way to get inexpensive networking training?

[alcopro]

Having read Kuphryn's thread I am wondering if there is a way to get experience/knowledge about MIS/Networking, that will allow me to get hired in the industry, without having to go back to college. I have a B.S. in Social Work, but no longer wish to work in that field, my interest now is to gain networking experience/knowledge but I am on a very tight budget...
Any ideas would be most appreciated

 

[AkumaBao]

You could always learn FreeBSD, or Debian Linux. Set it up with Apache & Samba, and I think you will learn quite a bit.

 

[KB]

You might try getting an paid/non-paid internship with an organization or volunteering at a library or school to perform Network Administration. The experience will teach you alot. You could also try some books, but you will need the software to really learn it. Goodluck.