The aim of this study is to examine the costs and benefits of undertaking adult education courses from the perspective of the individual, using three different case studies. This will give a snapshot of the benefits and the types of costs incurred by three adult learners. Three individuals were contacted by Aontas and were asked if they would be willing to participate in the research. They were then asked about the various costs they incurred as a result of returning to education and the resulting benefits. It is clear that there is a large variation in the costs and benefits experienced by the individuals studied. All three individuals experienced a net benefit as opposed to a net cost. However, these figures may underestimate the value of lifelong learning, as there are many positive externalities to society of lifelong education. These wider benefits would be taken into account in studies examining adult learning from a societal. (Contains 3 figures, 7 tables and 11 footnotes.)