Elizabeth G.

Scribophile offers writers the opportunity to find writing partners and critique groups from all over the world. It takes time to network and find the right people, but if you're willing to put the time in, it's quite valuable. The site offers a free version that puts limits on the functionality, but the cost of a "premium" membership is far less than most writing classes and gives you access for an entire year.

Yes, the karma system can be tedious when you start out, but once you start sharing/reciprocating critiques, it generally adds up quickly.