One of the biggest expenses in college isn’t necessarily tuition. In fact, one of the largest ongoing expenses of your collegiate career is textbooks. When it comes down to it, whether you are getting your online teaching degrees or studying to become a doctor, your text books could run you hundreds of dollars; for a single class. This is why it can help to have some tips and tricks for finding the best deals.
You will wind up spending a premium if you purchase textbooks new. Sure, your textbooks may be crisp and smell new, but the truth of the matter is that you don’t really need brand new books. Of course, if a book is full of scribbles and notes, it probably won’t be of much use, but if the pages are clean, a used book can offer the same service as a new textbook. A few dog-eared pages never hurt anyone. Here are five easy ways to save money on textbooks in college.
- Purchase textbooks used.
There are many used textbook retailers around college areas that offer students steep discounts. Not only will the books be marked down from regular price, but you may also be able to use your student ID to get an even further discount.
- Buy textbooks online.
The internet has a host of used textbooks for sometimes pennies on the dollar. All you have to do is visit a major online bookseller and find the book you want. One big benefits of using the web is that there are more retailers to choose from than just the local stores in town. Not only are there more options when it comes to price, but also selection. Sure, it may take a little longer to find the book you need at the price you want, but it will be well worth it after you save hundreds of dollars at the end of the day.
- Look for books from other students.
If you know of another student or peer that may have taken your class during a previous semester, you may want to simply ask that person if you can purchase their book. If that person is a good friend or a relative, you may even get the book for free. This is a great route to take because you can skip the hassle of the entire book buying process.
- Find a book buy back program.
On top of being able to find used bookshops in your college’s area, you may also be able to find book buy back locations. You can visit these establishments and sell your old textbooks. With that money, you can purchase new, or slightly used, textbooks for your upcoming classes. Selling your old textbooks is a great way to subsidize some of the exorbitant costs of textbooks.
- Go to a library bookstore.
Some local libraries have a bookstore where you can purchase gently used books. If you have one in your neighborhood, you may get lucky and find the textbook you need. Oftentimes, these bookstores are simply trying to get rid of old books and won’t charge exorbitant prices. In the end, for a struggling college student, this can be a great way to acquire affordable textbooks.