Options for Saving Money on Textbooks

The dreaded time for students is coming up soon: time to buy textbooks. While we all suffer through the same process, we’ve compiled some tips on how to save some extra money after buying ridiculously expensive textbooks.

Forget the Bookstore

The bookstore is the most expensive place to buy textbooks. By planning ahead and evaluating all options, you can avoid paying the high cost of convenience.

Check Out The Price Of E-Books

The e-book is increasingly easy to access. Most textbook publishers now offer e-books. The advantages of having an e-book include not having to deal with carrying a load of textbooks across campus, which we all know is a MAJOR advantage.

Always Buy Used

Used clothes? Eh, maybe. Used textbooks? Absolutely. Buying a used textbook will save you some cash, and the book will still be yours to resell at the end of your semester. You can find used books at local used bookstores or online retailers like Amazon or Alibris.

Visit the Library

Your local and campus library will likely carry common books for you to check out. The library is a good stash, especially for English or Liberal Arts majors who will have to study and read a wide variety of texts. Don’t get lost in the stacks, though 😉

Photocopy the Textbook

Take advantage of your friend’s new textbooks by photocopying exactly what you need. Some classes will not require studying the entire textbook. Access your syllabus and scan copies of the material covered in class.

Buy Older Editions

If your new professor uses the same material year to year, it probably would do no harm to get an older edition. Publishers update their textbooks with minor edits year to year, keeping the price of a textbook extra high. You can work around this expense by getting an older edition textbook, and photocopying new material.

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