College students spend a lot of money on college textbooks that they are only going to use for a semester or two. Do not pay full price for textbooks unless it is absolutely necessary. Searching for the right textbook can be costly and time consuming. Here are couple ways you can save on these expensive textbooks.
When you start looking for textbooks, my advice is avoid the bookstore at all cost and check out all your other options first. The school bookstore is usually pricey, but they can price match for you with certain competitors. The best way to buy books is by buying it used from your bookstore or websites. Some websites you could find your textbooks on are Chegg, Amazon, Slugbooks, Barnes & Nobles, or eBay.
The most popular way to save money is by renting your books. The on-campus bookstore and many websites offer a certain rental period. When you rent your textbooks, make sure you adhere to and follow the terms and conditions, to avoid paying any types of fees when you return the book. Sometimes buying the eBook version of the book can be cheaper and faster as long as it works for you. To successfully use this method, make sure you know how to navigate the book and check it out before using it in class.
The fastest way to shop for the books online is to use the ISB numbers for that certain class. The ISB number is a certain set of numbers used to find the exact book and edition your class is going to use. Another option is checking your school library and making copies of the pages, if the book is not that necessary for the class. It all depends on what type of professor you have; this can work for you.
A different option, or an easy way, is sharing the book with a friend who is taking the same class as you. By sharing the book, you could save and split the cost equally. If you do chose to use this method, make sure you guys have a schedule and alternate turns when needed. This can be a good way to help you guys study together and exchange notes for that particular class. This can be a very smart way in saving money. If you end up buying your textbooks, by the end of the semester you could sell back them. You can sell them to incoming students with the same professor, friends, online, or even sell them back to the bookstore. There are many different ways you can profit from this, such as buying your textbooks for the upcoming semester, or even just having extra cash for emergencies.
In addition, students should talk to upperclassmen who have taken the same courses as them in the past. They may have a physical book to lend you, and more often than not, they can forward you a PDF they used when they took the course. This is the most efficient way to save money and the environment!
Some colleges also have student advising teams that collect textbooks and let students who come to them borrow it for the semester at no cost! The only thing required is to return the text book so that future students can take advantage of this as well. Many libraries on campus also let you borrow books from them; all you have to do is sign it out. Whether it be for one week or a few hours a day, you can still have access to textbooks throughout the semester one way or another. Make sure to inquire about this system at your college and see how they help out students! Additionally, if you speak to your professor or the head of the department about your financial circumstances, most will be willing to help you out in some way. Students need to be aware of what is offered to them and take advantage of it!
Since students are paying tuition, many colleges and/or universities would be more than willing to help students out. Talking to upperclassmen first and foremost, and inquiring about ways they have gotten textbooks and worked around the system, will be most beneficial to students so they know what to do in the future. Overall, buying textbooks can be overwhelming. Following these simple steps can help and benefit you throughout your studies. These few tips will help you save money on costly textbooks that you will be using throughout your college life.