How To Save Money on Textbooks

With the cost of higher education once again on the rise, it is becoming more and more challenging for college students to finish their studies without being slapped with a huge bill six months after graduation. Alas, there is hope for the starving college student after all.

Although, there is little we can do in regards to tuition, parking permits, and lab fees, there are ways to save a few hundred dollars a year on textbooks. Before you reluctantly walk into your college bookstore and fork over a few hundred dollars on textbooks, be sure to do your homework.

Here are a few ways you can save money on textbooks:

1. Rent Textbooks.

Renting textbooks is a fairly new concept that is becoming popular among college students. There are numerous online sources that offer textbooks at a fraction of the cost elsewhere. Textbook rental agencies such as Chegg.com, collegebookrenter.com, and bookrenter.com are among the most popular.

The process of renting a textbook online has been made easy by such websites. Simply set up an account, search for the textbook you need, choose a return date which is typically based on whether your school is on a quarter or semester schedule, wait about a week for delivery, and return the textbook before the due date using a pre-paid return label.

Chegg.com and bookrenter.com even allow you to highlight and dog-ear pages and have a 30-day money back guarantee in case the class gets canceled or you end up dropping it.

Chegg.com even plants a tree on your behalf in an effort to combat deforestation around the globe.

Some campuses even have textbook rental programs. The upside is that you do not have to pay for shipping or wait for your books to arrive in the mail since all you have to do is walk over to the campus bookstore. But a word of caution, the selection of book is rather limited for a lot of classes.

2. Buy Used Textbooks.

Buying used books whether they are from your campus bookstore or online through sites such as Amazon.com or Half.com can also save you money in the long run. Once you have found the textbook you are searching for, you are able to assess which site is offering the best deal and order with them.

The best part about buying used book through websites such as Amazon.com and Half.com is that you are able to sell them back at the end of the semester. Although, you are not guaranteed to get back every penny you spent, something is better than nothing.

3. Borrow textbooks from the campus library.

Many professors now place a copy of the textbook on reserve in the library. You are allowed to check the book out for a few hours at a time and can even make copies of chapters so that you have a hard copy to take home with you.

4. Search for older editions of the book.

Professors typically list the most recent edition of the textbook on the syllabus but older editions can work just as well. They are typically half the price of a new textbook and the only downfall is that you may need to consult with a classmate to make sure you are on the correct page.

5. Share the Textbook and the Cost.

You can even share the textbook and cost if you go share a textbook with a classmate. The only downside to this method is you will not have full-access to the book. But this can be avoided by agreeing on a schedule that ensures both parties get adequate access to the book.

6. Buy textbooks from former students.

Yet another way you can save money on textbooks is by searching for advertisements from former students on bulletins boards around campus and websites such as Craigslist. Many times students are so desperate to get rid of their books that they allow the buyer to name the price. Another plus, the former student may also provide you with some helpful tips on the class itself.

Although, it may take some trial and error until you find a method that works best for you, all of these methods will surely add a few more dollars into your bank account.