All freshmen are shocked to see the price of books in the campus bookstore. Students who pay their own way through college expect cheap textbooks and often don’t have the budget for these outrageous prices. New textbooks cost hundreds of dollars and used textbooks, when available, are not much cheaper.
Are they worth the price? Probably not. Textbooks are just that. They are books that are used for a particular class at school. Sometimes lucky students get to use the same book for two classes, but that almost never happens. The vast majority of college textbooks have no use outside of that class. So why buy new books for hundreds of dollars just to put them on a shelf or sell them to the campus bookstore for a fraction of what you paid for them?
There is good news for struggling college students and their parents. You don’t have to max out student loans just to pay for textbooks. Although your school may not provide you with this information, you do not have to purchase your textbooks from the campus bookstore. There are several ways to buy cheap textbooks. In some cases, you may not even have to buy the books.
One option to save money on books is to buy used textbooks at the bookstore. Used textbooks vary in quality, but most are in good condition with some highlighted marks. Campus bookstores buy back books each semester and resell them to students for double what they paid the student for the used book. In addition to the campus bookstore, students can also purchase used books online. Because textbooks sold online are sold by individuals and not bookstores, students are likely to get a better deal. However, shopping online requires a bit more planning. Depending on where the book is shipped, it may take over a week to arrive.
If you don’t need a paper copy of the textbook and can use the material again, an e-book is another cheaper way to purchase a textbook. Renting is a new trend in college to get a textbook. Rental books can be ordered online or through a campus bookstore. When class is over, return the rented book. With rented textbooks, you don’t have to worry about what to do with the book after class ends.
As with any other major investment, college students should shop around before purchasing textbooks. Cheap textbooks are also available in print and electronic form. You’ll find that the price varies a lot depending on where you buy your books.
