Students know that college is expensive, but they often overlook textbook costs. The costs of buying textbooks and course materials are a major source of financial stress for students.
The prices of textbooks have doubled in recent years. Some books cost up to $400. High prices have caused students to make tough choices like scraping money together to buy the textbooks or making use of financial aid sources. Some students avoid buying textbooks, which negatively impacts their performance.
Before heading to the bookstore to purchase your textbooks, consider trying other ways of getting these books, such as borrowing, renting, and buying used options. Below are a few tips to help cut costs on expensive textbooks.
Check the Library
Once you get your syllabus for the semester, go to the library. Most school libraries store a few copies of common textbooks, and if you make it there on time, you can borrow the books you need. If the book you need is not in the library, talk to the librarian; most times, libraries partner with other local branches so they can arrange for you to borrow the necessary book from another branch.
Rent Textbooks
Instead of buying new textbooks, visit sites like Chegg.com, which offer book rentals. Amazon and other sites also offer amazing deals. It costs less to rent a book than it does to buy.
Use ISBN
In colleges, it is required that all textbooks' ISBN are listed in the syllabus. Perform an internet search on sites such as SlugBooks and BookFinder.com with the books’ ISBNs. This lets you see what bookshops offer the books for a cheaper price.
Buy and Sell Textbooks
During your time as a student, you will most likely have to buy a textbook even if you borrow or rent most that you use. However, you can get part of your money back by selling them at the end of the semester. It's often cheaper to buy used copies of textbooks and sell them after the end of the semester. Some colleges and universities actually have used bookstores where you can do this on campus.
Go Digital
Find digital textbooks or eBooks online. They offer lower prices than print options. On sites such as Kindle, you can get better deals. Most text on public domains can be downloaded for free, and some schools offer free or low-cost eBooks through an online store.
Share with a Friend
After buying or renting a book, you can lower your cost by sharing the book with a classmate or roommate. This helps you split the cost of buying or renting the book. Just be sure to draw up a studying schedule to avoid conflict over who gets the book at what time.