If your are in college you are in all probability looking for methods to reduce costs on college textbooks. With college textbooks sky rocketing in cost by roughly 22% every year you need to use every trick in the book to cut your total college textbook costs. Students spend anywhere from $1000 annually and to as high as $700 a semester in some colleges on textbooks. Here are are some methods to aid in saving your cash.
Employ a textbook price comparison service. These services check the prices from the online book sellers. Usually you enter an ISBN or title or author and the site will show everyone that have that book available, the current cost, and if the textbook is new or used. Some sites also report the pricing in digital format, rental pricing and even pricing on international versions. Employing a textbook price comparison site make it real simple to see who is the cheapest or compare different options like rental versions, digital or used.
Do not buy - rent textbook. There are presently over a dozen sites renting college textbooks. Additionally many university bookstores are also now renting textbooks. Renting is mostly about half of the price of getting a new textbook. Naturally there's not much to sell back at the end of the class. This means renting could be a little higher than purchasing used and then reselling at the end of the semester. Even though there's not any sell back option renting may offer a smaller up front cost. Renting is also good when a new release has just come out or is expected to come out which would devalue the price if you had bought the textbook.
Use textbook discount coupons. Many of the bookshops offer discounts. This is particularly true in August and Sept. when they try and introduce their service to new first year students. Many times these savings can be as high as 10% or 12% off the purchase price.
Use an older edition. I would ask your professor before trying this technique but because they had to update their lesson plan with the new edition they are familiar with the changes and can tell you if the previous version covers the material required for the class. Prior versions are noticeably less expensive than the existing version.
Use the buddy system. If you have a buddy or roommate taking the same class consider buying one book and sharing it between the two of you.
Consider renting digital textbooks. Digital textbooks are fairly new and not all titles can be found in digital format. You can find using a digital version is commonly less expensive than renting the paper version. It's also a good solution when you need your textbook fast. Generally you can download the textbook inside a few minutes of making the purchase. Just like renting paper textbooks there nothing to sell back at the end of the quarter or semester. The digital book will expire and not be accessible on your personal computer or tablet.
Buy an International Edition. Non-US versions are designed to be sold overseas and sometimes have a paper cover, thinner pages and often lack color . The content however is matching to the US version of the textbook. Typically an international textbook is seriously less expensive. It's imperative to know the ISBN because occasionally it is not the same on an International Edition.
Check the library. Many faculties keep copies of textbooks at the reference desk. Check with the librarian on the policy for the utilising of textbooks.
Use on campus book exchanges. Some campuses have on campus book exchanges or textbook swap meets. Check university bulletin boards, Fraternities, Sororities and even Craigslist for students selling books or book trading clubs.
Get your books early. Textbooks like other commodities are subject to price changes to meet the supply and demand. Shopping early when the supply is highest may result in finding the most cost-effective prices. If you wait till school starts you may have less options than those options will be more expensive.
Using a mixture of these 10 tips should lower your annual college textbook costs.
Employ a textbook price comparison service. These services check the prices from the online book sellers. Usually you enter an ISBN or title or author and the site will show everyone that have that book available, the current cost, and if the textbook is new or used. Some sites also report the pricing in digital format, rental pricing and even pricing on international versions. Employing a textbook price comparison site make it real simple to see who is the cheapest or compare different options like rental versions, digital or used.
Do not buy - rent textbook. There are presently over a dozen sites renting college textbooks. Additionally many university bookstores are also now renting textbooks. Renting is mostly about half of the price of getting a new textbook. Naturally there's not much to sell back at the end of the class. This means renting could be a little higher than purchasing used and then reselling at the end of the semester. Even though there's not any sell back option renting may offer a smaller up front cost. Renting is also good when a new release has just come out or is expected to come out which would devalue the price if you had bought the textbook.
Use textbook discount coupons. Many of the bookshops offer discounts. This is particularly true in August and Sept. when they try and introduce their service to new first year students. Many times these savings can be as high as 10% or 12% off the purchase price.
Use an older edition. I would ask your professor before trying this technique but because they had to update their lesson plan with the new edition they are familiar with the changes and can tell you if the previous version covers the material required for the class. Prior versions are noticeably less expensive than the existing version.
Use the buddy system. If you have a buddy or roommate taking the same class consider buying one book and sharing it between the two of you.
Consider renting digital textbooks. Digital textbooks are fairly new and not all titles can be found in digital format. You can find using a digital version is commonly less expensive than renting the paper version. It's also a good solution when you need your textbook fast. Generally you can download the textbook inside a few minutes of making the purchase. Just like renting paper textbooks there nothing to sell back at the end of the quarter or semester. The digital book will expire and not be accessible on your personal computer or tablet.
Buy an International Edition. Non-US versions are designed to be sold overseas and sometimes have a paper cover, thinner pages and often lack color . The content however is matching to the US version of the textbook. Typically an international textbook is seriously less expensive. It's imperative to know the ISBN because occasionally it is not the same on an International Edition.
Check the library. Many faculties keep copies of textbooks at the reference desk. Check with the librarian on the policy for the utilising of textbooks.
Use on campus book exchanges. Some campuses have on campus book exchanges or textbook swap meets. Check university bulletin boards, Fraternities, Sororities and even Craigslist for students selling books or book trading clubs.
Get your books early. Textbooks like other commodities are subject to price changes to meet the supply and demand. Shopping early when the supply is highest may result in finding the most cost-effective prices. If you wait till school starts you may have less options than those options will be more expensive.
Using a mixture of these 10 tips should lower your annual college textbook costs.
About the Author:
Bob Jones founded Cheap-Textbooks.com, an internet website dedicated to saving students money. The site offers a textbook price comparison service to help students find cheap textbooks and a buyback quote service. The site also publishes the newest textbook coupons and discount codes.
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