How To Save Money On College Textbooks

College is already expensive enough without adding the costs of textbooks. A new book could run over a hundred dollars. After you multiply that by five classes, you are out half a grand for one semester. Did you know there are ways to cut these costs and save on college textbooks? Here’s how.

Rent!

Did you know you can rent your schoolbooks for the semester? Renting costs only a fraction of the price, and you just have to worry about returning the book at the end of the semester. This option is preferred for those required classes outside your area of study. For example, if you are a business major, you probably don’t want to keep an art history book on hand for your future career.

The best places to look for textbook rentals are:

• Amazon
• Chegg
• Your campus bookstore

Note: If you don’t return the textbook by the due date (usually around the end of your semester), you will likely be charged fees or the cost of a new book. So, make sure you turn it in to save money!

Buy Used

Sometimes you want to keep the books from the classes you take. An English major may want to hold onto their literature books to build their library. If that’s the case, renting is not your solution. Good news, you can almost always buy a textbook used. The only gamble is the condition it comes in. You can receive your used textbook with minor damage, like bent corners, or major damage with stains or ripped pages.

However, you may also find books with sections highlighted or the previous owner’s notes. This can be a helpful bonus for your upcoming class! Many campus bookstores offer used books at a discounted rate, so you can see it in person and remove the guesswork about its condition. However, there are more option online if condition isn’t a concern.

Digital Textbooks

Let’s face it. Paper costs money. Buying a physical book will almost always add to the overall cost. Good thing we live in a digital world. If you don’t mind reading off a screen, you may consider buying the digital version of your textbooks. Then you can read on your preferred device, such as a Kindle, laptop, your cellphone, etc. Digital textbooks don’t always save you a lot of money like renting or used books would, but they are usually cheaper than buying new.

Sharing Is Caring

When you are in college, you will quickly find out who is taking what classes and which semesters. Then you make good acquaintances with your peers and note who is taking the classes you are taking the following semester. Why? So you can ask them for their books! Some of your peers may charge a small fee, while others may just be happy to be rid of the book once the class is over and give it to you for free. Either way, this is one of the cheapest ways to get your college textbooks.

If you do have to buy a new book at full cost, try selling it at the end of the semester to a friend or the school bookstore. Otherwise, try one of the other ways to save money on college textbooks.