All freshmen are surprised to see the price of books in the campus bookstore. Students who are paying their own way through college somehow expect cheap textbooks and often don’t budget enough for these outrageous prices. New textbooks cost hundreds of dollars, and used textbooks, when available, are not much cheaper.
The price is worth it? Probably not. Textbooks are just that. They are books that are used for a particular class at school. Sometimes lucky students can use the same book in two classes, but that almost never happens. The vast majority of college textbooks are not used outside of that class. So why buy new books for hundreds of dollars just to put them on a shelf or sell them at 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 is unlikely to provide you with this information, you do not have to purchase your textbooks from the campus bookstore. There are several ways to buy inexpensive 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 a few highlight marks. Campus bookstores buy back books each semester and resell them to students for twice the amount 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 rather than bookstores, students are likely to get a better deal. However, shopping online requires a bit more planning. Depending on where the book is mailed, it may take more than a week to arrive.
If you don’t need a hard copy of the textbook and can reuse the material, an e-book is another cheaper way to buy a textbook. Renting is a more recent trend in college to get a textbook. Rental books can be ordered online or at 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.
As with any other major investment, college students should shop around before purchasing textbooks. Inexpensive textbooks are also available in print and electronically. You will find that the price varies greatly depending on where you buy your books.