One of the best ways to lower the cost of college is to save money on college textbooks. Due to inflation and other economic factors, textbooks and related school supplies prices have skyrocketed which made it even harder for students to afford college.
If you’re a student, you know how expensive college textbooks can be. On average, full-time students spend $1,226 on books and school supplies in one academic year, according to a recent report from the Education Data Initiative. This figure can go even higher depending on the major and number of credits being taken. But with a few savvy tips, you can buy all the textbooks you need without breaking the bank. In this article, we’ll look at ways to save money on textbooks in college. We’ll explore techniques like price comparison, used textbooks, and digital editions to find the best deals on books.
Here are tips to save money on college textbooks you can implement today.
1. Buy used textbooks
One of the greatest ways to save money on textbooks is to buy used textbooks. Used textbooks are so cheap that in some cases, you can save more than 50% of the original prices. When there is a textbook you want to buy, always look for a used edition. You don’t need to pay hundreds of dollars for a textbook you are going to use for just one semester when you can have the same books for half the price.
To get access to used textbooks, start from your school bookstore. Most colleges and universities keep editions of textbooks in stores for the following semesters. You can also save money on textbooks by buying used textbooks online. You can easily find used textbooks on Amazon, eBay, AbeBooks, etc. Check with your professor ahead of time and order the books before they run out. The faster you can purchase your books, the more money you will save on college textbooks.
2. Use the library to save money on college textbooks
Before you buy any textbook, first check your school library for a current edition or previous edition. Most libraries carry some of the current editions of textbooks for the school curriculum. Depending on the course you are taking, your textbook might be available in the library. If the textbook is available in the library, then, you can use it for free and lower the cost of your textbooks for that semester.
The good news about using books from your library is that you might be allowed to check them out for an entire semester. This will save you the hustle of returning the books and checking them out again.
If your library does not have the textbook you need, you can still save money on textbooks in college by using a public library. There are chances that the public library may have the book you are looking for. Unlike college libraries where you can check out a book for an entire semester, most public libraries give you three weeks before you can return the book. In addition, there is a limited number of times you can check out the book. Having a public library card makes the process of checking out and returning books much easier and faster.
3. Use free eBooks and audiobooks
If you are OK with digital copies of textbooks, having an eBook could be a great way to save money on textbooks.
You can get free eBooks from many websites such as Library Genesis, Mobilism, Archive, etc. College students are usually running low on cash. That is why buying eBooks is a great way to save money on textbooks because they are cheaper compared to hard-copy books.
4. Use coupons and deals to save money on textbooks in college
Online websites and retail bookstores offer textbook coupons to increase sales. Websites like Amazon, Chegg, or CampusBooks.com usually offer coupons and discounts on selected books or during a particular season. So, do your research and save money on college textbooks by buying your textbooks where they are being discounted.
5. Use Overdrive
One of the best ways to save money on textbooks in college is to use Overdrive. Overdrive lets you read books and listen to textbooks from different libraries for free including your school library. There are plenty of other websites that offer the same services. You just need to do a little research and see which one is better for you. Not only that Overdrive will save money on textbooks for college, but you will also save money on gas and related transportation services.
6. Buy books from a thrift store
Thrift stores could be great places to get the cheapest textbooks. Although they may not have your textbooks or every book you want, however, you may find interesting books there.
If you just want books to read, why don’t you stop by the closest thrift store and see what they have? Some people choose to give away textbooks they are not using to local book collection stores and thrift stores instead of throwing them away. If you visit them, there are chances they might have a book you are looking for.
7. Use online subscriptions
Instead of buying books every time, you can have an online subscription to save money on college textbooks. With a subscription, you will be able to read every book you want without buying it. The only expense you will incur is a membership fee which is not expensive compared to how much you could pay on books.
Websites like Book of the Month let you read books as soon as they are released. Cengage also offers access to textbooks and online learning materials for college students.
8. Search for free eBooks in Google and other search engines such as Bing
There are chances that the textbook you are looking for has a free PDF copy that you can download. Just type in google the name of the book or its ISBN. Look for PDFs and look for the ones that are free to download.
When you find a free PDF version of the book you want, you can either read it from there or download it. Make sure that you follow the terms and conditions (if there are any) associated with the platforms and the eBooks themselves.
9. Buy international edition textbooks
From my personal experience, buying international edition textbooks is the best way to save money on textbooks in college. If there is no free edition of your books or used textbooks, you can buy international editions of the same books. International editions are so cheap that you pay a fraction of the cost of normal textbooks.
You can find an international edition of the book you are looking for from websites like Abebooks.
Unlike normal textbooks, international editions of your textbooks may have small variations throughout the books. Usually, the content of the book for your academic book and international editions is the same. The only difference in international editions is in the problems or exercises at the end of each chapter.
Some problems may be missing or not organized in the same order as in the textbook your teacher is using. For example, problem #1 in your teacher’s textbook could be #3 in your international textbook edition.
If you are buying the book for your school, buy the international edition. However, you must check with your teacher to make sure that the exercises in your book match the current textbook for the class. When I used international editions to save money on college textbooks, I used to cross-match exercises. I used to compare exercises at the of each chapter ahead of time which is a small price to pay compared to paying hundreds of dollars for textbooks.
10. Use Book swapping
You can swap your books with other readers from websites like PaperBack Swap. If someone has a book you want and you have a book they want, why not swap them?
This technique can help you save money on college textbooks which are essential in lowering the cost of your college degree.
Another effective way to save money on college textbooks is to share textbooks with your classmates. All you have to do is to split the cost and share the textbook. Not only that you will save money using this strategy, but you will also get study buddies and grow your friendship network at the same time.
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