My continuation of research into how to cut expenses in college caused me to think about one of the times I dread most during the school year: the beginning of the quarter when I will head to the bookstore to spend hundreds of dollars on textbooks. I am lucky if I only have to spend $100.00 per class on books, most of the time it ends up costing more. For students who are enrolled in three courses, the cost of textbooks can be upwards of $300.00 per quarter. Most students are enrolled in at least four courses per quarter, making their total come to at least $400.00 per quarter. This equates to a minimum of $900.00-$1,200.00 per year on books, resulting in a grand total of at least $3,600.00-$4,800.00 on textbooks over the course of four years (and that’s if you are on the four year plan, many students take five years to graduate).
I don’t know about you, but to me the idea of spending upwards of $3,600.00 on books that I will only read once (and may barely read at all due to the time constraints of the quarter) seems completely ridiculous. Obviously books are necessary to succeed in college even if you only skim them for key points or use them to clarify topics discussed in lectures. But how do you cut the costs of textbooks? Obviously (first and foremost) you must avoid the bookstore. They charge too much!!!
Through my research (and personal experiences) I came up with two key rules and four unorthodox ways to save money on textbooks.
The Rules:
1. NEVER buy new books, ALWAYS buy them used
2. ALWAYS try to sell your books back at the end of the quarter
The Ways to Save:
Share With a Classmate
Finding one or two classmates in each classes who would be willing to split the cost of the textbook and then sharing the book is an awesome way to minimize the amount of money you spend on textbooks. Dividing the cost of books in half or even in thirds can save hundreds of dollars each quarter and thousands by the time graduation comes around. If you are worried about potential conflicts that can arise from sharing the book, just set up a schedule each week as to who gets the book on what days. Obviously no one needs a certain book 24/7, so coming up with a schedule that works for everyone is easy. Just swap the book with the people you are sharing it with every class session.
Total Savings by Sharing Books with a Classmate: at least $450.00 per year
Utilize the Library
Most professors will put at least one copy of the course textbook on reserve in the library. Most libraries put a time limit on how long you can use textbooks put on reserve; the time limit is somewhere around two hours. There is no cost to use the library and no cost to use any books in the reserves. Using the textbooks on reserve results in you spending no money on books. Ever.
Total Savings by Utilizing the Library: at least $900.00 per year
Buy Online
One of the most common ways for students to try and save money on textbook is to order them online. Buying used books online from Amazon.com, BigWords.com, or Half.com can often save you up to 50% or more on textbooks. Just be sure to buy the books at least a couple weeks before the quarter starts so you have them ready to go on the first day of class.
Total Savings from Buying Online: over $450.00 per year
Rent Books
Utilizing online textbook rentals such as Chegg.com, BookRenter.com, or CollegeBookRenter.com can save you up to 85% on textbooks. All you do is rent the book, use it for the quarter, and return it at the end of the quarter. It’s simple, easy, and cheap!
Total Savings from Renting Books: over $450.00 per year
Remember, there is never any reason to pay full price for textbooks, even if you are forced to buy from the university bookstore. Shop smart and shop before the quarter starts to maximize your savings.
