Buying textbooks is easily overlooked by a lot of students when preparing for an upcoming semester. Any campus bookstore is packed to the brim during the first week of classes and their supply of the books you need can vanish quickly.
If you’re a college student or will be soon, it’s important to have a strategy in the back of your mind for purchasing the textbooks you’ll need for the upcoming semester. Many students put off getting their books until the last minute or forget until they’re sitting in the first day of class, and all of a sudden need to come up with the hundreds of dollars for books needed to keep pace with the curriculum.
Here are a few tips to make sure you’re buying your textbooks in the easiest and most affordable way:
Buy Early
Start getting your textbooks as soon you know your final class schedule (sometimes it might not be finalized until after the first week of classes, other times you’ll know it months in advance). Under a new federal law that just went into effect July 1st, colleges and universities receiving federal funds must provide students with average textbook prices as soon as the student signs up for the class. This is useful information, especially when you’re looking to buy your books early. Ordinarily, you can get books for a much lower price in the middle of the semester or summer than you can during the beginning or end of a semester, when prices are higher. If you find a good deal on a book and are fairly confident you’ll end up taking the class which requires it, then snatch it up now.
Look for Good Prices From Other Students
Find people who might have taken the same course in a previous semester that you’re taking now. They’re usually happy to sell their textbook to you for a fairly low price. Check bulletin boards, facebook, craigslist, or just ask around. Usually you can get the book for a lower price than you would at the bookstore, and the seller will get more money than he or she would selling it back. It works out well for everyone!
Buy Online
College textbook prices don’t really adhere to the laws of supply and demand, but at least online there’s some more competition for books. Many sites carry used or new textbooks at a far lower cost than you’ll find at school. Again, buy early – it might take a couple of weeks for the books to be shipped and delivered.
Sell Online
At bookstores on- and off-campus you’ll likely get a pittance when trying to sell back your textbooks – that is, if they buy them back at all. It’s a lot easier to list your books on an online marketplace, preferably one where you can connect with buyers at your own school. Even if you find someone across the country who wants your book, the shipping costs are low compared to the extra cash in your pocket.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Some financial aid packages and scholarships include funds for things like textbooks, housing, food, etc. Check with your school’s financial aid office to see if you can qualify for money to buy your books.
These tips can really help lower the cost of a semester’s worth of textbooks. Don’t forget to shop around, look online for deals or promotions, and be patient when trying to resell.
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