Tuition, student loans, keeping your fridge stocked—student life is expensive. That’s especially true when you only have part-time availability to earn the money you need to pay for these expenses. Fortunately, we have a way you can save money on your schooling: half-priced textbooks.
Yes, there are several ways you can save half or more on the required literature for your college courses.
You’ll find seven of these cost-cutting methods in the guide below. Before you’re too broke to continue your education, read and follow these tips to find half-priced textbooks and beyond.
1. Don’t Buy Books On-Campus
With college textbooks, like anything else in life, you should never accept the first offer you’re given without question. You should always shop around and price out the best deal on the texts you need.
Starting early is a big part of this. Find out as soon as you can what books you need for your classes. If you can, find out before the courses even begin.
This will give you more time to find the best deal.
Furthermore, while it’s possible that the best deal will be the campus bookstore, it’s highly unlikely. The price of campus-sold books tends to be above average.
ISBN
When pricing out your books, the easiest way is using the International Standard Book Number (ISBN). Just like it sounds, the ISBN is like a serial number for the exact book and edition you’re looking for.
This number is the same everywhere. So, no matter what book store you’re browsing, you’ll find the right book simply by looking up its ISBN.
2. Buy Used
Again, it should be no surprise that used books are cheaper than new books. Plus, it makes no difference to you if it’s new or secondhand. The information inside is the same, right?
Actually, that’s where you have to be careful. If you pay for the correct book but an incorrect edition, it’s a big waste of money.
For one thing, you have to find a way to (hopefully) get your money back on the book you purchased. And then, since you probably didn’t notice the book was wrong until after class started, you have less time to look for a good deal on the right book.
So, again, pay attention to the ISBN when shopping for used books.
Another benefit is that you may even end up paying nothing for them or you might find half-priced textbooks. Once you’ve finished the course (and taken very good care of your books), you should be able to resell your books at around the same price you bought them at.
3. Rent
Renting may be better than buying used, but it depends. For example, if the course time is only one week or less, of course you’ll save money renting. In this case, since you only need the book for a very short amount of time, you’ll only pay a minimal rental fee, as it should be.
But if the course lasts an entire semester, those rental fees add up. You might find a better deal buying used. Plus, if you buy in this situation, you can get your book earlier (and be fully prepared before class starts) without increasing the price.
4. E-Textbooks
E-books are another great option for lots of reasons. For one, you can usually rent them for very cheap. For two, you don’t have to worry about book theft, loss, or damage.
For three, you needn’t worry about shipping. That is, you neither have to pay money for shipping or wait for your book to arrive.
Your e-book downloads instantly. So, you won’t get behind in class because you’re still waiting on your book delivery.
There is a potential drawback to e-textbooks, though. You’ll never get back any of the money you spend on them.
When you buy used books, you can resell them. Not so with e-books. The money you invest in them is spent, forever.
5. Pay Nothing
No, we’re not suggesting you rob the bookstore. We’re suggesting you check all nearby libraries for the books you need.
While this option is free, there’s a reason it’s not first on the list. Specifically, it’s kind of a longshot.
Obviously, you’re not the only broke student taking this course. And the library won’t likely have an immense quantity of the specific book your course requires.
So, it’s first come, first served. If you want any shot of success with this method, get your booklist way in advance. Then, check the libraries as soon as you get it, and check out your books.
Just make sure you’re aware of the libraries’ policies on borrowing durations. You don’t want to end up paying for late books.
You’ll probably have to check out these textbooks more than once. And there may be limitations on how many times you can do that.
6. Talk to Your Counselor
There’s a reason colleges have academic counselors. It’s to help students with the various struggles of college life. One universal issue they’re very familiar with is the financial hardship of higher learning.
While it’s true the school is profiting from you, they won’t have much success by being harsh and unsupportive of their students. As such, many colleges have scholarships, student discount programs, and other forms of aid to help students with their various educational expenses.
You need only to ask them. Find out from your college’s counseling or administrative services what programs, if any, are available to help you. If you can’t get discounted books you may still find other financial help, like free campus food.
You can also try the government. Do a web search on government-sponsored student aid programs you may be eligible for. If nothing else, you should at least receive a tax rebate.
7. Sharing Is Caring
Finally, your last option is neither buying, renting, or borrowing. It’s sharing.
Work out a deal to share textbooks with a student from your class and split the cost. Your sharing partner must be easy to reach and very, very trustworthy (we would triple-underline this if we could).
As you’ve no doubt guessed, that last part is why this is last on our list. Entering financial agreements with other broke students is, if possible, even riskier than it sounds. And, already, it sounds pretty risky.
Save Big Bucks With Half-Priced Textbooks
Why pay full price when you can pay half-price or less? Actually, forget about “why or why not”—just don’t do it! Instead, follow these tips to get half-priced textbooks.
Now, are you burnt-out from textbooks? Then check out our top books for your college leisure reading list.