Going to college can be expensive, especially when you figure in the cost of textbooks as well as tuition. One way to save is to buy your books early. Try to go to the campus bookstore as soon as you sign up for your classes. There is actually a federal law that requires colleges and universities that receive federal funding to have textbooks available to students at average prices.
Some books are cheaper during the middle of the semester, so if you plan on taking that class in the following semester, you should buy it while you can. Also, if you can, look around at the different books and try to find used ones. These will cost less than new, of course, and will save you a few dollars that you may need for other materials required for the class.
Another way to save is to find a friend who already took the class and buy the book from them. They will most likely sell it to you for a cheaper price than the bookstore would. You can also look on school bulletin boards or in classified ads or through mutual acquaintances.
Having a fellow student sell you their book may actually help them out as well, because they can probably get more money from you than they would selling it back to the school and still save you money. Buying your books online may also save you money. Some sites may have discounts or used books and you can avoid standing in line at the bookstore.
Using financial aid to help pay for your textbooks can also save you money, because it won’t actually be coming out of your pocket. Check with your financial aid officer to see if you can pay for your books, as well as your tuition when your money arrives.
Another problem with textbooks happens when you try to sell them back at the end of the semester. You may pay $75 for the book and only get $10 when you sell it back. Sometimes they won’t take it back at all if it’s an older edition. Selling your books online may help you get back more for your books.
When buying or selling your textbooks it is important to approach it with the best frame of mind. Do some research, check online, and talk to fellow students who have taken the class. Hopefully, buying your textbooks will be one of the easier tasks you undertake in college.
I use sites like Chegg and BigWords, BigWords even promises to buy your textbook back for 75% of the cost (or some incredibly high figure like that).