Buying Textbooks - Ways to Save

Most High School students don’t think about the cost of textbooks, since their schools make them available to them. However students that are enrolled in more, non-traditional schooling or taking private courses to make – up or get ahead in - credits most times will have to buy their own textbooks. Textbooks are expensive, something that

 anyone who has ever taken a college course can tell you!

 There are ways that students can help cut the cost of textbooks, if they are enrolled in a program that would require them to be responsible for buying their own.

 Used Textbooks – see if the bookstore students are referred to sells used books. But, if the bookstore doesn’t sell used books, or is out of the title needed, there may still be some great deals out on the internet. Students can check Amazon and E-Bay for used titles. Students can also try websites such as www.bigwords.com, which will do an internet search for the best prices on the book requested. BigWords also has an iPhone App that students can download to have access to the best deals they can find at their fingertips.

 Rent books – There are other websites, such as www.chegg.com, where students can search for and then rent textbooks. Perfect for students who have a stricter deadline, instead of purchasing the book outright, students pay to have the book for a certain length of time, and then return it when your rental period is up.

 Recoup some of your expense – If all else fails, and students aren’t able to either find a used copy, or a rental copy and do end up needed to pay full price for textbooks, there is still a possibility of recouping some of the expense of textbooks by selling the books back to the bookstore they were purchased from, or by selling them on sites such as Amazon or E-Bay.

 Some schools may also purchase books back from students as well. Students and parents should be prepared since buyback prices are typically much lower than the price that books are sold for. 

Of course, students do need to protect themselves as much as possible if they choose to look for books from any othersource besides the bookstore their school recommends. They will need to have the title, author, edition, and ISBN code to make their search as easy as possible. If students do choose to buy from individuals on sites such as Amazon or E-Bay, be sure that they check the Seller’s feedback and ratings.