Comments on: A College Student’s Guide To Saving Money on Textbooks

By: Daniel

Daniel — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 15:10:42 +0000

Your tips are very sound.
A couple points I’d like to add though:
Renting/Purchasing/Selling books online can definitely cut your costs over the long run.
I have several sites and other hints about textbook purchases highlighted on my website: studentfinancialadvice.blogspot.com

By: Studenomist

Studenomist — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:04:29 +0000

@Mel I can totally relate with the library comment. For the popular courses you can show up at the library a few hours before an exam, borrow the text book and study all day. Other courses your SOL on the first day of the semester. When that happens I check an independent site formed by former students that pretty much acts like a textbook broker. I do whatever I can to get that textbook at a lower price.

By: Mel

Mel — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:06:12 +0000

This semester I don’t plan on buying any textbooks. Like you’ve mentioned, I made the mistake of buying everything on the list in my very first semester. I bought what I could second hand but I still shelled out about 120USD, which is almost two weeks rent for me!

The main problem with the library is that everyone hires them out and places holds on them as soon as they start the semester (100s of students, 10 copies of the book, you do the math). I hope to get around this by getting in early, I’ve read and taken notes on a few of my required textbooks and the Australian semester hasn’t started yet. It also means I have a good foundation going into my courses. The downside: you have to be pretty dedicated to read textbooks in your holiday time. Luckily I’m very passionate about my area of study and I just see them as new books to read.

By: tom

tom — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 03:37:06 +0000

Another great post.

I wish I used the above techniques more when I was in University.
I did however use a different technique, which is kind of questionable.
I bought books for like 10 or 20 bucks that were photocopied. My friends had access to photocopy machines so they could hook this up for us.

In all, I find it a bit ridiculous that every year they come out with a new edition and so many students (like me, before) were forced to fork out money to buy them.

By: Stephanie PTY

Stephanie PTY — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:51:50 +0000

You didn’t include the number 1 way I get most of my textbooks: buy online, usually used from Amazon.com! It’s usually cheaper than the bookstore’s used prices (sometimes even the new copy on Amazon is cheaper than the used bookstore copy!).

I also, as Ruben mentioned, rent some of my textbooks from Chegg. Usually I do a cost analysis on my textbooks to figure out what the best combination is. Most often, I end up buying most of them used on Amazon, and renting one or two from Chegg.

By: Studenomist

Studenomist — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:18:06 +0000

I totally agree with you on using the library for courses that are based on case studies. Unfortuneatly the problem with my school is that the library is usually very packed and often they conveniently don’t carry some of the more expensive textbooks.

This semester I only play on purchasing 2 textbooks. Both will be purchased used and split with a buddy who has the same schedule as me. One of the books that we pretty much have to buy is one that carries case studies simply because it is a new edition and the cases make up a major portion of the course grade.

Congratulations for getting into Grad School and I wish you all the best with your education and blogging ventures! I have a feeling I will be coming to you for advice next year when I will be considering Grad School.

By: Doctor S

Doctor S — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:45:52 +0000

I am currently working on a part time masters degree so backs are a huge issue to still deal with for me. Yet, I counter this by using option #4: I do ot buy them at all! In this day and age, where the internet and google are so powerful, you can find any bit of information you need. Unless your teacher is asking you questions on a quiz or exam, “What is the fourth word on page 7 after the word ‘bailout’…” then you will be fine. Many classes buy books for case studies and if that is the case the library should have it on reserve as well. All about being resourceful in this day and age!

By: Studenomist

Studenomist — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:42:57 +0000

One thing I do know is that if do want to sell a textbook the beginning of the semester is the best time to do so. I’m actually going to school today to hang up a few flyers with a list of the textbooks that I have to sell. Obviously the major issue for me is that most of these textbooks are no longer valid since it seems that every semester there is a new edition.

I have never tried an international edition but I know of other students that have. All I can say is that as long as you attain the grade you were aiming for in the course then how can you complain? My rule is that as long as I can follow along with the course then there is no problem with having a different edition.

By: Philip

Philip — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:49:47 +0000

After graduation now I still have a pile of books, I would recommend that after you use them to try to sell them back if you can get at least a decent return, I have not touched mine in the year since school, I just use google for most reference.

What are your thoughts on international edition books? I used quite a few of these and most of the time it was fine, the only issue that came up was when it would use all SI units and the US edition had some english units for math and engineering problems. Usually the paperback is easier to carry and lighter.

By: Studenomist

Studenomist — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:51:43 +0000

Better yet what you could do is go to the library, read the textbook, and make notes. The reason this has worked for me in the past is because I tend to procrastinate. By having the textbook for a limited amount of time I am forced to effectively manage my time thus leading to full utilization of time. I will be busy at the library this week trying to figure out which textbooks are available and which I’m going to have to actually procure for the semester.