1. Look for the Textbooks at the College Library
Numerous colleges maintain their own libraries which, at times, offer textbooks on a reserved basis for students to borrow free of charge. Try not to purchase a book before consulting with your library if they have a copy you may utilize for the semester. Some have even offered digital copies that can be accessed 24/7.
2. Renting is Better than Buying
Renting textbooks is another option to consider if you would like to cut costs. Students are able to rent books from Chegg, Amazon, and CampusBooks for a fraction of the purchase price. There are some services that allow students to set their own rental duration to accommodate their academic calendar.
3. Buy Textbooks That Have Already Being Used
Textbooks that have already been used are offered at a much more affordable price than buying new ones. Check AbeBooks, ThriftBooks, and eBay for secondhand items. There may also be a section dedicated to used books at your college store, which may help save some more dollars.
4. Check for Online Textbooks That Are Free of Charge
Some websites offer textbooks for free and funnel them into the digital domain. OpenStax as well as Project Gutenberg and Google Books have an endless supply of academic books available online for free. Never forget to see if the textbook you want to buy has an open-source or a free version available.
5. Utilize PDF and EBook Versions
Prices for digital versions of textbooks are often significantly cheaper than their printed counterparts. eTextbook rental services like VitalSource, RedShelf, and Kindle offer competitively priced rentals. Some students also make the PDFs publicly available on educational forums and groups.
6. Search for Foreign Editions
Foreign editions of textbooks are typically far less expensive than US editions. These books contain the same material, albeit with different covers and lower quality paper. Book Depository and BetterWorldBooks are great sites that offer lower prices for international editions.
7. Trade or Borrow from Fellow Students
Becoming part of student forums, Facebook groups, or community college boards has helped many students find peers willing to lend or swap textbooks. Other students often give away books for free after the semester.
8. Try Some Online Stores
Local listings for textbooks is commonly found on sites like Craigslist, OfferUp, Facebook marketplace, etc. These services often provide books at lower prices. Local sellers can also help evade shipping costs while receiving the books very quickly.
9. Use Online Subscription-Based Services for Textbooks
Multiple textbook access for a monthly fee is offered by services such as Scribd, Perlego, Cengage Unlimited, etc. If there are multiple courses requiring expensive books, subscription services can be very handy.
10. Ask Your Professor to Lend You a Copy
In certain cases, professors possess spare copies or older editions they are happy to share. If the price of a given book is steep, kindly explain the situation and ask if they could recommend some other sources or share additional materials to help you with the course.
11. Skip the Campus Bookstore’s Price Gouging
Books at college bookstores are typically overpriced. If you are forced to purchase from the bookstore, see if they have a price matching policy with online stores or if they have some sort of buyback plan for getting money back at the end of the semester.
12. Buy Early and Plan Ahead
Textbook prices frequently spike just as the semester commences. If possible, try to purchase books well ahead of time or during slow periods when few people buy books.
13. Participate in Book Buyback Programs
In case you have to purchase books, think about selling them back after the semester ends. BookScouter, for example, compares buyback prices from a variety of sellers so you can maximize your returns when reselling.
These strategies can help students save a lot of money on textbooks by finding different resources while still getting the same education.
