The average college student will spend over $1,000
a year on textbooks alone. Textbooks are one of the highest college
expenses of students outside of room and board. For those of us who
have experienced the pain and suffering caused by textbook prices, we
are less than surprised by these facts. However, for college freshmen,
they are definitely in for a not-so-pleasant surprise when it comes
to textbooks. The good news is that now more than ever there are several
ways that students can save money on textbooks.
- Always Buy Used
An oldie but goodie: always buy used textbooks. While
some bookstores or professors will try to stress getting the new edition,
the changes are usually so small that you can get away with buying an
older edition of a textbook at a fraction of the price. If possible,
compare the new edition to older editions to ensure that the changes
will not hinder your education at all.
- Embrace Technological Advances
Put the computer, smartphone or tablet that mom and
dad got you for school to good use by buying e-versions of textbooks.
E-versions are growing in popularity due to their inexpensive and transportable
nature. Instead of carrying around 15 pounds of heavy books you can
simply bring your laptop.
- Make the Library Your Second Home
Hopefully you will make a habit out of going to the
library for quiet study time and you can also use the library to save
money on textbooks. Check the local library to see if they have copies
of some of your textbooks. Many schools have a couple copies of textbooks
that they will allow you to rent out or read in the library for a few
hours. Scan and print any important pages that you may need while you
are in the library.
- Rent Textbooks
New companies have formed that have heard students’
cries and have created textbook rental systems. These companies allow
students to simply rent new editions of books at a lower cost. This
allows you to only keep the books for as long as you need them and helps
students avoid the heartache of only getting a few dollars back when
they try to sell their textbooks back to the bookstores.
- Use Social Networks For More Than Socializing
Believe it or not all of your social networking skills
can actually help you save money. Everyone in college is trying to save
money just like you are so do not be afraid to ask around or post a
message looking for people who are selling the books you need. People
would definitely be appreciative to get any type of payment for a book
they no longer need or cannot sell back.
College is hard but there is help. Remember that
you are not alone and that everyone has experienced budgeting problems
while in college. Do you have any tips for saving money on textbooks?
Share any ways that you have found that make saving money on textbooks
easier.
____________________________________________________________________
About the Author
Lindsay Traiman is a writer for
Skyo. Skyo is an online site for renting college textbooks at a discount
with a variety of flexible rental options. For more information and
college tips visit www.skyo.com and Skyo’s college blog.
