If y'all have been around here anytime at all, you know that I have a senior in high school. College is on my mind...well...all the time. I tend to blog about what is happening in our life at any given moment. So college prep posts have become common place around these parts. I hope someone out there gets some benefit from my experiences.
As a senior in high school, my daughter is already taking some college courses at the local community college. I must say, I remember books being expensive but inflation has definitely taken over! Right now we are only purchasing books for two classes. In the fall, when she is attending full time, I cannot imaging what our bill will be. So of course I started doing some research and thought I would list here a few ways I have found to save money on college textbooks. Plus I need to ask for you experienced moms to help me out and put some more ways to save in the comments below. I am going to need every tip I can get. My tips:
1) Used books -- scour the local college book store, amazon, and any other internet source for a used version of your book. This tip was what I used to get through college so of course I went to it first. You run into the same old problems where you can't find the particular version of the book you need. Plus I can totally remember getting stuck with a book that I couldn't resell at the end of the semester because a newer version was available.
2) Books on Kindle -- I was shocked to see that some college text books are now available electronically. I am sure there will come a day when all of them are available and that is all you have to carry around with you during the day. But alas, we are not there yet and not all books are available this way.
3) Renting college textbooks. Yes books are now available for you to RENT. Entire websites are dedicated to your book renting needs. An example is CampusBookRentals. A 40-90% savings off of purchasing a new book. Free shipping both ways. And you can even highlight in the book you receive! I must say that we will be scouring CampusBookRentals in the fall for all of our textbook needs. One example book is $192 new and you can rent it for the semester for $71. Yes y'all might be shocked at the $192 original price that is quoted. But trust me, that is the new prices on books these days...crazy. But the renting price is amazing (okay amazing in comparison). Plus you get to clear that clutter at the end of the semester and send all of your books back.
So far those are the strategies we are using to save a little money this fall. Any other tips for me? Ideas? Please HELP! I feel so inexperienced when I even think about sending my daughter to college. This is my first college aged child and I am winging this one as I go!
CampusBookRentals paid for a mention in this post. However, all opinions and ideas are my own.
~Thanks for stopping by!~
~Angie~
5 comments:
After four years of college (and currently in graduate school), I've learned how to play the game. I hope this helps!
1. Buying used is a must, earlier the better. Online is usually cheaper than the school stores.
2. Depending on the subject and type of book, you can buy an older version for super cheap (because really, history doesn't change much). You can always ask the professor if it'll be okay.
3. Resell the books online or to people taking the same class the next semester (put up flyers near the classroom). Sometimes I even make a profit.
4. One of the really great things is when you and a classmate or classmates agree to share a book (built-in study group!), or you trade textbooks with friends who no longer need theirs for ones you no longer need.
5. Sometimes you can find the textbook in the library (and use the library or scan pages). I've even had professors that kept a few copies of the required textbook and let us borrow them for short periods of time.
Rent book? Love it. My daughter usually gets used copies on Amazon. Good luck with your daughter. I admire her for taking college classes while still in HS. Good going!
XO,
Jane
At my College the professors were required to put at minimum one copy of the course text on reserve in the library. For courses that rarely referenced a text this was perfect.
bookspricecomparison.com is a great website!
Dont buy a book unless the prof says you really need it!
Sell back on whattever site you can when the class is over!
Ask to buy books, notes, etc from someone who already took the class!
Last semester, Amazon had a guaranteed buyback. We kept screenshots of the book's page, just to be sure. That way, if a new edition comes out,you don't get stuck with it. My son(now a JR)always checks with teacher to see if book will really be used. he also has split cost with classmates for 1 book. Also, check with students who have taken the course, and see if the book was used, and for what. Many times, the book was never even referred to, or it was just used for problem sets, or for 1 chapter. In our experience(with 1 through college, and 1 Jr.)books are listed for classes because the teacher has to list a book,even if they never use it. Don't jump in and buy every book right off the bat.
Also, at the end of the semester, sell back right away, as the price decreases as the stores/booksellers get more copies in.
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