When I was a student at the University of CA, Santa Cruz, I’d flock to the campus bookstore with hundreds of other college kids on the first day of classes, throw every required book up on the counter (without glancing at the prices—they were required!) and pull out the plastic. I spent thousands on books during college, and it added to the mighty debt I faced when I graduated.
So save yourself a little grief (and some dollars in interest) by shopping smart for your textbooks. According to the New York Times online, students spend an average of $700 to $1,100 a year on textbooks. Here are a few tricks that could save you many thousands over the course of your college career:
1. Purchase electronic books. If you’re comfortable doing your work and reading on a laptop, this can mean saving yourself 50%.
2. Shop international editions. It’s an industry secret that they cost significantly less; you can search for them here.
3. Rent your books. It’s the latest trend in textbook savings, and it can save you half or more of the cover price. Check out chegg.com.
4. Bookshare with pals who share your major.
5. Download books with ads imbedded in the pages for huge savings at textbookmedia.com.
6. Buy used at your local bookstore or sites like eBay.com.
If saving thousands over a four-year period doesn’t seem like much compared to your whopping tuition, think again. Many students pay for their books with credit, which multiplies when you consider interest paid over time. College expenses can be overwhelming, but there are countless tricks for cutting back and getting that degree for less. For more financial tips geared toward college students, check out our money guides here.
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