Budgeting Tips When Buying Textbooks

So you’ve paid for your tuition and now it’s time for the textbooks. Your college guides you towards their textbook store, you so can overspend on your books and pump even more money into the university.  So why buy them there when you can get them online at a fraction of the cost? Buying textbooks online can save you hundreds of dollars but, in order for you to get the best prices on textbooks when shopping online, here are some tips.

Buy Textbooks Used

You will save the most money by buying used textbooks. You can find used textbooks at online bookstores. They are generally is good condition and will save you tons of money in the end.

Buy Your Textbooks Early

Textbooks sell out fast in a short period of time. That’s because most students purchase their textbooks the week before school starts and the week after. When the demand for textbooks increases, the prices are going to increase. Also, you can get access to more used textbooks if you buy early since used textbooks sell out fast.  Your university will post a textbooks list in advance but, if that’s not the case, then do some research. Contact former students who have taken that class or contact the professor who is teaching the class.

Check into Older Editions

Most textbooks are just updated textbooks of its original. Older editions can be essentially the same as its newer versions, so you should consider purchasing older editions as they are significantly cheaper than their newer versions. Talk with your professor or TA to find out if the older editions would work for the course.

Look for Low or Free Shipping Costs

There are many book websites that offer low or free shipping. Getting free shipping is an added bonus when buying textbooks online. You can save 10% by getting free shipping. If you can’t find your textbook at a website offering free shipping, consider buying your textbook from an online store located close to you so that the shipping costs are minimized.

Re-sell your Books

If you keep your books in good condition and if you don’t need your books in the future, send back your books to the online store you bought them from. They may buy your books back from you.

Shop Different Online Book Stores

It is very important to compare prices when buying online. Some online stores can offer you used versions of your textbooks thereby saving you money and others just have lower prices.

One of the best websites to go to compare prices from different booksellers is AbeBooks.com. It is the largest online book marketplace and it also offers free shipping. Another great thing about AbeBooks is that they release coupons and discounts so their users can save even more money. Find the best AbeBooks coupon code at Coupon Gravy!

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Tags: AbeBooks, College, Education, Learning, School, Textbooks, University