How to Save Money On: Textbooks

Textbooks are a huge money guzzler in college and I know this because the reail value of my books for this semester was upwards of $700 dollars! You know that I am into saving money and thus did not even think of paying that. I ended up paying just over $200 for my books. And I am going to tell you how you can too!

1. Buy Used. I am sure that most of you know this already but never buy a book new when you can buy it used. A used book is the exact same as the new one save for some scratches, highlighting, etc. You should be able to find used textbooks at your local bookstores but remember to get on that fast because used books sell out first!
2. Ask Around. I have gotten books for free just because my friend/roommate/anyone else I knew had the book from a previous semester and never sold it back. If you are absolutely overcome by the fact that you didn't have to pay for this book you are borrowing/being given offer to pay the person a little for it. Maybe? I am taking a lot of the same courses that my cousin has already taken (and he saved some of his books) so I always ask before I buy. Even ask friends at other universities, sometimes the books are the same!
3. Go Online. I believe that this is my best tip because I find the best deals online. It almost amazes me how many people do not realize this. My roommates will buy books costing $600 all from the local bookstore when they could shop around online and save around 75%! My favorite places are amazon and ebay. I seriously find used books on these sites (more so amazon than ebay though) that cost 90% less than the used books at my bookstores. I bought an accounting book online that cost me $25 that used in the bookstore would have cost me $135! Crazy, right!? All I am saying is shop around and it will be worth your while!

Sometimes there are book requirements that you just cannot get for lower prices though. Sometimes like when a teacher wants a specific university edition, etc. In those times I would use the ask around method and if that is a no go try to find it used. When those two are a no-go I just have to suck it up and buy it (or not buy it...).

So those are the methods that have been saving me money on my textbooks in college!