An Education in Saving on Textbooks


Every year students flock to the college bookstore to purchase the various textbooks that they require for their classes. Little do these students realize that, in doing so, they are throwing good money away. As unbelievable as it may seem textbooks, in some cases, actually cost as much, if not more, than tuition.

On the surface the college bookstore may seem like a convenient source for textbooks. Titles are usually in-stock and students may purchase new textbooks or opt for the cheaper alternative of used books. In truth the money saved by purchasing used textbooks from the college bookstore is only a fraction of the amount that students could be saving if they shopped online.

More and more online booksellers have begun selling textbooks at a considerable discount off of the cover price. In fact, many major booksellers now have special areas of their web sites that are devoted to selling nothing but textbooks. Online used bookstores are another source for college books as they stock a large number of textbooks, which means sizable savings for students. There are also web-based retailers whose inventory is entirely devoted to college books.

Students should avoid purchasing their textbooks at the first store that they browse. Instead, they should investigate the alternatives offered by other online booksellers. Price isn't the only factor to consider when making an online purchase. Students should also factor in shipping costs and delivery time when making their buying decision.

Online auctions are another option for students seeking a bargain. This option, however, has its pros and cons. A plus is that students can get incredible bargains when obtaining books via online auctions. One downside is that established retailers have channels in place to ensure that you receive your order within a reasonable amount of time. With an auction purchase, however, you are at the mercy of the auction seller's timetable.

One way that students can really save is by obtaining books for free. Project Gutenberg is one resource that English majors will find invaluable. At this site students can peruse a vast collection of classics that have entered the public domain. In the past students seeking assistance with their studies had to pay for the privilege of that help by purchasing study guides. Today that is no longer the case. Cash-strapped students can now visit Spark Notes for free downloadable study guides as well as free downloadable classics.

Students who elect to buy online will no longer be able to resell their books to the college bookstore at the end of class, but that doesn't mean that they are stuck with the textbooks. Many web sites that sell textbooks also offer students the option of selling their books to fellow bargain-seekers. This allows students to easily recouping a portion of their money.

Textbooks normally consume a major portion of a student's budget, but that doesn't have to be the case, because while the cost of tuition may be set in stone the price of textbooks isn't. By taking the time to do a little research on the best textbook values available college students can save money now rather than acquiring debt to be paid back later.

Copyright © 2004 Heather Wallace

Heather Wallace is founder of http://www.BargainMartian.com Visit to take advantage of the out of this world bargains from leading merchants found in this comprehensive directory of deals, rebates, bargains, coupons, and money-saving offers.







Related News



College gets grant to improve teaching in low-performing schools - Sacramento Bee

College gets grant to improve teaching in low-performing schools
Sacramento Bee,  USA -2 hours ago
... and Claremont Graduate University and Pomona Unified. The grant to Chico State's School of Education and College of Natural Sciences in partnership with ...
Feather River College and Chico State try new degree programCentral Valley Business Times
CSUCI enrollment period will end Nov. 30Camarillo Acorn
all 4 news articles

Amid protests, ban lifted on dorm displays at University of Texas - Dallas Morning News

ABC News

Amid protests, ban lifted on dorm displays at University of Texas
Dallas Morning News, TX -Oct 10, 2008
But the adamant protests of the College Republicans, University Democrats and other students caused officials to rethink the policy, said Jeff Graves of the ...
UT reverses punishment of students for political signHouston Chronicle
University Of Texas Decides Not To Punish Students For Obama ...CollegeOTR
Texas Targets Two Students Over Political Window SignsU.S. News & World Report
Politico - Houston Chronicle
all 214 news articles

Tenn. college student charged in e-mail threat - The Associated Press

CollegeOTR

Tenn. college student charged in e-mail threat
The Associated Press -Oct 9, 2008
(AP) — A 19-year-old student at Middle Tennessee State University has been arrested on terrorism charges after threatening e-mails forced the cancellation ...
Video: Tennessee Student Charged With TerrorismAssociatedPress
all 387 news articles

ND University System Chancellor Bill Goetz, Bismarck, column: ND ... - Grand Forks Herald

ND University System Chancellor Bill Goetz, Bismarck, column: ND ...
Grand Forks Herald, ND -4 hours ago
... the 2009-11 budget request also limits four-year university tuition increases to no more than 4 percent per year and holds community college tuition ...

Virginia Tech To Host Climate Change Summit; Hundreds Of Youth ... - WTKR Your NewsChannel 3

Voice of America

Virginia Tech To Host Climate Change Summit; Hundreds Of Youth ...
WTKR Your NewsChannel 3, VA -15 hours ago
... Radford University, George Mason University, Northern Virginia Community College, University of Mary Washington, Virginia Commonwealth University, ...
Can one school's college democrats change a state from red to blue?College News
Republicans hope to improve their campaign grade by going back to ...Irish Times
College students face barriers to votingDetNews.com
Bloomberg - Barre Montpelier Times Argus
all 61 news articles

State school outshines private rivals - Independent

CollegeOTR

State school outshines private rivals
Independent, UK -10 hours ago
*Rafuku Kobuyashu: Cambridge, University College London, Imperial, London School of Economics and Royal Holloway. *Jitesh Mistry: University College London, ...
Degrees from top universities boost earning powerguardian.co.uk
Recognition where it's dueGlobe and Mail
Britons give California colleges the nodLos Angeles Times
Bloomberg - The Statesman
all 315 news articles

Metabolic Syndrome Raises Colon Cancer Risk 75% - Washington Post

Metabolic Syndrome Raises Colon Cancer Risk 75%
Washington Post, United States -13 hours ago
The finding stems from an analysis conducted by Scott Tenner and his colleagues from the State University of New York and New York College of Osteopathic ...
Lung cancer in non-smokers a separate diseaseReuters
all 11 news articles


Husson College to become a university - Portsmouth Herald News

Husson College to become a university
Portsmouth Herald News, NH -15 hours ago
By AP At the stroke of midnight Saturday, the Bangor school will be renamed Husson University. At homecoming festivities earlier in the day, Maine Gov. ...

Fired professor in noose incident sues Columbia - The Associated Press

1010 Wins

Fired professor in noose incident sues Columbia
The Associated Press -8 hours ago
NEW YORK (AP) — A black Columbia University teacher who reported finding a noose on her door is suing the New York City school for firing her after a ...
Professor in Columbia noose sandal sues over firing for plagiarismNew York Daily News
Fired Professor Madonna Constantine Sues ColumbiaCU Columbia Spectator
Fired Professor In Noose Incident Sues Columbia U.WNBC
all 140 news articles

Usrey to leave dean’s post at Friends University - Bizjournals.com

Usrey to leave dean’s post at Friends University
Bizjournals.com, NC -18 hours ago
The dean of the Friends University College of Business, Arts, Sciences, and Education will be the next president of a Lithuanian university, ...
University of Memphis digs deeper to meet budget cutsMemphis Commercial Appeal
all 9 news articles