Tag Archives: college textbooks

Textbooks Made Easy

 

This post is sponsored by Barnes & Noble. All content and opinions expressed here are my own.

textbooks

When my first child went to college, I almost died when I got the bill for her textbooks. Some of them cost close to $200, and the total cost for all her textbooks the first year was close to $1,500. I was not prepared for this added expense. At the time, students were forced to buy books from the bookstore without many other options available. Even used textbooks were pricey and some professors used new books that weren’t available used, but the times have certainly changed.

Students can now purchase new and used textbooks at huge discounts or rent them with flexible rental periods. Once they are done with the course, they can sell the books for cash and recoup some of the cost. With the help of Barnes & Noble’s textbook program, it’s a win-win for parents and students.

Below is a screenshot of an art history textbook. As you can see, when you click on the book’s title, you’re given three options: new, used, or rent. In addition, you have the option of purchasing the book in the marketplace from users who are also selling it.

textbooks

New Textbooks

It’s a shock when your student’s professor decides to use a new textbook and you see the cost. New textbooks can be pricey, but Barnes & Noble has a large selection of new textbooks available. They offer low prices, so you can get the most for your money. Their textbooks are listed up to 30% off sticker price, plus they offer free shipping on all new textbook orders over $25. Check out their huge selection of new textbooks here.

Used Textbooks

Used textbooks are your best bargain when available, and Barnes & Noble sells only the highest quality used books. It’s just like purchasing a used car: you aren’t paying the high sticker prices, but you’re getting a high-quality book at a great price–some up to 90% off. You can search for used textbooks here.

Rented Textbooks

Why buy when you can rent? It makes sense, especially since the book will only be used for one semester. My daughter chose to save only the books that applied to her major and renting would have been an excellent option for those required courses that didn’t interest her. At Barnes & Noble, there are thousands of textbooks available to rent with flexible periods up to 130 days. Your student can extend the rental period or opt to purchase the book at any time. Once they are finished with their course, they can ship it back for free! Check out their selection of rentals here.

Selling Your Textbooks

Even if you must purchase a new textbook, you can sell it back if it’s in good condition to Barnes & Noble and recoup some of the cost. They provide prepaid shipping labels. For details on which books they will accept and what type of condition they need to be in, click here.

When it comes to paying for college, most parents plan for tuition, room and board. It’s added expenses like books that can put a strain on your budget. By using these available options, you should be able to cut textbook costs and use some of that money for more important things like a plane ticket for Parents’ Weekend!

The smart way to shop for books

 

textbooksWhether you are a college student or just a book lover, you may wonder where you can shop for books for as little money as possible.  You can still find physical books as well as ebooks for a fraction of the cost.  In some cases, you can also find books for free if you know where to look.  In either case, remember to look for local outlets as well as online ones in order to find the best bargains.

Online Stores

Online outlets have been very good for the used book market and for finding rare or hard to find books.  Retailers like Amazon.com allow anyone including professional sellers and private owners to put their books on the market.  Sometimes this type of market is very competitive and some book owners are simply looking to get rid of unwanted items, so they will set prices very low in order to ensure a sale.

Of course, there are also other online outlets like Abebooks.  Brick and mortar bookstores such as Barnes & Noble have also gotten into the used book market, so it is possible to find books through major retailers as well.  Furthermore, you just may look at online book clubs such as those that offer early paperback editions of books in order to find newer books at a lower price.

Local Bookstores and Libraries

Supporting local booksellers has always been very important.  Many online stores have extensive used book sections.  Many of them also specialize in offering discount books, so it is possible to find many selections at only a fraction of the cost.  Larger chains may also occasionally have clearance sales when it is time to make room for new inventory, so it helps to keep an eye out for the sales and specials that occur throughout the year.

Libraries also tend to have sales in order to clear out books that may no longer see much circulation.  These sales are usually fundraisers, so buying books from libraries helps to keep them open.  In some cases, libraries may offer bags of books at a set price.  Like online outlets, libraries sometimes have books that are rare or out of print, so you just may find a treasure when libraries have their sales.

Yard Sales

You may not have considered garage and yard sales as a place to find discount books, but just as many people can find unexpected treasures, book lovers may also find books at a yard sale.  Yard sales can be an exciting way to find very inexpensive books because you never know what will be available.  However, many people are willing to let go of books for less than $1 each.

Book Swaps

You can also find out if there are any local outlets that will allow you to swap books for free.  Sometimes libraries offer book swaps.  Local residents may also organize their own swap or you may initiate an event yourself.  You may also find book swaps and exchanges online as well.  Typically, members of these sites will offer books they no longer want or need in exchange for books in which they are interested.

Little Free Libraries

Little free libraries have been growing across the country in recent years.  These are simply independently owned outlets that may be outside a business or private residence where anyone can leave and take books and other media at will.  You do not have to leave a book in order to take one and there is no limit to what you will find.  In fact, in addition to rare selections, you may also luck out and find a current bestseller for free.

Rent or purchase used

Since textbooks are often only used during a semester, consider renting them, or purchasing them used online. There are numerous sites that offer these options, including Chegg.com and Amazon.com.
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Author Bio

Ryan Ayers is a writer and blogger who creates articles relating to education. In this article, he offers a few financial tips for students buying books and aims to encourage further study through online masters in education programs.

Kindle-A College Textbook Solution

Business Week posted an article yesterday regarding the soon-to-be released larger version of the Kindle Reader:

Kindle may start getting a warmer reception in colleges come May 6, when Amazon (AMZN) launches what is expected to be a larger version of its Kindle e-book reader that is more suited to academic publishers. Six universities including Case Western, Pace, and Princeton are partnering with Amazon and major publishers to supply students with the new device in the fall, The Wall Street Journal reports.

kindleIn my opinion, this is a win/win proposition for Amazon and for parents of students heading off to college. College textbooks can cost thousands of dollars per semester, depending on the subject and level of advanced courses. If you purchase a Kindle reader for $400, even if the ebook is 25% less than the hard copy version, that’s a huge savings. Not to mention the convenience of eliminating the need to carry all those heavy books around and alleviating back problems caused by a heavy backpack.

College textbooks were always highly overpriced in my estimation. Even if you were able to find a used version, there was no guarantee that it would contain the revision material that was updated on a regular basis. And many times bookstores would not purchase textbooks back if the course was no longer being offered or utilizing that particular textbook.

There are so many “hidden” college costs that can add up. This cost saving can help parents and students on a tight budget and also offer a great alternative to hoards of books that you have no idea what to do with after graduation. If you’re a parent and you have a teen heading off to college in the fall, keep tabs on this developing news.

What do you think about this technological offering? Would you purchase a Kindle for your student?