How To Save Money On College Textbooks

I took some science classes and there was no way I could have done it with a library book (though they did get me over the hump until my student loan funds appeared). It worked for some of my arts classes, though not always. It was great for those books where we really only had to read a few chapters though.

Sassymonkey ( http://sassymonkey.ca/ ) and Sassymonkey Reads ( http://sassymonkeyreads.ca/ ).

Not only does emailing the prof help you find out what needs to be used but it also helps form a relationship with your prof, which is always good because eventually you'll want to use one as a reference.

I worked at the campus bookstore and yes, many profs hated how much the books cost. Some of them would order their books through another bookstore if they could get it cheaper (though those bookstores weren't always used to dealing the crowds of students and their supply chain could be iffy). And all of my profs knew if the book was available through the library and generally made sure that it was.

Sassymonkey ( http://sassymonkey.ca/ ) and Sassymonkey Reads ( http://sassymonkeyreads.ca/ ).

I've seen more talk about them in the last year or so but I haven't seen anything from anyone who has actually used them so I didn't include it in my post.

I don't know if I would have rented in university. I was never really one to keep my books in absolutely pristine condition (some nights making notes in my books was all the kept me from falling asleep in them). I'd love to hear from people who have used it.

Sassymonkey ( http://sassymonkey.ca/ ) and Sassymonkey Reads ( http://sassymonkeyreads.ca/ ).

I did one semester of science (hated it, lol) and I sold all my books at the end of the semester. Totally bankrolled the books for the next semester.

Sassymonkey ( http://sassymonkey.ca/ ) and Sassymonkey Reads ( http://sassymonkeyreads.ca/ ).

Read their book, just so they could get sales.

But then, I had another prof who told us that he thought that the price the publisher was charging for his book was "ridiculous" and encouraged us to buy second-hand copies/use copies from the library/photocopy. Yes, he told us to violate his own copyright. He kinda rocked.

Sassymonkey ( http://sassymonkey.ca/ ) and Sassymonkey Reads ( http://sassymonkeyreads.ca/ ).

Is a really good idea. Sometimes they have extra copies too, you never know if you can get lucky and borrow one for the semester.

I don't think I would have borrowed a text for a class from the library - but then I had mostly science and math classes that required you to have the book with you almost all the time.

Something I have done nearly every quarter since I started is I have e-mailed the prof and asked what books are being required and asked for an early copy of the syllabus. I usually get 2-3 responses for 4-5 classes. It's helped me a lot, that simple pre-classes e-mail, and has also helped to endear me to the professors, who seem to find it really amusing that a student would take the time to e-mail as early as a month before classes even start.

 Most profs I've dealt with have also really hated how much some books cost, and will let you know if a book is available through the library and about various campus book exchanges. 

As a poor college student, I went the used book route all the way.  I made some mistakes though, like buying all my books before class began only to find out that the teacher didn't use all the books he/she had required.  I'd suggest waiting until you get the syllabus to see what is really assigned.  I learned to space out some of the purchases until the assignment or class discussion was nearing so I had more time scour for bargains.

My husband is a college professor and I've seen the heated emails he's sent to publishers for their expensive new editions with minimal updates, or worse, updates that remove key teaching points.  Bookstores have their hands tied because they can't take sell those books once a new edition is released. 

The New York Times had a great article on a new textbook rental program ( http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/14/education/14text... ) that looks like it benefits both students looking for a deal and publishers looking to save money. I wish my university had offered this when I was in school. 

-Mona 

I can be found rambling at kirida dot com ( http://kirida.com/ )

So I have to second the buying used idea.  Being a science major, every single book was over $100 ... somehow, the smaller the book, the more it cost.  Just show up to the bookstore early and then you can root through the used copies and pick the least used.  It saves TONS of money and honestly, you sell most of them back at the end of the semester anyway.

Which is my second tip.  Sell your books back and get some cash for the next round!  Especially with science, after enough time the book isn't even relevant anymore so you may as well part with it while you can get something out of it.  I kept a few bio texts and have had to just recycle them at this point because used bookstores won't even take them once a few editions have passed by.

Kristen M.

We Be Reading - http://webereading.com ( http://webereading.blogspot.com/ )

W ( http://www.mochamomma.com )hen I sent Mallory to college (5 years ago - OMG) we used half.com which is a subsidiary of eBay. She only bought the ones she needed, too. Sometimes, it's helpful (though a bit of a risk) waiting until you get into the class to actually purchase the books. Many professors didn't use them. 

Except, GAWD, shouldn't they be thinking about the recession and how hard it is and NOT make you buy THEIR book just to promote it and then read 1/4 of another book on the list? Ya know?

Or was that just in my day.

When the hell did I have a "my day". What am I, 90?