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
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