Textbooks: They’re high priced, we don’t have a choice usually but to buy them, and they suck.

Don’t worry about them too much though. Here are some tips to help you minimize the pain and potentially maximize your gain when it comes to college textbooks:

1.  Ask the teacher if they are necessary

Some teachers say that buying books for their classes is not necessary. Others may have several text books listed on the syllabi, but only require you buy one for class. Find out if you need the book before you shop!

2.  Ask friends to borrow their books

Don’t be a mooch, but if a friend already took the course you’re about to take and still has their textbook, see if you can get it. Borrowing a text book for a semester is the cheapest way around the bookstore
prices.

3.  Shop around

If you don’t wait until the last minute to buy your textbooks you might be able to avoid paying your campus’s bookstore’s outrageous prices. Many college towns have independent bookstores located near
campus that stock textbooks. Check out their prices before you buy.

4.  Shop online

Yes. People have had bad shopping experiences online sometimes. So shop at a secure website you  trust or only deal with reliable vendors. This can be a lot cheaper than bookstore prices. Just remember it can take some time to mail the books to you.

5.  Look for international textbooks

As a girl in one of my classes pointed out: these textbooks usually are the same as domestic ones, but you can find them online for a fraction of the cost. Some cost less than half what you would normally pay. Again, with all online purchases, exercise caution and make sure it’s the book you want.

6.  Sell books you don’t need

At the end of the semester, your university and local bookstores will probably give you some decent cash for your old textbooks. Plus, selling them online can be easy and may even put more money back in your pocket. But don’t forget friends who may want to borrow them.

Do at least one of these and you can save an easy $50 bucks next semester and potentially lots more.

Now that’s money in the bank.

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