Buying books in college is by far one of the top expenses students face, aside from tuition. The books for one class are enough to make your bank account cringe, but then you factor in that you are taking upwards of three or four classes...three words: bank account annihilation. However, there are ways to change that. You should never buy books without first comparing prices. Always look to see if there are cheaper options available. Your bank account will thank you. Here are some of the best ways to save money on books!
1. Your campus book store
This is not only a great place to buy books, but also one of the most convenient. You can get the books you need the same day in store and avoid the hassle of shipping time and shipping rates. This is also the place to ensure that you are getting the right books. They’ll have the books labeled and organized based on what class and which professors are requiring them. In terms of actually buying your books in the bookstore, you have a few options. These include outright buying the books, both new and used, and renting the books, new or used as well. Typically, renting a used book is the cheapest. However, if you want to keep all or certain books you are using for the semester, you should go ahead and just buy them. Also keep in mind that most bookstores, including the Oglethorpe Bookstore, will price match for you. So if you find a cheaper price online, they will match it for you in the store. Lastly, you can also sell your books back to the bookstore at the end of the year.
2. Amazon.com
Amazon is by far one of my favorite places to get books. It’s super convenient and you never have to leave the comfort of your room. Also, if you have an Amazon Prime membership, you get free, two-day shipping on all Prime eligible items (and most of your books will be Prime eligible!). Even if items aren’t Prime eligible (most used books tend not to be), you not only get great prices, but also pretty fast shipping. Just like the campus bookstore, you can buy or rent books on Amazon. Most rentals tend to be on textbooks, as opposed to works of classic literature. Just like the bookstore, you can also sell back your books. Amazon calls it “Trade-In” and they will give you Amazon store credit.
3. Chegg.com
Chegg is always a fan favorite. Just like Amazon and the bookstore, you can can, rent, and sell back books on the site. It’s very similar to Amazon, but its sales are dedicated completely to academic works and textbooks. They even run certain deals and promotions occasionally that can help bring your final cost down.
4. StudentRate.com
I learned about this website way after I should have. It’s essentially like Kayak or Priceline for textbooks. It compiles prices for the book you’re looking for from tons of different sites. It then gives you a list of locations and sites where you can buy or rent the book. Super easy to use and a great way to compare prices all on the same screen.
5. Fellow Students
This seems to be one of the cheapest options out there. If you have friends or know upperclassman who have taken the class you are about to take, ask them if they still have the books. They will either just give them to you or just ask for a few dollars. Also, you will find a lot of upperclassman posting online (especially in Facebook groups) that they have certain books available they are willing to give away or sell to underclassman. Always keep an eye out for these offers.
