10 Tips to Ease the Burden of Book Costs

By Vincent Amoroso

I am an old dog: not as old as the invention of penicillin or slice bread, but I did own a typewriter at one time, and my first television did have a rabbit-ear antenna. So my bygone years of college are truly…gone, yet given the technology of today this old dog has been able to learn a few new tricks about books. As every college student knows, aside from tuition, room, and board, books are one of the biggest expenses, and one of the biggest headaches when it comes to the collegiate experience. Here are a few tips that might help.

1. Avoid college bookstores as much as possible

Here is something colleges and universities do not want you to know—college bookstores are often way overpriced. They are often placed conveniently inside the campus thinking students will not venture out into the open world to seek an alternative. Instead of your first stop, college bookstores should be a last resort.

2. Rent books

Large book chains like Barnes and Noble will very often offer rentals of books at a fraction of the cost of buying them from the campus bookstore. Many of these large bookstore chains will offer book rentals for up to six months, which is well beyond the course of a semester. Just make certain you take care of them so are not charged any penalties for bringing back damaged.

3. Google Books

It is true Google Books may only offer a snippet of abbreviated preview of new titles, however for older titles such as classic authors like Nathaniel Hawthorne or Thomas Paines’ Common Sense may be viewed in their entirety. This is also an excellent for research purposes when multiple sources are required and are more reliable than using unverified internet articles.

4. Sell books to people and not the bookstore

Many students have found out the hard way that campus bookstores re-buy books at a few cents to the dollar. Then they will re-sell your used version for slightly less than a new copy. An $80 art history book may only net use $4 – $5 dollars, but they will re-sell at $65. Here’s a tip: find out what the bookstore is selling it for and set your price five to ten dollars less.

5. Avoid buying books with a lot of color photography

For some books this may be unavoidable, however books that contain a lot of color pictures are more expensive due to printing costs. Many times the pictures are immaterial to the text in the book itself and the non-color ones will do just fine.

6. E-Books

E-Books are often sold at a fraction of the cost of the actual books, because the printing costs are eliminated from the equation. They are also easily stored or removed (if you do not want them anymore), and are portable enough to take anywhere. Purchasing devices like a Nook, throughout your college years, will often pay for itself.

7. Be careful when buying used books online

If you fell into this trap before you know where I am going with this. Booksellers like Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and others often use third party shippers when selling used books. Shipments are not guaranteed within a matter of days (third party shippers can take up to 30 days) and shipments are difficult to track, because the bookseller is not responsible.

8. Check earlier editions

The latest editions of textbooks often have very few changes than an earlier edition. Often there are insignificant changes like new photographs added to entice a campus bookstore to purchase it. In many cases the textual information remains relatively the same.

9. Check off-campus libraries

To avoid buying a book or for research material, students will flock to the campus library for what they need. Many similar or identical titles are offered at a public library. In many cases if you show proof you are staying in a college dorm, they will allow you to get a library card, or else find a friend who lives locally and will trust you to return the book. Public libraries also normally have a reasonable selection of audio books for further convenience. Studies show, information read aloud is more easily retained.

10. Flea markets, book sales, and book swapping

These may be some cheap alternatives to purchasing books in a store. It may require a bit of legwork, but will be beneficial if you hit pay dirt. Libraries often give away or sell books for a few dollars to make room for a new shipment of titles. Local swap meets also allow you to trade an old book for one you need. If the situation is right, you may also try this amongst friends.

As a parent of a college student, I am well aware of the rising cost of education. Finding alternative methods for obtaining books will go a long way. If anything else, your parents may be a bit more agreeable to wash that sack of dirty laundry you bring home to them, and may even throw in a hug and a kiss to boot.