The price of college textbooks increased by 7% from 2020 to 2023.
You might have to get a little crafty and creative, but your bank account will thank you.
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If youre looking to boost your income this month, weve got just the thing for you.
First of all, dont buy all your books before classes start.
You may end up changing classes during the trial period.
Second, if youmustbuy a book, its always better to buy it used.
But if you find yourself in possession of a new book, dont highlight and dogear it to death.
You want to be able to sell it back later for the highest price possible.
And finally, know that some of this advice might be frowned upon by your professor.
If you cant afford to buy brand-new textbooks, let your professor know.
Now for some money-saving strategies.
It depends on your major.
Look over your syllabus to see what texts youre assigned.
Can you get any of them for free online or at the library?
If theyre classic novels, philosophical texts or poetry, the answer is most likely yes.
Browse the virtual shelves atProject Gutenberg, one of the largest free ebook libraries.
you could also always Google the text to see if there are any PDFs around.
And obviously, illegally downloading texts… is illegal.
Share Textbooks With Classmates
The best price on a textbook?
No price at all.
The same holds true within your major.
Form a study group so even more of your classmates can save on the materials.
University libraries often keep copies of frequently-assigned textbooks in stock.
You may be competing against other frugal students, so get there early.
The most difficult problem youre likely to run into is the discrepancy in page numbers.
Thankfully, thats what an index is for.
And its not justCheggs game anymore.
Bonus: No need to carry around a clunky backpack!
Keep everything on your laptop or tablet, and its smooth, sleek sailing to class.
You still have to take notes, though.
Go Beyond the Campus Bookstore
I said it before and Ill say it again: Always buy used.
And you arent limited to your campus bookstore.
you could also turn to online shopping, and your efforts dont have to stop at Amazon.
you could sometimes find good deals on textbooks ateBay, and its worthwhile to checkCraigslistor even school-related Facebook groups.
As long as its in English, you probably wont run into too many irreconcilable differences.
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More aid might be available to you.
Some organizations also provide textbook-specific scholarships.
Just entry to the popular MyMathLabgoes for $146to rent at cheapest at the time of writing.
Unfortunately, there arent many ways around the expense.
Talk frankly with your professor about whether or not you actually need those access codes.
If youve gotta spend the dough, double-check you get as much out of it as possible.
Check your curriculum requirements and schedule to see if youll need other courses that utilize the same material.
If you do, take them in the same or adjacent semesters.
Use the Open Textbook Library
TheOpen Textbook Libraryhouses a resource of peer-reviewed academic textbooks online.
Congrats: You Saved Money on Your College Textbooks!
And when youre done, sell them back, of course.
If your bookstore offers a raw deal, try Amazon or eBay.
If youre feeling generous, consider giving them to a friend or a library.
And many of the books I bought for my creative writing classes still come in handy for reference today.
Besides, youre looking at earning back only a fraction of what you paid.
Drowning in Expenses?
Maybe youre scrambling after your car broke down.
Or you got a medical bill you werent expecting.
Or inflation has finally pushed your budget over the edge.
You dont need to go it alone.
When money is tight,these resourcescan help you manage unexpected expenses without stress.
