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.
Heather Wallace
Heather Wallace
is founder of
http://www.BargainMartian.com Visit to take advantage of the out
of this world bargains from leading merchants found in this comprehensive
directory of deals, rebates, bargains, coupons, and money-saving offers.
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