<p>This article points out a few ways to possibly find free or less expensive textbooks, but basically wraps up by saying it is it unlikely to work except for classic literature. Has anyone found any tips or hints to actually save money on textbooks?</p>
<p>4</a> Ways to Get Free College Textbooks - US News and World Report</p>
<p>I recently got an iPad and I’m hoping to save some money (though not a very significant amount) by renting or buying e-textbooks and storing it on my iPad instead of buying the physical thing. It also obviates the need to lug around a huge textbook every day.</p>
<p>One of the best ways to save money on textbooks is to just shop around. Compare prices to your school bookstore: look online, consider renting, check for facebook or uloop groups where students at your school are selling old textbooks, ask friends or older siblings if they’ll lend you their textbook or sell it to you, etc. There are a lot of ways to get your hands on a textbook for less money than the school bookstore. Ask the professor if an older edition of the textbook will suffice, as you can often get older editions for cheap.</p>
<p>Also, checking the library isn’t a bad option. My school library rented out textbooks for a limited period, and this could be a good option if you just need the book to do a homework assignment or something small (if you’re school offers that service, of course). You can also photocopy, scan, or take pictures of the pages that you need to use for your own reference. You can also often rent (or request from another library that your library may be affiliated with) older editions of textbooks, which many academic universities have. If you’re going to go this route, you have to act fast, since many students try to do this to get the book for free.</p>
<p>You can also consider sharing with a friend or roommate. This option will really depend on who you’d be sharing with and what class it is, but if you only need the book for the homework problems at the end of the chapter, this can be a good way to cut the cost in half.</p>
<p>Also, always make sure that if you’re going to buy the textbook that you’re actually going to use it. Or make sure that you can return it if you don’t use it.</p>
<p>Also, selling back books can be a good way to recoup some of your cost. There are books that I’ve made a profit off of by reselling them.</p>
<p>You can often find earlier version textbooks in PDF form online for free.
International editions are much cheaper (I go this route a lot). </p>
<p>Fwiw, IME, ebooks are not cheaper. I spend far less money buying and selling used textbooks than I would spend renting it. </p>
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<p>Lugging it to where? You won’t take them to classes.</p>
<p>Heres a list a websites where you can get text books for less money. I do agree that International editions tend to be chapter. For my World Religions summer class the book was $140. I found the international edition at abebooks.com for $35! It was in great condition. The cover did look different but the material was exactly the same.
Happy shopping!</p>
<p>chegg.com
half.com
betterworldbooks.com
bookbyte.com
bookrenter.com
bookstores.com
<p>I recommend allbookstores.com to compare prices :)</p>
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When I study, I usually do it in a library or some quiet place elsewhere. I also frequent coffee/tea shops. The noise of the dorm bothers me. It’s also sometimes hard to concentrate in my dorm. For me, at least, it’s better to separate my place of rest/diversions from my place of study so that I don’t get easily distracted in either place. </p>
<p>Yes, I do believe used textbooks would offer the cheapest route.</p>
<p>I have recently used valorebooks.com and have received horrible service from them. The book I rented from them was in moderate/poor condition. And I returned the book to them they charged me for the damage to the book ( full price). I am a struggling student and I did not appreciate them taking advantage of me in this way. BEWARE!!! Do not use this company at all. I have never had dealt with such horrible service in my life. I was tried reaching them and they have not responded to me. Stay away from them. They basically stole money from me.</p>
<p>The quote feature isn’t working for me. This is in response to: “Lugging it to where? You won’t take them to classes.”</p>
<p>Huh? I wish. At my school, for all the classes I’ve had so far, it’s required that we bring our books to class. Next semester three of my books are gigantic, and one of my classes has two books. I’m not sure if we need to bring both to class or not yet. Either way, I’m going to have to keep books for two of my classes in my car, and then go fetch them before those classes while dropping my other books off. It wont all fit in my backpack with my laptop and notebooks!</p>
<p>I wish ebooks were an option for me. I haven’t been able to find an affordable ebook version of any of the books I’ve needed. The only ones have been rentable and they’re way more expensive than buying them new.</p>
<p>To quote: </p>
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<p>Your experience is not the norm.</p>
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<p>I bought an iPad for that very reason and I’ve noticed that ebooks are indeed more expensive than renting/buying the book. If anything the ebooks would be like $2 less than the regular textbook price.</p>
<p>If you can you try to atleast find a PDF version of the textbook. I know there are some lying around… :)</p>
<p>Instructors who want to save students some money may want to consider some of the free textbooks listed in this thread, if they are suitable for the course being taught:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1289172-big-savings-u-s-students-open-source-book-program.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1289172-big-savings-u-s-students-open-source-book-program.html</a></p>