Five Ways to Save Money on College Textbooks

Every year, the average college student spends hundreds if not thousands of dollars on textbooks. With rising costs of living and tuition, textbooks represent one more large financial burden on the shoulders of students and parents. The following is a list of savvy suggestions to maximize savings on textbooks.

1. Communicate with your professors

The list of required textbooks is available at your local college bookstore several weeks before the first week of classes. However, this list is not always reliable. Before you hand your credit card to the cashier at the store, contact your professor. Yes, contact your professor before the class has begun (If this is not possible, contact your professor as soon as possible after classes have begun).

Many professors have authored textbooks and they are aware of the rising costs. By talking with your professor, you will know which textbooks you really need straight from the source. Remember to ask your professor what edition of textbook would be acceptable.

If for some reason you are in a financial dilemma. It is perfectly reasonable to explain your situation to the professor. If nothing else, you have begun a relationship with your professor. This is an important thing to pursue throughout your college career.

2. Campus/Local Resources

There are an array of resources on most college campuses.

-Check with the campus library to see if some textbooks are available for free online.

-Check with the Campus Activities/Student Life office to see if there is a bulletin board or online forum where student can post books that they can sell from previous semesters. You may meet fellow students who can give you tips on how to study for certain classes/tests and you might even get a hold of someone's old lecture notes.

-Take a class with a friend. You can split the cost of a textbook in half by sharing a textbook with a friend. A friendly face can also make a new class less intimidating and give you more motivation to do well.

3. Used Textbooks