Buy Textbooks at Prices You Can Afford

The prices of new textbooks seem are giving class prices a run for their money. Who said community college was cheap? Using these tips, you can escape the financial genocide of book buying and still land the necessary textbooks in time.

First off, do some preliminary research. Find out the books you need by checking the syllabus, scanning the campus bookstore, or even contacting the teacher. Some professors don't require the book at all, which is why it's a good idea to have all your bases covered. Once you have a list, learn about the book. Does it contain a required DVD or CD? Does it have an item that will likely be lost when you purchase it used? Again, this is integral to the buying decision.

If the book has no required extras, look for a digital edition. Many publishers are now selling electronic versions of their most popular books. If the professor doesn't require you to physically have the book in class, this is probably the best way to go. A simple web search will tell you in no time, or you can scan file-sharing networks if you're for that sort of thing

By now, you've found out all about the books. Now, check the price on a shopping-comparison website. Notable ones are Pricegrabber, Shopzilla, and NexTag. Personally, I like Froogle, otherwise known as Google Product Search. It has the largest listing of items, usually with the cheapest prices. It even has listings from auction sites like Ebay. All you do is type in the name or ISBN number of the book in the box and press "Search Products." Once the next page has loaded, it's a good idea to change the drop-down box from "Sort be relevance" to "Sort by price: low to high." That way you will see the cheapest items first. If you save more than 50% (shipping included) on the retail price of the book, you've probably found a good deal. Use Reseller Ratings to check on the store's quality.

If you haven't come across the bargain you're expecting, consider a book swapping service. At these websites you list the books that you are willing to exchange, and are able to pick other books in return. Paperback Swap and Book Mooch are two notable examples in this area. Just remember, these websites focus more on conventional fiction and non-fiction books, than textbooks, but you never know what you'll land.

Sources:

Google Product Search: www.froogle.com
Reseller Ratings: www.resellerratings.com