Textbooks are a rip-off, and I know I’m not the only one who thinks so. In the beginning of college, I didn’t give much thought to where and how I bought my books for school. However, I began to spend more money on more textbooks for more advanced classes…I was going broke at the beginning of every quarter! But I have since found many alternatives that have saved me a lot of money. Listen closely:
Rent your textbooks online – Now that you can buy anything online, you can certainly rent most things. This includes textbooks. Companies like Chegg have made it possible to rent textbooks for the quarter, and all you have to do is mail them back when you’re done! The University Bookstore also offers a textbook rental. The prices they offer are a bit cheaper, and you have the option to check the book out for 30, 45, 60, 90, and 125 days (the price also gets smaller the fewer days you need it). This is especially useful for books you may only use at the beginning of the quarter. However, the U Bookstore doesn’t plant a tree like Chegg does! Renting is often your cheapest bet when it comes to $100+, hardcover, latest-edition textbooks.
Go to the public library – If you are living in Seattle and don’t have a Seattle Public Library card, you’re missing out! The University of Washington Library is fantastic for many things, but academic items accumulate holds very quickly. Through Seattle Public and King County Libraries, you can go online, search for items, and place holds on whatever materials you need. The checkout period is a few weeks, depending on the item, and they let you renew it twice. It’s sometimes risky, but will often last you until the end of the quarter. Just make sure to put the book(s) on hold at the appropriate times (don’t place a hold at the beginning of the quarter on a book you need at the end of the quarter)! This option is great for required books that aren’t necessarily “academic”– in other words, you probably won’t find your chemistry textbook at the library, but it should be very easy to get a copy of 1984.
Buy eBooks – If you own a tablet reader (Kindle, Nook, iPad, etc.) and are a student, you probably bought it (at least partly) because of the eBook (or eTextbook) appeal. eBooks are a great, eco-friendly, and cheaper version of traditional textbooks. Companies like Inkling and CourseSmart offer textbooks for the iPad, while Amazon and Barnes and Noble offer a selection for the Kindle and Nook, respectively. The only problem with this option is that it’s such a new market, meaning that your textbook may not yet be available. Also, the prices are still nothing to write home about, especially compared to the library or renting.
Ebay and Amazon – Buying books from Ebay and Amazon is usually the way to go. If you don’t mind used books (and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t), definitely go here as soon as the prices anywhere else shock you. Personally, I’ve bought $50 books on Amazon for $6. This is often less than you’d spend, even if the bookstore did buy the book back from you.
Used book stores – With this option, you have to rely a lot on luck. Unless the book you need is a very well-known one, you’re going to have to dig if you are looking for something in particular. My advice for this is to stick around the University District, at places like Half Price Books and Twice Sold Tales. They get a lot of student traffic, especially after the University Bookstore decides they don’t want to buy any books back. The prices here are always incredible, but you won’t find many expensive textbooks.
Last resort: University Bookstore – Alright, if you absolutely have to, go to the University Bookstore. It’s the most expensive option, but sometimes it’s necessary. If it is a special-order book, or one you can’t find cheaper anywhere else, go for it. I guess this article gives the U Bookstore a hard time, but it can be really helpful sometimes. Just try to buy your books used, make sure you’re signed up for your rebate, and try to get the book store to buy them back at the end of the quarter. It isn’t always a deal, but sometimes it’s worth it not to deal with the hassle.