Save $$ On Textbooks

Textbooks putting a huge dent in your wallet?
 
Here are some tips that will hopefully ease the blow of buying books for class:
 

• Check out Marketplace! (http://marketplace.uchicago.edu/)

 
Essentially the UChicago version of Craigslist, Marketplace offers a forum for students to sell their used textbooks/books (as well as other products) to students eager to buy. Not only should the books come at a cheaper price (though this is not always the case, make sure to compare prices), but there is the added benefit of convenience. Purchasing books from a fellow student will allow you to get a hold of your needed material in a speedier fashion than the typical shipping duration of 2-4 weeks provided by online sellers. Also, in-person exchanges basically eliminate the risk of getting ripped off with an obviously shoddy book. Since the “Books” tab of Marketplace can get flooded with postings during the beginning of the quarter, use basic, general terms to search for multiple books (ex: SOSC Power, HUM, Atmosphere) or type in the title and/or author for a specific book.

• Search Within Your House

 
If you are still living in the dorms, look to house-mates when buying books. Some houses will have a white board/paper posted near the lounge where residents can write down what they are offering to sell or needing to buy with their phone/room numbers. Or, if your house, like mine, has a facebook group, simply write on the wall, listing the books you need. Since these people live in the same building as you, the convenience factor is increased even more. Try to avoid sending e-mails through your house list host, however. The excessive spam may not be appreciated by your housemates/RAs/RHs.
 
***An additional word of advice***
Try to avoid being a butthole by agreeing to purchase books from a student and then backing out after finding a cheaper alternative. The seller may be receiving numerous offers and have turned them down for your benefit. Do your research first by looking at the prices listed on other sites (like the ones below) and send out the e-mail to your prospective seller after making the comparison.
 

• Sharing is Caring

 
Pre-K taught us that sharing is caring; it can be fun! But it can also cut your expenses in half. While sharing books requires some organization/scheduling between you and the other person, the push to actually read/study the text in your allotted time may act as extra motivation to not procrastinate. If you’re the type who enjoys studying with others, sharing a textbook may not be an issue at all.
 

• Go Online

 
My personal go-to for buying books online is Amazon. Not only are the used books on the site relatively inexpensive, but with Amazon Prime (which comes gratis with your university e-mail [@uchicago.edu]), select choices have free 2-day shipping. There are tons of other used book sites like Chegg, AbeBooks, etc… that you can also check out.