Were you aware that college textbooks now cost the typical student around $1,200 annually. College textbook prices have increased faster than tuition, medical care costs and housing prices, which have risen faster than inflation. College textbook costs are 812 percent more than these folks were a little more than three decades ago. So taking ways to save the education are more important than ever before.
So in this article I'll explain to you 5 incredibly simple steps you'll be able to apply inside your textbook shopping that may help save a huge amount of money.
1) Email the Professor - You may not need all of the books on the class textbook list. Talk with your professor concerning the textbook needs to the class. Inquire which can be absolutely required and which are suggested. In addition, it never hurts must if the professor has any copies open to lend for your semester. Most students wait till the very first day of class to speak with the professor. The key point is to discover what textbooks are very important and that are a waste of money.
2) Rent - Textbook cost is ridiculous. Rentals will be the biggest strategy to lower textbook costs. It also ties up the least cash in advance in comparison to buying and reselling. Housing costs are generally 20-25% in the cost to get. Make sure you look at the T&C's, particularly the return date and any grace periods.
3) International Editions - Most of the time textbook publishers offer less expensive editions in other countries. They may have a paper cover or black & white photos but the content is the same. You may be pleasantly surprised about how low the costs are for International Editions of the textbook.
4) Last Year's Edition - In the event you absolutely can't afford the 2011 edition of a textbook consider getting the prior edition with the book. Often the alterations are minor and you will probably have the content for very low prices. Search by title and never the ISBN to discover other editions of your textbook.
5) Research prices - You do not know a great price if you do not check around. Don't assume the major players always have the cheapest price. Supply and demand cause prices to shift quickly so today's cheapest source might not be the most affordable source tomorrow. You can find online tools which help you price compare causing you to be a wiser shopper and maximizes your savings potential.