COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY INDEX 2
An Education in Saving on Textbooks
Every year students flock to the
college bookstore to purchase the various textbooks that they require
for their classes. Little do these students realize that, in doing so,
they are throwing good money away. As unbelievable as it may seem
textbooks, in some cases, actually cost as much, if not more, than
tuition.
On the surface the college bookstore
may seem like a convenient source for textbooks. Titles are usually
in-stock and students may purchase new textbooks or opt for the cheaper
alternative of used books. In truth the money saved by purchasing used
textbooks from the college bookstore is only a fraction of the amount
that students could be saving if they shopped online.
More and more online booksellers
have begun selling textbooks at a considerable discount off of the
cover price. In fact, many major booksellers now have special areas of
their web sites that are devoted to selling nothing but textbooks.
Online used bookstores are another source for college books as they
stock a large number of textbooks, which means sizable savings for
students. There are also web-based retailers whose inventory is
entirely devoted to college books.
Students should avoid purchasing
their textbooks at the first store that they browse. Instead, they
should investigate the alternatives offered by other online
booksellers. Price isn't the only factor to consider when making an
online purchase. Students should also factor in shipping costs and
delivery time when making their buying decision.
Online auctions are another option
for students seeking a bargain. This option, however, has its pros and
cons. A plus is that students can get incredible bargains when
obtaining books via online auctions. One downside is that established
retailers have channels in place to ensure that you receive your order
within a reasonable amount of time. With an auction purchase, however,
you are at the mercy of the auction seller's timetable.
One way that students can really
save is by obtaining books for free. Project Gutenberg is one resource
that English majors will find invaluable. At this site students can
peruse a vast collection of classics that have entered the public
domain. In the past students seeking assistance with their studies had
to pay for the privilege of that help by purchasing study guides. Today
that is no longer the case. Cash-strapped students can now visit Spark
Notes for free downloadable study guides as well as free downloadable
classics.
Students who elect to buy online
will no longer be able to resell their books to the college bookstore
at the end of class, but that doesn't mean that they are stuck with the
textbooks. Many web sites that sell textbooks also offer students the
option of selling their books to fellow bargain-seekers. This allows
students to easily recouping a portion of their money.
Textbooks normally consume a major
portion of a student's budget, but that doesn't have to be the case,
because while the cost of tuition may be set in stone the price of
textbooks isn't. By taking the time to do a little research on the best
textbook values available college students can save money now rather
than acquiring debt to be paid back later.
Copyright © 2004 Heather
Wallace
Heather Wallace is founder of
http://www.BargainMartian.com Visit to take advantage of the
out of this world bargains from leading merchants found in this
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