The first week of the semester conjures up a lot of thoughts, many of which are positive. However, nothing puts me off the semester quicker than seeing the price of my books and course packs.
Some costs are unavoidable. For any class that requires doing homework online, I pretty much just grit my teeth and watch as my bank account shrinks. However, there are ways to lessen the blow.
First and foremost, NEVER rent a book. Most rentals are only going to save you a few bucks, but you could easily save more by buying and then selling that same book (as long as you don’t sell it back to the bookstores). I like to sell my old books to Amazon. With the credit you get you can buy other books you need or almost anything else you could want.
One of the best things a professor can say this week is, “Our book isn’t required, but I would recommend you get it because x, y and z.” Sweet, no book for this class. Now I only have to buy the books that are required. Well, sort of.
For the most part I only buy what is absolutely needed for a semester, and that isn’t always what is “required” for a class.
According to one of my professors, some departments will require a book even if the professor has no intentions on using it. After making that $40 mistake I learned not to buy before I got a syllabus and schedule.
After my first semester I also learned that just because a book is required and reading is assigned that doesn’t mean I will read it. That $150 mistake made me realize the value of the website Koofers. This fantastic site will give you reviews of classes and professors, letting you know beforehand if you need to purchase the book (or show up, for that matter). Also, Koofers sometimes has flashcards and practice tests that could come in handy for exams.
Another good strategy is something everyone is already doing: make friends! Whether you get together to study or work on homework it isn’t necessary for every person to have a book. Just return the favor so you don’t come off as a mooch. Picking up an extra coffee or taking notes for your new friend when they are sick is an easy way to say thanks.
Once you have a few friends in your major it is also easy to swap books with them. After finishing physics I couldn’t have been happier knowing I’d never see that book again; saving money in the process was just icing on the cake.
Some professors claim you want the shiny new edition, but oftentimes it is just as helpful to get a previous edition. Seriously, if you are in an intro-level math class do you really think there have been enough changes in the last year to warrant the $60 price difference? You’re only using the book for extra examples to work on, so why pay extra when you don’t have to?
Even though they have a bad reputation, sometimes bookstores have pretty decent deals. If my other strategies don’t work, Collegeville Textbook Company on Grand River Avenue can be a good place to shop, but only if your book has a 50 percent price buyback sticker.
Usually you’ll end up spending more money than you want to, but the more you save now the more you have to spend on something you’ll actually enjoy.
