Saving money on college textbooks

[Gucci65]

So my daughter started college today.........

And called me about the one book she needs for school (bought the others from her friend).

This particular algebra book was $152.00 at the college bookstore, $121 for a new book on Amazon, $87 for a used book on Amazon, $87.00 at halfprice.com. So I checked out chegg.com and RENTED the book for $62.00.

So I'm posting this for any college students out there looking to save money on their core classes.

EDIT: Before I forget, I heard about this site on the Clark Howard Show.

 

[dandaman]

Don't forget, you can always buy used textbooks from the store or from former students in your course!

 

[k.hunter30]

Wow! That's great! When I was in college I'd spend at least $350 on my books each semester (freshman year was a lot more), and that was with as many used ones as I could find.

 

[tigsmom]

So my daughter started college today.........

And called me about the one book she needs for school (bought the others from her friend).

This particular algebra book was $152.00 at the college bookstore, $121 for a new book on Amazon, $87 for a used book on Amazon, $87.00 at halfprice.com. So I checked out chegg.com and RENTED the book for $62.00.

So I'm posting this for any college students out there looking to save money on their core classes.

EDIT: Before I forget, I heard about this site on the Clark Howard Show.

Katie got some of her books from Chegg and another from half.com. You have
to be careful when you order from Chegg though, you may have to return the book BEFORE the end of the semester. :lookaroun She is now a senior and has bought very few new books. One book that was over $200 she got for free from a friend when she exchanged her book (along with the internet code) for one he needed.

 

[tigsmom]

Wow! That's great! When I was in college I'd spend at least $350 on my books each semester (freshman year was a lot more), and that was with as many used ones as I could find.

I spent $225 for ONE book one semester.

Books have been running about $500/semester and that is buying used whenever possible.

 

[k.hunter30]

I spent $225 for ONE book one semester.

Books have been running about $500/semester and that is buying used whenever possible.

Yep! That's how much I would normally spend. Senior year though, with less classes and less text books (due to classes that have you apply what you learn), it will be less. That's why I said I spent at least $350 each semester. And... I also said "when I was in college," which, as hard as it is to admit, was several years ago.

 

[Gucci65]

That is craziness!!

She also rented books from bookrenter.com because they had overnight delivery where chegg.com was standard delivery (5-7 business days).

 

[MAF]

I also used Chegg for my books this semester. It was WAY cheaper than buying them used from half.com.

 

[tigsmom]

Yep! That's how much I would normally spend. Senior year though, with less classes and less text books (due to classes that have you apply what you learn), it will be less. That's why I said I spent at least $350 each semester. And... I also said "when I was in college," which, as hard as it is to admit, was several years ago.

Yeah, I graduated college in 1978 :lookaroun

Her books for this, her senior year, were outrageous because they are all major classes (this major was not given at her old school). She also lost a semester when she transferred to Tampa so has been taking extra classes to graduate on time (which, God bless her, she should do in may *crosses fingers* :lookaroun ).

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

I have to do this this week...:dazzle:

 

[krankenstein]

If I remember right, my most expensive semester pushed $800. :brick:

 

[SeaBreeze]

I don't remember what my semester totals are but I do know that grad school books are even worse :hammer: My first semester I had to spend $250 on a book that looked like a novel...and we had to get it because it's a course and book used for the qualifying exam I took last year. Ugh.

 

[mkt]

I reserve the textbooks from the library and sign them out the entire term Or I come across "legitimate" PDF versions.

 

[Princess Tiana]

Thanks a bunch

 

[BiggerTigger]

College book horror stories.

I had to buy a book bundle for $350.00 (Text, workbook, lab book) and could only sell the text book back for $10.00.:fork:
I love the college/bookstore/publisher's excuses for the over priced crap that they force upon us.

 

[Gucci65]

Yeah, I graduated college in 1978 :lookaroun

Her books for this, her senior year, were outrageous because they are all major classes (this major was not given at her old school). She also lost a semester when she transferred to Tampa so has been taking extra classes to graduate on time (which, God bless her, she should do in may *crosses fingers* :lookaroun ).

Hard to believe this is her senior year...............................

 

[Gucci65]

Lindsay's books showed up this morning thru bookrenter.com.

Checked the chegg.com website and her books are scheduled for delivery next Friday.......................:shrug:

Guess which ones are going back????

Checked out Clark Howards website and found a few more places to check:

gettextbooks.com
CampusBookRentals.com
Skoobit.com

WAS able to get a few books from her BF (he is a year ahead of her).

Good Luck to all! :wave:

 

[tigsmom]

Hard to believe this is her senior year...............................

I know! She turned 21 in June and I feel sooo old. :lol:

Lindsay's books showed up this morning thru bookrenter.com.

Checked the chegg.com website and her books are scheduled for delivery next Friday.......................:shrug:

Guess which ones are going back????

Checked out Clark Howards website and found a few more places to check:

gettextbooks.com
CampusBookRentals.com
Skoobit.com

WAS able to get a few books from her BF (he is a year ahead of her).

Good Luck to all! :wave:

Chegg goes by the calendar, that is why it's important to time your orders just right. By the time she was ready to order her books (so she would have the the entire semester) one of Katie's books was out of stock. Had she ordered it earlier she would have needed to return it mid November :brick:

 

[k.hunter30]

Yeah, I graduated college in 1978 :lookaroun

Her books for this, her senior year, were outrageous because they are all major classes (this major was not given at her old school). She also lost a semester when she transferred to Tampa so has been taking extra classes to graduate on time (which, God bless her, she should do in may *crosses fingers* :lookaroun ).

Good luck to her!

 

[ClemsonTigger]

Yeah, I graduated college in 1978 :lookaroun

Her books for this, her senior year, were outrageous because they are all major classes (this major was not given at her old school). She also lost a semester when she transferred to Tampa so has been taking extra classes to graduate on time (which, God bless her, she should do in may *crosses fingers* :lookaroun ).

Did they have books back then???

My favorite story this semester is a lab study guide for $40 that is essentially a coloring book....:brick: