How to Save on College Books and Supplies Without Breaking the Bank

Picture: Illustration save on college books and supplies without breaking the bank

If you're planning on attending college, you know how expensive textbooks can be. But there are ways to save money on books and supplies without breaking the bank. Some of these tips might surprise you—even if they're not exactly legal! So let's dive into what works best for me:

Rent books instead of buying them

If you are not sure if the book is going to be useful in the long term, renting it can be a good option. Renting is also an excellent choice if you are not sure if your class will be interesting or engaging.

If your professor has a reputation for grading fairly and impartially (or at least without favoritism), chances are that he or she will expect all students to do their work on time as well as complete each assignment according to its instructions. In other words:

If your professor doesn't like tardiness or completion errors too much—and we mean doesn't like them—it's probably best not to risk having those things reflected on your final grade by buying those books outright before you know exactly how much time and effort they'll take out of your life during the semester

Get a jump on the textbook market by watching for new editions

If you're looking for a new edition of your textbook, the first step is to check its publisher's website or Google Books. You can also contact an adviser at your school if they offer one.

Once you find out when the next edition will be released, keep in mind that the previous edition may still be available on Amazon and other retailers at a discount before it goes out of print (or "used").

If this happens to be true for your book, then there are two options:

• Buy now so that you have enough time between editions; or

• Wait until after the release date comes around before buying anything else based on rumors about potential price changes related to new editions coming out soon after initial release dates (this could happen within weeks).

Re-sell your old textbooks as soon as possible

Before you can sell your old textbooks, you need to know what the going rate is for a used textbook and what happens if you don't sell it back.

If your school offers an official bookstore, this is probably where you should start. You'll probably be able to get much more money than from an online seller or someone in your neighborhood (though some people will buy from both).

If there's no official bookstore option at your school and no one nearby has any interest in buying your books back (e.g., because they're broken), then consider selling them via Amazon Marketplace instead—the same place where I buy my used hardcover books for $2 each!

Just create an account on the site by clicking here and then search for "used textbooks" within the "textbooks" category; click on whichever title catches your eye most closely matches up with whatever edition/edition number(s) are available when searching through our database at this time (we update frequently so check back soon!).

Consider buying used books from other students

• Buy used books from other students. Most colleges and universities have a book exchange program that lets you buy or sell your used books for credit.

You can also look online at sites like Amazon Marketplace, where you can find people who are selling their copies of the textbook they've just finished reading.

• Consider buying used textbooks. This may be less convenient than buying new ones, but it's worth it if you're on a tight budget!

Just make sure to check whether they're still in good condition before making an offer—if there's even one sign that the book has been read multiple times (such as highlighting), then don't bother making an offer at all because it'll probably just end up being worth less money than what someone else paid for theirs already anyway.*

Find out if your textbook is available online (and check the publisher's website)

If your textbook is available online, check the publisher's website. If you don't have access to their website and need more information, ask your professor or search the library catalog.

If you can't find it online, ask your professor if they would be willing to purchase an oversize paperback copy from a local bookstore that sells used books instead of having students buy it from Amazon or Barnes & Noble. This will save them money without breaking the bank!

Join a book-sharing group or use online resources to share textbooks

You can join a book-sharing group or use online resources to share textbooks.

• If you’re in high school, consider joining a student organization (like the school newspaper) that publishes a list of required texts and assigns them to members. This will help you find all your books at once, instead of having to search through various locations and stores before finding one.

You may also want to check out websites like Amazon Student or Chegg Study, which offer same-day shipping on many textbooks if bought online within 24 hours after ordering—but make sure these services are available where you live!

• If buying from an online retailer isn't an option for whatever reason (because it's too expensive), look into purchasing used copies instead; many students prefer this method because there may be fewer printing errors on older editions than newer ones have been known for lately."

Skip the expensive notebook and write on loose-leaf paper

• Use paper that is durable and easy to write on.
• Use a pen that will not bleed through the paper.
• Use a notebook small enough to carry around with you, such as one of those spiral-bound notebooks from the dollar store or grocery store.
• Make sure your notebook has at least one cover so you can write in it!

Take notes on your laptop or tablet instead of buying notecards or scrap paper

While it may seem like the easiest way to save money on college books and supplies is to just buy them, there are other ways you can do so without breaking the bank. One of them is taking notes on your laptop or tablet instead of buying notecards or scrap paper.

There are plenty of free apps out there that allow you to take notes as well as online resources available through sites like Google Docs and Evernote, which offer similar functionality for free.

If your tablet has an e-ink display (like many Android devices), this will make taking handwritten notes even easier since there isn't any glare from bright lights!

Use free apps and free online resources to replace high-priced software programs.

There are many ways to get the most out of your money when it comes to college textbooks and supplies. For example, you can use free apps and online resources that will allow you to use software programs on your computer or tablet instead of buying expensive software programs.

You may also want to consider using free online resources like Khan Academy (a site where users can take courses on virtually any subject) as an alternative if there is a particular subject area that requires specific software for students to access the information they need while they study.

Be smart about how you buy books and supplies.

• Buy used books. There are plenty of places to buy and sell used books, like Amazon Marketplace and Half.com, but be careful when buying from strangers on these sites. Check the seller's rating before purchasing to make sure they're reputable and trustworthy.

• Rent textbooks instead of buying them new—even if you have no plans to return them later!

• Share your textbook with friends who might need it too (just don't let them borrow yours). This can help keep costs down while still giving yourself access to important information without having to shell out cash for every single class you take this semester/year/decade/millennium...

Conclusion

When you’re choosing a college, it can be tempting to think that all your money should go toward paying for books and supplies. But when you think about it, this isn’t necessary. There are plenty of ways to save money while still getting the most out of your college experience.

By renting textbooks instead of buying them, taking advantage of sale periods on new editions by watching for updates as soon as possible (*)