Recycled Textbooks
If you have a college student entering school this fall and are looking to cut costs, consider recycled textbooks as a way to save money and do good by the planet.
Be the Early Bird
Remember when you went to college? The “early bird caught the worm” in the race for used books on the shelf. Today, being early is still the modus operandi if you want a deal. But, the difference is you have more used options available to you than just the one bookstore shelf.
And while used books were most often considered just a cost savings, in today’s world they are also green because you are not contributing to the energy and resources needed to construct a new book.
Electronic vs. Used?
Furthermore, while electronic textbooks are on the rise and represent, perhaps, the greenest school textbook option, they are not always the most cost effective when compared side by side to used options – especially when you factor in the extra technology equipment and Internet expense. And, some students find them difficult to study by, especially if you don’t have 24/7 Internet access or are used to utilizing a hands-on hardcopy.
The Ins and Outs
Here are some tips on acquiring used college textbooks:
- Pre-planning saves money: Find out your book requirements early so that you have more used book options. E-mail professors two weeks before school starts and ask for the syllabus, or, at minimum, ask what will be the required books. Utilize the staff directory online to find the instructors’ contact info. Additionally, some schools post syllabi’s online, so you don’t need to contact the instructor. And, if your college or university is nearby, a third option is to visit the college bookstore a week early and make a list of the required books from new-semester shelf labels.
- Find a used-book retailer: If you have at least a week’s headway (preferably 10 days), search for the cheapest used textbooks on such sites as Amazon.com, Half.com, Textbooks.com, Ebay.com, CampusBooks.com, and dozens of other sites. Double check to make sure you are selecting the correct edition. Also, these used books are often sent using the slowest and cheapest mail service possible, so be prepared for a textbook to take up to two weeks before it would arrive.
- Rent a book:
Sometimes, depending on the book, it might be cheaper to rent. This is like a pay-for library service. Go to Chegg.com, BN.com, Textbooks.com, and several other sites. Chegg.com has a program to plant trees through American Forest each time you rent a book. Search online for coupons and promo codes, e.g., RetailMeNot.com or our Thrifty & Green Coupon section for discounts and free shipping on these rental sites. Make sure you keep track of the due date and reuse the box the book was sent in for the return. Many of these sites also ship overnight or within three business days in you’re in a crunch for time. However, calculate in these costs versus buying the book used/new at the college bookstore before you hit the “pay confirmation” button. - Buy used at the college bookstore: Used college textbooks are an immediate green choice when you need them in a hurry! And you aren’t paying primary shipping costs. The best advice here is to get to the college bookstore early before the used books, and their lower prices, disappear.
Bottom line to all these options – go after the book deals early and compare costs. And hopefully these tips will put some extra cash in your student’s pocket.
Edited by Tovah Paglaro
About the Author
Terra Wellington, is a T&G writer, an actress and author in Los Angeles. Throughout her career she has acted as a brand ambassador for 100's of top names, and been a popular television guest due to her advocacy of healthy living and environmental topics. Terra is the author of the book The Mom's Guide to Growing Your Family Green: Saving the Earth Begins at Home (Stonesong Press Books)
For more great articles visit her at: TerraWellington.com
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