Books: keeping costs low

Books are the biggest Rip-Off of your college experience: even more that parking!

Here are some ways to keep your book expenses low.

 Firstly, try to find out what books you need ahead of time and start shopping for them early.  You can wait until after the class begins to ask if the book will be referenced in class or if it is just being used as an additional resource for the students. I have had several classes where we never even opened the book that was "Required" according to the campus book store. If the instructor advises that you need the book, get it ASAP. I have had quizzes on the second day of class from readings from text books and class notes.This way you can find them online (barnes & noble, ebay, etc).  If ordering online, be sure that the ISBN number is the same and/or that the edition number is correct.  Ask the instructor for a list of required materials as soon as you sign up for the course.  Then ask the instructor if they have a copy that you may use for the semester.  If they do not, ASK THE DEPARTMENT SECRETARY if they have a copy you can borrow for the semester!!  If they do, this is save you time and MONEY.

The Barne's & Noble store near campus on Euclid is reportedly not renting books any longer as of Spring 2014.  If you plan to rent, rent through the CSU campus bookstore.  This brings me to my next point.  Renting a book will save you money.  If you rent, you are allowed to highlight in the book (within reason).  I always highlight my rented books and have never been penalized for it!  Renting requires you to return the book by a certain date.  The date is after the last day of classes and generally falls within or just after the last week of finals.  Just be sure to return the books by that date and you are all set.

Sometimes several different instructors teach the same course but on alternating semesters and sometimes they use the same textbooks.  Find out who else teaches or has taught the class and ask them if you can borrow a copy of the text book.

Textbooks are sometimes on reserve at CSU's library by instructor request or there may be a copy at the library.  If the book is not going to be used regularly, you could photocopy the sections that you need from the library's copy of the book.  Be sure to follow all copyright laws (there, I'm off the hook).

Trade purchased text books with others in your major with whom you share classes.  What you take this semester may be the class your friend is taking next semester.  Keeping a social network of classes and textbooks that can be traded back and forth has saved me money!!!

Required materials such as expensive calculators can cost you more money than you planned for.  Calculators such as many of the Texas Instrument calculators are the same ones that high school students use or have used.  You may be required to have one of these for math or chemistry classes because they have built in functions for finance and scientific calculations.  Check around with family members, friends and neighbors to see if they have one of these that you can borrow for the semester for math classes.  This can save you about $130.

Keep the questions coming! I'll keep trying to answer them.

Have a great semester,

Allan