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| Photo credit: moneywatch.bnet.com |
In a nutshell, you've got four ways of obtaining textbooks; from most expensive to least expensive, you can: buy new, buy used, rent, or copy. Chances are you'll need to combine a couple of methods based on availability and other issues you'll encounter. Regardless of which method you're employing, you've got plenty of ways to save money.
Buying New
The best strategy if you want to pay the most money when buying a new textbook: Go to your campus bookstore. Avoid this at all cost. There is rarely a situation where you can't find a better deal through an online retailer like Amazon.
If you do end up buying a brand new textbook and you want to make some of that money back, there are several places that will purchase your used textbooks. For U of T students for example, we have Tusbe (Toronto University Students Book Exchange). Another option is to post ads across campus selling your books. That seems to work.
Buying Used
If you're still set on owning your textbooks but don't need a book that's never been touched, buying used is a good way to save but comes with its own set of issues. With so many options online, you'll want to pay attention to sites that have quality ratings or let you inquire about the quality of the textbook. While a mildly beat up book will serve you as well as a shiny new one, you want to be sure you don't end up with a torn-up book spine or pages filled with cartoon drawings.
Also be sure to check the store's return policy for those special occasions where you do, indeed, end up with a spineless, genital-ridden textbook and need a replacement. On the plus side, virtually every used textbook retailer is pretty careful about the used books they buy for resale, but once in awhile something will slip through the cracks. Additionally, in some cases you'll find the best deals directly from another person and there won't be an intermediary. It never hurts to double-check.
Renting
Textbook renting is becoming a more popular option these days. Some colleges have even started renting textbooks directly. In some cases, they'll even buy the book if they don't have it available for rent. Check with your school to find out if that's an option and plan ahead so they can order the book for you if necessary. If you're going digital and want a rental option as well, check out ezpanda.ca.
If you plan to sell your books once you're finished with them anyway, you may as well rent. The important thing to remember is to avoid marking up the books or degrading their quality t0o much. If you do, you could end up paying a fee. Renting will save you money if you can take good care of the books, but since they'll inevitably find a new home once you've finished you will need to keep them in the best shape possible.
Copying
Things get tricky when you want to copy. While you can potentially get a free textbook by photocopying or scanning the pages you need from your school library (or a friend), it takes a lot of work. If you have a day to get the job done (and you have free access to a photocopier or scanner), this may be a worthwhile option.
IMPORTANT: Make sure you have the permission to legally copy the textbook. Copyright is taken very seriously here in Canada.
Edited from Lifehacker.com
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