Cheaper textbooks? Is that even possible?
This is the first day of classes, and you have received your course syllabi for all four courses you will take this semester. It's time to collect your package at the university bookstore. Watch out! For a course you are only expected to take for a few weeks, you are expected to purchase a textbook for $100-200?
No, it’s not a mistake. Several courses have seen the cost of textbooks skyrocket in the past decade, including economics. It's absurd but true. This is even more so when considering that the updated and expensive edition of an old textbook may only contain 2% of new content.
You do have other options!
Consider purchasing a used textbook. Perhaps it is a slightly worn-out replacement. But those folds in the pages have a history, and the notes and underlines were a part of a journey that you are about to embark on. Look for second-hand bookstores near your college or university—you might find stores dealing exclusively in second-hand textbooks.
You could also check with your seniors and purchase second-hand directly from them- eliminate the middleman. There are also many Facebook groups for buying and selling used textbooks. For UBC, try these two!
Online Stores like Amazon
Check for discounts like “student prime” for Amazon and monthly trials—check to see if it works for you. Also, check if your parents/guardians or elder siblings have an account.?
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Check before you purchase e-text
E-texts are an option, and if money is not a concern, then e-texts are fantastic. However,?this might not always be a cheaper option. If you are deciding to purchase an e-textbook, check carefully, as some publishers only offer six-month access. In that case, you should think of this as the cost of renting a textbook for six months with no resale.
Before you purchase an e-text make sure it’s a version that can be read on your computer or tablet.
When should you sell your textbooks
If the textbook is for an introductory course that is a prerequisite for other classes, I would advise keeping the textbook for future review. It makes sense to have permanent access to your textbook, or at least until you graduate. Don’t be in a rush to sell your textbooks.
Here is an insightful article by?Eric Griffith?in PCmag answering some of the questions on – cheap textbooks – where and how??