Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Lions and Tigers and Books, Oh My

The summer is flying by, isn't it? Even though you may still have sand between your toes and everything you wear smells a little like sunscreen, now is the time to start thinking about books for the fall.  Discovering the cost of books is kind of like finding out that Santa Claus is your Uncle with a stupid fake beard.  You're shocked. A little angry.  And a wee bit sad.

Take heart, there is an answer for this dilemma:  You can buy used or international textbooks.  You can also rent.

Buy used. Similar to finding a place to live, the sooner you start looking, the better.  There are a lot of used books out there but you have to do the footwork to find them.  There are also many places to find used books- most of them online.  I have successfully and easily used half.com, ebay, and amazon.com.  I'm sure there are many other reputable sites, I'm just not personally familiar with them. Make sure and compare prices.  I've noticed that some used textbooks are listed at more than the cost of new.  Huh?  Also, consider shipping costs.  You must read the ad carefully to make sure you are really getting a good deal.  And finally, double check the expected arrival of your shipment.  You may have to pay extra to get the book to you before school starts.

International edition textbooks. It's virtually the same book but with some slight differences and at a cheaper price.  Here is a link to some good info on international textbooks.  http://www.textbooksrus.com/books/information/ieinformation.aspx

Rent.  If you are going to rent you need to take very good care of the book.  That means not using it as a place to set your Starbucks or as an umbrella to keep your hair from frizzing in the rain.  If you are like me and can only read while also holding a pen and underlining everything, this might not work for you.  The book needs to be returned in the same condition that it was rented to you or you will have to buy it.  Yikes. My daughter recently discovered these cool little Post-its that also have lines on them for keeping notes.  That would be a good way to mark your place and take notes without damaging the rented book.  http://www.staples.com/Post-it-2-3-4-x-3-3-8-Assorted-Color-Note/product_SS1055126

There is a little "yeah, but"  to this whole "shop early, get a deal" plan. What if your financial aid money doesn't come in until AFTER school starts and you can barely afford to buy shoelaces at the dollar store, much less an $80 textbook? (Yes, a used one can be that much and more.)  I know it happens because it's happened to me and my daughters. The problem is that you are then short on time to get your books and often the used deals are gone.  It's possible that if this is your situation you will be stuck buying the new edition at full price.  There are three other options though.

One: The professor can make the assigned textbook available at the college's library. You can then borrow the book. For free. Make your school's librarian your new best friend.  They are there to help and will let you know what the limits are to borrowing the textbook.  Sometimes professors have their head's in the academic clouds of their brilliance and so they forget this day-to-day stuff.  Just ask! It won't hurt for you to ask-- politely, of course-- if the professor would make the book available at the library.  

Two: Share a book with a classmate. If you find someone you feel comfortable with, you can suggest that you share the textbook, including the cost. Obviously, this takes a lot of trust, so you may need to wait to use this strategy once you're classmates have also become friends. 

Three: Look into whether there is an e-book edition that you can download.  This will save you money but will only work if you are really comfortable reading and studying without a good old fashioned turn-the-pages textbook.

Finally, I want to encourage you to remember your goal: To get an education. Your education will require having books and, yes, the books are expensive.  Keep your eye on the goal, take a deep breath, and remember how you survived knowing that Santa Claus  is your dad's brother who eats too much bean dip during the Super Bowl.

You were bummed, but then you remembered how much you love your uncle.