As the Spring semester is quickly approaching, students will begin to start thinking about the supplies needed for their classes. According to the College Board, the average student will spend more than $1,200 on textbooks and supplies, per year. This number is outrageous for students who are already paying a large amount on other school expenses. The bad thing is, the costs of new textbooks and supplies aren’t going to be going down in the near future. So what can we do to keep some of the money spent in our pockets? I encourage you to consider the following to improve your awareness of the other options that are out there.
- Buy Used
You will want to begin looking for used books as soon as possible, because they usually sell fast. Start by going to your local bookstores, to see if there are any used options available. If not, first check online before you immediately buy a brand new book. One great thing about new books is the fact that they’ll most always be available.
- Buy Only What You Need
One thing that I have begun to realize, is that not all required books are really required. One way to find this out is to ask around, maybe a friend has taken the class before and says it’s not worth the money. Another option you have is to give it a few class periods to see if the instructor will be making the textbook a priority.
- Buy and Sell
If you are forced into buying a textbook at full-price, always remember to put it back on the market after you are finished using it. You might not get all of the money you spent, but maybe it’s enough to cover a book or two the following semester.
- Consider Renting
Another great buying option that you could take advantage of is renting instead of buying. First, check your local bookstores to see if they offer this. If they don’t, search online because there are a lot of places that let you rent a book for a semester instead of buying it. This could definitely be a very cheap option for you.
School is expensive. Everyone should try their hardest to save as much money as possible. Taking into consideration these buying options, are just a few of the ways you can cut back on your school expenses. This time, when the new semester rolls around, I hope you have the knowledge think twice about buying a brand new textbook.
Be sure to visit Powercat Financial Counseling for a free and confidential peer-to-peer consultation to make sure your finances are on track for the upcoming semester. Visit our website at www.ksu.edu/pfc to schedule an appointment.
Nolan Keim
Peer Counselor I
Powercat Financial Counseling
www.k-state.edu/pfc
