Want to save money on college textbooks? Here are some tips

Whether it's your first time buying textbooks or you're a seasoned upperclassman, there's always a chance to experiment and save money.

Here are some quick tips on how to go about the search.

Head online

While the campus bookstore is a convenient one-stop shop, a little bit of outside research can go a long way.

Google is a good start — GooglePlay and Kindle have some e-textbooks — but also try looking at rental sites like Amazon Rentals or Chegg for some price comparisons. 

BIGWORDS.com is a search engine that will compare options for e-books, rentals and buying new or used. The search engine looks across multiple websites to find the cheapest combination and it'll find you coupons and promo codes.

But be careful when renting from any site and read the terms. Damage to a rental or returning it late could cost you much more money than planned.

Also, if you're looking for novels, don't get tunnel-vision shopping online; check out all the places you'd normally buy books, such as Half Price Books or your local bookstore.

Free is great

It always helps to have friends in high places. Is there a benevolent upperclassman you know who is off-loading some books at a lower price (or for free)?

If the book isn't one you'll need for long, browse the university library.

And,  if you have a group of study buddies and you all need the same expensive book, see if you can split the cost of one.

Also, know what you actually need: If a textbook is listed as "recommended," you might want to wait to buy it until your professor explains the syllabus.

What's in an edition?

It helps to know.

Some edition updates mean major modifications that you'll need to keep up with your class. Some will just update and modernize the examples in the textbook and make other minor tweaks.

If you're considering buying an older edition of a book to save some money, be sureyou know it won't complicate things for you down the road.

Also, look into resale value. While buying the new book might seem more expensive to start, depending on the book, you can recoup a portion of that cost by reselling the book when the semester is over.

Avoid doubling up

If your class requires an access code to complete assignments or view materials, check to see if the company sells stand-alone codes on their websites.

There are some cases where the access code will include an e-book. So, if you don't mind reading on your computer, that could save you the cost of the textbook.

Also, if you need multiple codes for multiple classes from the same company, see if they offer a subscription model such as  Cengage Unlimited (and check if your school pays for access for you). It could save you money in the long run.

Know what you're paying for

When you see a university's estimated cost of attendance, it likely includes books, transportation and other miscellaneous costs. If you are taking out a loan, make sure you know exactly what the loan is covering.

It's important to weigh the cost of using loans to buy books against paying upfront. If you can avoid taking out debt to buy books, do so. Otherwise, you may find yourself saddled with not only paying back that debt but paying interest on what may already be high book costs.

Contact Devi Shastri at 414-224-2193 or DAShastri@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @DeviShastri.