Buy books for less

After paying more than a grand in tuition for the term, the last thing anyone wants to do is shell out hundreds of dollars more for textbooks. Finding the best deals and learning the tricks of avoiding the chaos of the Campus Bookstore during the first few weeks is something all students need to know. So, read on.

First off, financial aid is now available to students to help purchase their textbooks in the bookstore, continuing until October 1st. Be sure to pick up your books by then.

Grabbing your books from the bookstore might be the most convenient option, but it’s not necessarily the cheapest. Amazon has great deals for students, and will even allow you to trade them in for a good amount at the end of the term. Plus, you won’t have to stand in line for an hour at the bookstore.

Better yet, buy books from friends and other students. Post what you’re selling on Facebook and Twitter and hang up posters around the school. The perks of buying from people you know is that they are more likely to give you a good deal.

Speaking of lines, the best way to avoid long lines at the bookstore, if you must go, during the first week is to go early. Not 10 a.m. early–I’m talking before 8am early. It’s worth waking up to avoid spending your whole afternoon standing in line.

The bookstore has extended hours during the first week of the term, opening at 7:30 a.m. and closing at 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. There are additional hours on Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. These extended hours last only through Oct. 1, so take advantage while you can.

Some other great websites for finding textbooks include half.com, which is an eBay company, and, of course, craigslist. But, be wary: What you see isn’t always what you get. If you’re like me and you don’t really care what condition the book is in as long as you can read it, then go for it. But if you insist on your books looking nice, the best route might be to buy them new.

Follow my advice and you’ll be good to go—you don’t want to find yourself unprepared and start the term off on the wrong foot.