Save money by renting college textbooks

Don't judge a book by its cover. Instead, save the criticism for the hefty sticker price traditional campus books stores charge for required texts.

On a budget? No problem.

With college students shelling out hundreds--sometimes thousands--of dollars on textbooks each year, the latest back-to-school savings rage is renting required texts. In fact. the college bookseller branch of Barnes & Noble recently announced that it expanded its multi-channel textbook rental program to hundreds of colleges and universities.

The program, which is offered through campus bookstores managed by Barnes & Noble, has already resulted in thousands of students renting their fall textbooks and, by the end of the back-to-school season, will provide millions of higher education students, and their families, significant savings off the high cost of college textbooks.

Along with delivering savings of more than 50 percent over the cost of purchasing a new, printed textbook, Barnes & Noble’s rental program contains the features higher education students want most, including:

* The convenience of renting their books either in the campus bookstore or from the bookstore’s Web site, eliminating the need to pay shipping costs or wait for their books to arrive in the mail
* The choice to return their rental textbooks to the campus bookstore or via mail using free return shipping
* The flexibility to use a wide variety of rental fee payment options, including financial aid and campus debit cards, as well as cash and credit cards
* The ability to highlight and take notes in their rented books
* The freedom to keep their books for up to ten days after the last day of finals
* The comfort of getting automated, reminder emails alerting them that the rental period is ending and to return their books to the bookstore

Also, Consumer United has teamed up with CollegeBookRenter.com, an online alternative where students can rent or sell college textbooks. Renting online can save you as much as 85 percent on your textbook costs.

Click here for the lowdown on CollegeBookRenter.com.

Score college textbooks on a budget

Don't judge a book by its cover. Instead, save the criticism for the hefty sticker price traditional campus books stores charge for required texts.

On a budget? No problem.

With college students shelling out hundreds--sometimes thousands--of dollars on textbooks each year, an alternative is used books stores and online shops like half.com and amazon.com as a viable way for frugal-minded collegians to save a few bucks.

Also, students returning to the halls this fall may find it easier to shop and compare prices for textbooks thanks to a federal law that kicks in July 1 that requires universities to serve up its required book list upon registration.

The law, included as part of the federal Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, requires publishers to provide faculty with details about their selected books, including information about previous editions, any substantial revisions and alternative formats.

"Textbooks are a significant part of college costs," says Elsa Magee, acting president of the New York Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC). "A report revealed the average college student spends $1,000 a year on books, so it's imperative for students to use all available resources to save money on this expense."

HESC serves up a few tips for budget-savvy students:

Shop Early
Get the book list as soon as you can and note the ISBN (the book's unique identifying number) and the edition required by the professor. Campus bookstores often have used books available at reduced prices, but supplies dwindle as the start of classes gets closer. Some college towns have independent bookstores near campus that carry used textbooks, so check them out, too.

Consider Online Shopping
Most of the large online booksellers like Amazon.com and Half.com carry new and used textbooks at competitive prices that could save you money over purchases made at a traditional bricks-and-mortar store.

Textbook Rentals
Renting books online can save hundreds of dollars over the cost of purchasing and may be a good idea if you don't plan to keep the book after the end of the class. Online companies such as Chegg, Campus Book Rentals, BookRenter and others promise savings up to 90 percent over the retail cost of books.

Click here for the lowdown from HESC.

Savings tips for the frugal college student

College students have decreased their spending, due to tighter incomes and reduced student aid. However, many are still asking for financial aid for lifestyle expenses such as "interview preparation materials," according to an article by U.S. News & World Report.

Now is the time to prioritize your spending, and think about the debt load you'll have in a few years. We've compiled some ways to save money now so you won't have to pay more later.

Cut down on technology expenses

With free wi-fi everywhere, there's no need to pay for your own plan in college. The college libraries offer free internet, along with public libraries, coffee shops, cafes and campus dorms. Texts can add up along with long-distance calls home. Shop around for a good plan before you commit.

Sell your car

It's time to sell your car. More than likely, you won't need your car at school. Generally, universities offers free bus service to and from town. If you are attending college in the city, you definitely will not need a car. Get out and walk. Four years isn't a long time, but it will seem a lot longer if you have to pay for gas and monthly insurance.

Find a cheap room

The U.S. News & World Report article finds many people who have financial troubles are the ones who are living in the most expensive housing. Ditch the suite you are living in, you don't need it. Embrace the poverty of being in college. Find a cheap room and a roommate who is't too much of a party-goer... and suck it up.

Stop eating out

Students can save hundreds of dollars by eating realistic meals. If you live close to home, buy a meal plan at school that offers 10 to 15 meals a week, instead of the usual 20 ... and go home to eat for the weekends. If you like to eat out, buy the usual 20 and find out which restaurants nearby campus take your meal plan cards. If they don't, they may want to start.

Don't pay retail

Don't shop at retail stores because they are only guaranteed to hurt your wallet. Looking for books? Hit up nearby libraries. Looking for furniture? Shop at thrift stores, and browse sites like freecycle.org. You can find brand-new and gently-used clothes at nearly 80% to 90% off retail prices.