Purchasing Textbooks? Best ways/cheapest?

Nursing Students General Students

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So we all know the horrors of buying textbooks, just wondering where do you get yours?

Last term I got mine online at Barnes and Noble because Hubby and I don't have credit cards so I got a BN giftcard at the store and then used it online to get the books (they were cheaper than in the store).

This term I have no money for a bn card so what I'm finding myself having to do is buy piece mail. I ordered one book last week because I had just enough money for one. :crying2: I have one more paycheck before school starts again so I will have to order one more then and then the rest will have to wait or I will have to get from the library. I'm startin a new job and I don't know my paydates there. It is a lower paying job too so that will be even harder. :angryfire

Hubby is getting ready to start an apprenticeship so hopefully he will get that in time for me to buy a few more. Why oh why do books have to be so expensive!

Thanks for letting me vent! Where do you get your books?!

PS - some other places I've used over the years are:

Walmart.com

Amazon.com

half.com

I always sell my used textbooks back through Amazon since I have been able to get a better price than selling back to university bookstores. Just a thought for when it comes time to sell them back...

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Specializes in Critical Care / Psychiatry.
This term I have no money for a bn card so what I'm finding myself having to do is buy piece mail. I ordered one book last week because I had just enough money for one. :crying2:

I've had some colorful experiences with buying (or not buying) books so I thought I'd share. First of all, like someone else mentioned, check at your college's library. Many times an instructor will put the textbook on hold as reference behind the counter so that you can have access to it while in the library. I was taking a Substance Abuse class and I didn't want to buy the book so I just spent an hour or two in the library after class each week reading the chapter for the next lecture. It went wonderfully and I saved myself around $60. And best of all my daydreaming self was actually made to sit on my rump and READ in peace and solitude. ;)

Also, never underestimate the power of a photocopier or a new friend. Always attend class before you buy the book and if possible, ask if anyone has taken this professor before and if you honestly need your book. Don't be afraid to even ask the professor after class. Many times they will be very understanding of your financial situation and they will be upfront about whether or not you could possibly get by through other means that are easier on your pocketbook. Or you could always borrow a book for a night and spend $5 here and $5 there copying pages. It would suffice if you didn't have the whole lump sum at the beginning for the book but you could afford to shell out $5 here and there per chapter.

My last lil tidbit of advice is to never resell your books at the college bookstore where they offer you $15 for a book that cost you 5 times that much. Wait until the start of the next semester when people are scouring the web for books and pop that sucker on Ebay where you will sometimes even make money if you bought your book used in the first place. I've made $20 and upwards just by putting my old textbook on Ebay.

I know how it feels to have no money and I know it's frustrating and a constant struggle. Make sure you're doing everything you can - FAFSA, school aid, good grades for possible scholarships, and state aid if available. When you exhaust all your resources and when your heart wants it bad enough...good things come. :)

Shel

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last year I got the book list early and bought them straight from the publisher. I saved over $250 than if I'd bought them from the bookstore. Plus I got free shipping!

A

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Specializes in OBGYN, Neonatal.

Thanks for all the good advice! I have sold lots of books using half.com and amazon, I think I like amazon the best but both have worked out well for me. I am not sure if I will sell all my nursing books, but we'll see! :):)

Thanks for the tips I will see what I can do to make it work! I"m thinking one or two books a pay day will get me there and I know the reading assignments for hte first week already so that will help me to gauge what books I need first.

Unfortunately I can't do much with my FASFA because I have maxed my undergrad loans when going to school for my BA in Psych. I do compelte a FASFA every year thought because the school uses it to help determine my need and put me up for scholarship review. I apply to every one that I find posted at school and several i've found online. My grades are high B - low A so I am hoping that now that i have one semester of nursing school almost complete and my grades are looking good that it will help with scholarships. My final exam is Thursday and I'm praying for an A. I'm going to read my notes til the pages are stuck in my brain LOL!

Thanks again all! YOu have been a GREAT help!

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Wow...i have worked at WalMart for almost 2 years (don't ask me why) and I never knew that you could get the textbooks online. That is the coolest thing...especially if they are cheaper. They just started takin our GREAT BIG HUGE 10% employee discount (rolling eyes) online too so that could actually work out good for me.

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Specializes in Critical Care / Psychiatry.
Wow...i have worked at WalMart for almost 2 years (don't ask me why) and I never knew that you could get the textbooks online. That is the coolest thing...especially if they are cheaper. They just started takin our GREAT BIG HUGE 10% employee discount (rolling eyes) online too so that could actually work out good for me.

Target has a 10% discount too so don't feel bad. :chuckle

Shel

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Thanks for all the good advice! I have sold lots of books using half.com and amazon, I think I like amazon the best but both have worked out well for me. I am not sure if I will sell all my nursing books, but we'll see! :):)

Thanks for the tips I will see what I can do to make it work! I"m thinking one or two books a pay day will get me there and I know the reading assignments for hte first week already so that will help me to gauge what books I need first.

Unfortunately I can't do much with my FASFA because I have maxed my undergrad loans when going to school for my BA in Psych. I do compelte a FASFA every year thought because the school uses it to help determine my need and put me up for scholarship review. I apply to every one that I find posted at school and several i've found online. My grades are high B - low A so I am hoping that now that i have one semester of nursing school almost complete and my grades are looking good that it will help with scholarships. My final exam is Thursday and I'm praying for an A. I'm going to read my notes til the pages are stuck in my brain LOL!

Thanks again all! YOu have been a GREAT help!

Cherokee,

I have one undergraduate degree already also, and working toward my second (BSN). I have applied for student loan funds thru FAFSA, and have been awarded. They will loan you money toward a second bachelor's degree, but only up to 60 credit hours (I think, would have to verify, but it is right around that number). Once you meet that credit hour limit, they put you on Student aid suspension. You can either appeal it, turn in a Graduation plan and see if they will continue to loan you money - or find funds some other way (alternative loans - Sallie Mae has one with interest that is not outrageous, or scholarships).

Also, your school may have scholarships that are not available thru FAFSA. I filled out applications for scholarships thru my University financial aid Dept., then also thru the Nursing Dept. (Nursing Dept. had some specific to nursing students and the applications are not avail. thru the University financial aid dept.).

Finances is a MAJOR concern of mine, as you can probably figure out, LOL. Just thought I'd share the information I've learned along the way. Hope it helps.

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Another option too, apart from all the great ones suggested above, is to check around and see if students from years ahead of you are planning to sell their old textbooks. If you buy a used text directly from another student, instead of through a bookstore or online service, you can usually save even more money because the store isn't taking its own cut. Plus you can usually bargain. I've sold a number of my old texts this way and I'm always open to buyers bargaining with me. This option is usually best only at the beginning of the school year though because there's usually a high demand for used texts and not as many students willing to sell old texts. I like to keep some of mine that have been particularly useful.

Also, you usually don't have to buy the book in the same edition. Generally the publisher doesn't change much at all except for some page numbers.

Another thing you can do if students in years ahead of you aren't willing to sell their texts is ask them if you can borrow the texts from them for a period of time. Either the whole term or a few days so you can photocopy what you need. I've done this too for students in lower years, lent my text out and had it returned to me.

Good luck!

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Specializes in ER,GI.

Try Amazon.com they have used textbooks

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Specializes in ICU.

Okay 3 PAGES of discussion about where to buy textbooks and not ONE of you has mentioned that this site has a book store that helps support the site and keep it free!!!!

Come on Guys please mention https://allnurses.com/nursingbooks/

harumph!!!:p:D

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Try Amazon.com, there a bunch of people on there selling books new and used for cheap prices. I just got my textbook for English brand new for $15 and that's including expedited shipping. The college bookstore was selling that book for $45 used.

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Specializes in OBGYN, Neonatal.

Thanks! I didn't even know there were books on this site for sale!

Thanks alot I will check them out!

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