Rushing to buy books before assignments are due isn’t always the best decision financially. I’ve overheard a few people casually stating that they just spent over $350 on textbooks for the term. Although there are probably terms where it’s necessary to spend an exorbitant amount of money on books, it’s really easy for students to think that spending this much on textbooks is normal. No worries! Here are some suggestions on how to save money on books and on where to buy them.

IF YOU’RE IN A RUSH AND NEED A BOOK FOR AN ASSIGNMENT THIS WEEK…

Buy books from Wheelock Books. You have until September 16 to return them for a full refund (they may change the date, so be sure to ask when you purchase your books). Make sure you keep your receipt and your credit card handy if you know you might end up returning a book later.

LOOK AT YOUR SYLLABUS

It’s not always necessary to purchase a book for a class. Professors sometimes post the necessary excerpts on Blackboard, while others keep a few copies in the Course Reserves section in the library. Oftentimes, copies that can be checked out from the library or borrowed from other libraries through the library’s Borrow Direct catalog, which includes over 50 million volumes from other Ivy League schools and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

USED BOOKS

While it’s nice to be the only person who annotates a book, used books are not necessarily horrible things — in fact, they are often like new, and they are cheaper than new books. As long as the words on the page are legible, used books are a fantastic investment. Ask someone who has already taken the class to lend or sell you the book, or buy the used book in the store.

SHARING BOOKS

If you don’t mind photocopying pages from time to time, sharing a book with a classmate is another great option (especially for classes that only use the book for practice problems).

COMPARE THE PRICES

Take the time to compare the prices before buying one. It’s worth the effort.

WHEELOCK BOOKS

Wheelock Books is on Wheelock St. (almost directly across from the Collis Center). Sometimes, Wheelock Books has the best deals; sometimes, it doesn’t. It really depends. There are also some class materials, such as lab manuals, that can only be bought at Wheelock Books.

Courtesy of Wheelock Books

Hours:

Monday – Friday, open 9 am – 5 pm

Saturday – Sunday, closed

Hours are extended for the first week of classes.

There is also an online store for Wheelock Books.

DARTMOUTH BOOKSTORE

The Dartmouth Bookstore is on the right side of Main Street. For those who have no idea how to find textbooks inside the Dartmouth Bookstore, follow the yellow signs (starting at the staircase in the back of the store). Worst-case scenario you can just ask someone.

Hours:

Monday – Saturday, 8 am- 8 pm

Sunday, 11 am – 5 pm

AMAZON FOR STUDENTS

I’ve found that Amazon for Students has great prices most of the time. If you don’t have an Amazon account, I highly recommend creating one. And good news: you get free two-day shipping for 6 months if you are a college student!

CHEGG

Renting textbooks is often the most cost-efficient option, especially if you are taking a class outside of your concentration and are sure that you will not use the book in future terms. Chegg is a great website to check out for good prices on book rentals.

BOOKFINDER4U

Some of my friends from other schools really like this website, because it compares prices over the Internet lists the best options.