We all have goals we wish to accomplish. We have dream jobs that we want to acquire one day. Getting there involves a process, and a crucial part is studying in college.
We all look forward to filling our bags with books and sitting at the desks in lecture rooms. The whole college experience brings a mix of academic and social development that impacts our lives. But like every process, there are obstacles along the way. The most challenging obstacle is saving funds for college needs.
Even the most prudent student will have debt if college expenses are too challenging to handle. As many as 40 million Americans have outstanding student debts. And one of the significant contributors to student debt is the ever-increasing prices of textbooks.
And so we tackle this problem by looking at the most innovative ways to shave off costs from your student budget. Today, we look at 5 tips to save money when renting textbooks online.
Do You Really Save Money by Renting Textbooks?
How much money do you save by renting textbooks?
The question above rings in the heads of students looking to rent textbooks online for the first time. At the start of every semester, professors often welcome students with their syllabi and lists of books to aid their studies. And in most cases, these textbooks are new editions.
If you’ve bought a few textbooks, you know that new edition textbooks are always pricey. And with the way the school’s wired, there’s always the inclination towards purchasing the latest books. However, with texts contributing a massive chunk of a student’s budget, things have to change.
You only pay a fraction of what you’ll spend on a new textbook when renting textbooks. Also, if it’s not explicitly stated, you can ignore the latest editions and rent older texts with the same info. This also saves you more money.
Imagine spending hundreds of dollars on books you’ll only use for months. Textbook rentals help prevent that from happening. You only pay for the period you rent the book, which saves you more money.
5 Tips for Renting Textbooks the Smart Way
So, what do you need to know before embarking on a book-renting spree? What tips distinguish between an online textbook rental and renting books wisely? Here are 5 of them:
1. Be Cautious When Looking for Textbooks
The first step to renting a textbook is finding the one you need. Paying attention in class is essential to get the right name and author of the required text. This will make your search easier and faster. And speaking of book searches, always take note of the ISBN of the book in question when doing your search.
So, do not limit your search filters to just name and author when looking for a textbook to rent. Be sure to include the ISBN as well. The reason is that different book editions have different ISBNs. And you wouldn’t want to make a mistake and rent the wrong edition. You’ll just have to spend more to find the correct text.
On the other hand, adding the ISBN to your search is a step that ensures you only arrive at the required edition of the book. Then, you can compare different prices across the various vendors provided by your rental company. It also helps to look for a used version of a new edition book to save more costs.
A quick ISBN-13 lookup can help you confirm the exact version you need before comparing prices across vendors. It also helps to look for a used version of a newer edition to save even more on costs.
2. Use the Rented Textbooks with Care
Like every borrowed or rented item, proper use and care of rented textbooks are paramount. Textbook rental companies all have regulations that students must follow regarding how they use those books. Therefore, before using these books, be sure to go through the guidelines and follow them diligently.
For instance, rental companies have restrictions regarding the amount of highlighting you can do. So, take care to limit the highlights you leave on the pages of these books.
Also, book rental companies don’t like students making notes on the pages of their books. Therefore, you’ll need to find a jotter or exercise book for note-taking. Other guidelines for use include abstaining from dogearing the books, avoiding spills and stains, avoiding torn pages, and so on.
You should remember that many have used those books before you and will use them after you’re done. You wouldn’t want the next student to rent a poor-looking textbook now, would you?
3. Look for The Best and Most Affordable Deals on Textbook Rentals
When searching for a company to rent textbooks from, two factors matter most: affordability and overall value. It’s not enough to pick the cheapest rental option—you should also consider what you’re actually getting for the price.
A smart approach is to compare different platforms, shortlist the top three, and analyze their rental packages side by side. Some companies may advertise the lowest rates, while others might include extra perks like study guides or exam prep materials. These added benefits could make a slightly higher rental price worth it in the long run.
If you’re not sure where to start, check out this list of the places to rent books to explore trusted options and compare deals. Ultimately, the goal is to find a textbook rental company that balances both price and value, giving you the best of both worlds.
4. Don’t Be Afraid to Extend Your Rental Period
When we rent textbooks, we only think about using them for that semester. However, some texts are required for more extended periods. So, when you discover that you’ll need a book for a while longer, don’t hesitate to ask for an extension on your rental period.
This also means you have an extra feature to look for when searching for the right textbook rental company. Always be sure you’re renting from a company that’ll listen to your requests for an extension.
Moving on, you should also take care to inform your rental company about your extension on time. It’s advisable to notify your rental company weeks before your fixed deadline. On the other hand, when renting the textbook, if you feel like you’ll need it longer than expected, it’s best to purchase a more extended rental period.
In the end, it’s much cheaper to purchase a more extended rental period than to request an extension. So, think properly about how long you’ll need the book before renting.
5. Always Stick to the Deadline
At the end of the semester, when you’re done with the books, be sure to mail them back. Luckily, there’s no shipping fee involved as long as you have the prepaid return slip. You must ensure those rented books are well packaged, boxed, and mailed back to the rental company.
As crucial as mailing books in good condition is, so is shipping them back on time. Nothing significantly dents an online textbook rental experience more than a late return. That’s because missing deadlines attracts a penalty, usually involving a fine.
Since the whole point of a textbook rental is to save money, it wouldn’t be wise to rent textbooks and keep them beyond the fixed deadline. The last thing you need is to spend as much money on a book rental as you would have on a new book.
The Perks of Saving Money on Textbooks Through Book Rentals
It’s not news anymore that part of what helps a student overcome difficulties in school is learning how to save. With your income coming from your parents/guardians and, sometimes, from a part-time job, you won’t always have the leisure of blowing Benjamins for non-academic purposes.
In other words, you won’t always have the money to afford a Friday night frat party or a Saturday night food binge. But you do have school-related expenses that need attending to. To keep up, however, you have to improvise and cut down on costs to keep your pockets from running dry.
Learning the best ways to rent textbooks is a huge money-saver. With the extra money saved, you can focus on other needs and maintain a good standard of living during your school days. Textbooks are essential but aren’t the only necessities you’ll have as a student.
