The 5 Stages of Buying Your Textbooks

Fall semester has come and gone and before we have even recovered from the stress of finals, the Spring semester is here, which means one thing: new textbooks. Oh yes, this means the dreaded “textbook with an access code,” piles of small novels, and books that weigh more than a small animal. Using the “Five Stages of Grief,” we are going to take you through the five stages of buying your textbooks:

Stage 1: Denial

Wait, does that say $250? No. Of course it doesn’t… Why would a textbook be $250? I need new glasses. Wait, where are my glasses? $250 for a math book that I’m only going to use once? This isn’t happening. I must be dreaming. I don’t need this, right? I can pass the class without it.

Stage 2: Anger

$250 for a math book that I’m only going to use once?? Where is all of this money coming from? I have to eat! I have to shop! Money doesn’t grow on trees the last time I checked. There’s no way I’m paying that much for a textbook.. Not happening.

Stage 3: Bargaining

I’ve searched every website that sells textbooks and have yet to find a miracle price. I’ll settle for a used book, I’ll rent it, anything but pay $250 for it! There has to be a lower price somewhere. Is this even the right book? I swear I’ve gotten a virus on my computer from these downright sketchy online bookstores. Please, just let me find it cheaper. I’ll lay off on the Starbucks this month! I’m really trying to be a good student here!

Stage 4: Depression

My tear-stained keyboard is making it hard to enter my credit card number on. Goodbye to those tri-weekly grande iced caramel macchiatos from Starbucks. Goodbye to those cute spring break outfits I had picked out. Goodbye to ordering pizza every Friday night.

Stage 5: Acceptance

I’m in college to learn, right? This will surely pay off in the long-run when I land my high-paying job, nice house, and adopt multiple cats. You can’t put a price on knowledge, after all. This is all part of the college experience. Are you even in college if you aren’t a “poor college student?”

Let’s face it, collegiates: it’s no fun buying textbooks. Especially the ones that make even your bank account cry. For most classes, however, this is unavoidable. Here are several things you can do to ease the stress of buying an expensive textbook though:

– Compare, compare, compare. The price of a textbook can vary greatly from website to website, so it is extremely beneficial to compare other prices to the price that your college’s bookstore is offering.

– Buy it used/ rent it. Unless your textbook requires an access code, it is a great idea to buy it used or rent it. Buying used can save you TONS of money that can be spent on that cute spring break outfit after all. Renting can also offer the textbooks for a much lower price and take it off your hands at the end of the semester!

– Ask Around. Most of the time, professors will use the same book semester after semester, so ask some friends who have had the class if they still have their book! Even if they don’t they may know someone who does.

Happy shopping!