Textbooks on the Cheap

Bonjour mes amis,

For Canada, I needed a French/English dictionary and a verb conjugation book for class. Instead of trying to find them at a big-name bookstore, or when I arrived on location, I did the budget-friendly thing and ordered them online.

Here is my tried and true method for getting the biggest bang for your buck buying textbooks. Enjoy!

1. Check your course descriptions and note the ISBNs of books that are required, and those that are "recommended", aka not worth buying. OR if the terms given are general such as " bring a French/English dictionary and a verb tense book",  look online to see what texts others found useful and what professionals stand behind. I chose Bescherelle's La Conjugaison Pour Tous and Larousse's Concise French/English Dictionary based on information found at my favorite French site, French.about.com.

2. Email each professor and ask them which texts are really essential to buy. Often times, profs don't even use the books listed for some godforsaken reason... Also let them know you're on a limited budget, and ask if there are books you can borrow from the department, or if they will be putting copies on reserve at the library.

3. Do a web search for free PDF or Google Books versions of your textbooks. P.S. Don't do anything illegal...

4. If you absolutely must buy your books, click over to Cheapest Text Books to find the least expensive places to buy (or rent) your books. I prefer to buy. Keep a lookout for sites that have combined shipping discounts , as these can save you even more if you buy from the same place.

5. Go to Retail Me Not and find coupons to apply to these online stores to make sure you're getting the best deals.

6. When your books arrive, treat them like they're borrowed. This way, you can sell them on Amazon at the end of the semester to get a partial return back on your investment!

PLEASE NOTE: I was not compensated by any of these companies. These are the actual methods I use to get the cheapest books, and sell them for the biggest return.

Have you ever gotten a great deal on books? What's your secret? Tell me in the comments.

Bonne chance!