How to Save Money on the Web

I find that bookstores, and Campus bookstores in particular, gouge students/customers. Then, when you take back your $80 book, you're lucky if you get 1/2 of what you paid for! Thus, I started researching alternatives and found out that the Web is much better for bargain book buying. I actually implemented this for this semester and saved approximately $269 and some odd cents. So, how'd I do it? Follow the instructions below and find out!

1. You'll need a credit card. 

2. Now find out the ISBN numbers of the textbooks you need. (You may want the author, title, and edition too, but the ISBN is technically enough. The other stuff just might make you feel more comfortable because you're not just dealing with numbers. And if you wrote the number down wrong, then you can search based on the Title instead.) Don't forget to write down the bookstore's price so you can compare it with those online! Also, if you're a student, it would behoove you to make a note of which class the book is for so you don't end up scratching your head wondering what this book has to do with Biology or whatever!

3. Go to http://www.bestbookbuys.com/ (alternatively, go to http://www.bestwebbuys.com). You can search books by ISBN, Author, Title, and Keyword. This site then searches a couple dozen websites for the best price and then lists them in ascending order of price (including tax and Shipping and Handling, for the most part). To go to the site with the cheapest price, click on "Buy." Also, you can compare this site with www.addall.com to make sure you cover all the bases! (Addall.com also finds prices from some online stores in the U.K. Use http://www.xe.com/ucc/ to change the U.K.'s currency to US dollars.)  

4. Just so you know, Half.com will almost always come up the cheapest. So if you want to just check there first, then do so! If they don't have a deal, then use the other site. 


Example: Look up Desecration by Tim Lahaye. It says the list price is $22.99. It found that Amazon.com had it for $14.49. Ooh, $8, you say, big deal! Well, it adds up!

Here's a better one: My West's Business Law book. According to Bestbookbuys.com, it's list price is $113.50 (although to buy it new at ISU, you had to pay $119.50...used, it was $89.50) Online, the price is currently $60.98.  That's almost $29!!! And it's even more when compared with buying it new...of course, if you have to have it new, you can buy it online for $82...oops! Is that cheaper too? Whoa!

5. Other good websites to use to save money are www.pricegrabber.com and www.pricescan.com.

6. If you want to sell your textbooks for a decent price, I recommend www.Half.com. You can get back most or even more then what you paid for it in the first place. www.ecampus.com sometimes has decent buy-back prices too, but Half.com is better. However, you may have to be patient in waiting for someone to buy it from you. 

7. If you're an ISU student, you can also sell directly to your fellow students by using Cheggpost.com. This is a site by ISU students, for ISU students. You post your book, price, class name and your email or other contact info and hope that some schmoe will buy it off you. This is a cash only thing where you meet them somewhere and trade cash or books or whatever.

8. One last thing: www.half.com is also an excellent place to get other products, from videogames to software to music!


If you need another copy or an updated version of this paper, go to the homeschool website and download it:  http://iowahomeschool.tripod.com