The only thing you should pay full price for is an access code to a class (MyMathLab, MyOpenMath, etc.) That, you never want to chance. Textbooks, however, always have a loophole.
- Buy Used: The greatest advice I can give you in terms of getting textbooks is never buying a new one. You don’t need it. Again, You. Do. Not. Need. It. A used one that is torn, highlighted and written in works just as well as a brand new one. Save your money. If you need an access code (unless it is specific to
Tallahassee Community College) you can buy it online separately. The book is never worth the price of a brand new copy. Your sell-back price will be slim in comparison as well. Check places such as Amazon and Craigslist for used textbooks. You can also resell on these sites as well.
- Rent: Amazon and Chegg are great places to go if you need to rent books. The prices are similar, though I’ve found Amazon to be a little more expensive than Chegg. You can rent these books for a fraction of the cost of a new (or even used) book. They rent for about four months, and then you ship them back. In some cases, you can even highlight in the books. Definitely a far cheaper alternative to buying a book that you’ll open only a handful of times in the semester.
- The Library: If you’re really low on funds, and have yet to find an alternative to getting a textbook, the TCC Library houses many textbooks for you to use free of charge. Visit the circulation desk in the lower level of the Library (right when you walk in the doors) and ask to check out a textbook. All you need is a student I.D., and the textbook is yours to use in the Library for an hour. Yes, unfortunately, the textbooks at the Library are only permitted an hour check out, and you must remain in the Library. However, it is better than not having a textbook at all if you really need it. However, if you’re in a hurry, you can use your phone to take pictures of the pages you need and study them at a later time.The Library is open from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mon. through Thurs. and 7:30 a.m. to 5.p.m. on Friday.
- Find a PDF of the Textbook: I can’t tell you how much online PDFs helped me. I’ve found the entirety of my textbook on a PDF posted online. Unfortunately, not all textbooks have a PDF, but it’s always what I search for before looking into any other options. You’re in college; you’re a master at using Google. Just watch out for viruses and suspicious websites!
