Spring Semester Textbooks: 6 Insider Tips

By Brittany Loeffler on January 16, 2019

When people think about going to college, they usually don’t think about how they have to buy textbooks for two different semesters. While the fall semester is exciting to start after a long vacation and you have some time to work and save some money for your textbooks, spring semester textbooks are a little different.

The time between the end of the fall semester and start of the spring semester is only a few weeks rather than a few months. This means that you need to find a way to make money to buy your spring semester textbooks and plan when to buy them. Thankfully, we’ve put together some insider tips on when to buy, where to buy, and how to save money on your spring semester textbooks.

spring semester textbooks

via Pixabay

What to do with Fall Semester Textbooks

Now that the fall semester is over, what are you going to do with your textbooks? You probably will never open those textbooks ever again. So, why not make some money from them? Use online tools such as Facebook Marketplace or social media groups for your university and Amazon to reach a wider audience. The best time to sell your fall semester textbooks is right before the spring semester begins. So, you will have to hold on to them for a few weeks before you can lighten your load.

Once you make some money selling those textbooks, put that money towards your spring semester textbooks. It will make you feel like you are getting a discount.

When to Buy Spring Semester Textbooks

The best time to buy your spring semester textbooks is when you first receive your textbook list from your professor and during the first week of the semester. Some professors require you to have your textbook on the first day of class. Buying your spring semester textbooks early also gives you some time to shop around for the best price.

Waiting until the first week of class is also beneficial because it gives you a chance to see if you will really need to buy the textbook or if you will stay in the class for the semester. Sometimes students decide to drop a class and pick up another one, so it may be a good idea to wait to buy your spring semester textbooks.

Where to Buy Spring Semester Textbooks

There are a few places where you can buy your spring semester textbooks. The first would be your school’s bookstore. They will most definitely carry the book, since professors request them to get the book. If you aren’t in the mood to search for the book, the bookstore is your best bet.

You can also look online at Amazon, Chegg, and social media. You can buy your spring semester textbooks both new or used from these websites. It’s up to you which version you decide to buy. If ordering online, always leave time for shipping.

How to Save Money on Spring Semester Textbooks

The number one question when it comes to buying textbooks is how to save money. The best way to save money is to buy your textbooks used. You can buy them from fellow classmates, online, or sometimes through the bookstore. If you are looking for other ways to save money, try getting the ebook version on your computer or e-reader. If you don’t want to commit to keeping the book when the semester is over, you can rent the book for just the semester. Then you don’t have to worry about it once your class is over.

When to Sell Your Spring Semester Textbooks

It is much easier to sell your fall semester textbooks because you do not have to hold on to them for too long. When it comes to selling your spring semester textbooks, it’s best to do it at the beginning of the fall semester. Try posting your book online two to three weeks before classes start.

If you know of students who are taking the class over the summer, you can also try to sell them at the end of the spring semester. However, don’t count on selling it as not as many students will take summer classes.

Over the summer, make sure you put your spring semester textbooks in a safe place so you can sell them in a few months. You don’t want to miss an opportunity to make some money because you forgot where you placed them.

Everything You Need to Know About Spring Semester Textbooks

While the spring semester is different when it comes to buying textbooks, it’s essentially the same as the fall semester. The only difference is when to buy them, when to sell them, and making sure you don’t lose them over the summer. The way to save money on your spring semester textbooks is also the same. Now that you know everything there is to know about textbooks for the spring semester, you can enter feeling confident that you know you are getting a good deal and doing all you can to save money.

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