When you compare the expenses dumped upon students at the beginning of the academic year, little things like textbooks seem to take a backseat to the larger fees like tuition. While textbooks may be comparably inexpensive, a closer look at the number of textbooks students are expected to purchase over the course of an entire academic year shows that the amount of money being invested in them is no small sum.

Therefore, to help cut down on the truckload of fees and other miscellaneous expenses students face, The Weal has rounded up some helpful alternatives to shelling out the big bucks for brand new textbooks:
 

Use ‘Seconds’

SAITSA Seconds, located on the main level of the Senator Burns Building, is SAIT’s second-hand consignment bookstore. The textbooks offered are consigned by students at the prices they pick, and are therefore cheaper than the new or used books being sold at the actual bookstore. So, why not make a trip down to SAITSA Seconds first? You’re bound to find something, if not everything, out of their wide selection.
 

Consider renting

Don’t want to waste your money on textbooks at all? Rent them! It’s always nice to gain access to crazy expensive books but only pay for the time that you are going to use them. Luckily enough, the SAIT bookstore located in The Stan Grad Centre – formerly known as The Heart Building – gives you the option of renting your textbooks at a cheaper rate as well.
 

Go the free route

Another great way to save on your textbooks, is to not spend any money on them at all. Students can opt to borrow them instead, as the good old SAIT library offers a humongous collection of over 90,000 books. So why even worry about the big expenditure? Get your library card, and borrow your textbooks whenever you require them.
 

Score texts online

Finally, aside from relying solely on SAIT’s on-campus resources to get your textbooks, you could always search and purchase books online. Websites such as www.textbookexchange.ca and www.abebooks.com are online-based systems which help students acquire their required textbooks for a slightly cheaper rate. Plus, common sites like eBay and Amazon offer texts as well. However, when purchasing a book online, make sure you allow enough time for the book to be shipped to you before your class starts. Also, it wouldn’t hurt to double-check on whether or not you’re receiving the correct edition.
 

Utilize your personal network

You know there are probably a good portion of people on campus that have attended the same course last semester and are looking to unload the books for cheap. Use your network of friends to track those people down.

If nothing else, ask your current classmates if they’re willing to share a textbook with you. For all you know, they might be hoping to save a bit on the expense as well. If you two are in the same class and are willing to study together during the course of that academic year anyway, you might as well purchase a book together and use it whenever required.