Freshmen Can Save Money Shopping for Course Materials with these Five Tips

OBERLIN, OHIO, August 10, 2015 – Studies have shown that first-year students tend to spend more money on course materials than their upperclassmen counterparts, who have discovered the different lower-cost options available. So, in order to help freshmen, the National Association of College Stores (NACS) offers these five tips on how they can shop smart for their course materials this fall.

1) Shop early . Students should shop early in order to beat the crowds. The sooner you shop, the more options you have, particularly the availability of more used and rental course materials.

2) Rent, buy used, or acquire electronic course materials. Almost all college stores offer these options, giving cost-conscious freshmen access to course materials for about one-third to half the price of buying new. Your campus store can guarantee the correct title and edition that faculty requires, unlike many online-only sellers. And you don’t have to worry about shipping expenses.

3) E-mail your professors before class starts and ask if they’re going to use the book (or books). The store will know, too. If multiple materials are required for a course, the store will know if there are customized options or print-on-demand materials that are less-expensive and contain only the content the professor requires.

4) Talk to your store. If you can’t find what you are looking for or simply want to know if there are lower cost options available, ask your campus store. Become a fan of their social media pages so you can take advantage of upcoming discounts. The store’s employees are course material professionals ready to serve you and happy to help!

5) Ask about your store’s refund policy, especially deadlines, and keep receipts . Don’t write in or unwrap your materials until you’re certain you are keeping them. If you drop a class, you want to get it back to the store as soon as possible so you can get your money back. Also, most stores require receipts for returns, and receipts are helpful during tax season when filing for the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC). The AOTC, which gives you a tax deduction of up to $2,500 for college expenses, can be applied to course materials, tuition and fees. For details on how to apply for the credit, go to www.textbookaid.org

About The National Association of College Stores

The National Association of College Stores (NACS) is the professional trade association representing the $10 billion collegiate retailing industry. NACS represents nearly 3,000 campus retailers and approximately 1,000 industry-related companies that supply course materials and other merchandise and services to campus stores. NACS provides education and other resources that help its member stores support student success, the campus experience, and the academic missions of higher education institutions. NACS is headquartered in Oberlin, Ohio. Additional information can be found online at www.nacs.org.