Why Used Books are the Better Books

Books are always an important essential when starting college. In fact, they are the core requirement. Other than buying straight from their school, most students bother with buying new books. I see it all the time in the various classes I take. Little do they understand, used books are a whole lot better to have in your possession. Here’s why.

They Cost Less

The first, most obvious fact to buying a used book is that it cost less. Used books have had their journeys from student to student and because of that, the price lowers each time. There are even instances where you may create a slight tear in the material on accident, but worry not. More than not, the place in which you purchased it probably believes it was already there because it was a used book. In no manner am I condoning this treatment of books, but we all have had those problems before. Unfortunately, with new books, you have to be really careful how you treat them. Some places are extremely strict with their new books and one small tear will indefinitely not be overlooked.

You Can Store Them for Money

Unfortunately, this does not apply to renters. However, this does count if you bought a new or used book. Either way, once you bought the new book, it will eventually be considered used. I found that the best idea when you have to purchase instead of rent your books is to keep them and sell them online. You can either choose to do it immediately or wait until the book(s) are in high demand. A word of advice, if you did purchase books from a certain website that also allows you to sell them, the manufacturer will most likely not accept them until they are in high demand. I have come across a couple of websites in which this applies. Nevertheless, if you bought some books for college and want money, later on, this could be a nice idea.

Notes

Before I begin, this piece of advice might not be for everyone. Notes are in a ton of used books, but it also depends on how ‘used' your book really is. If the book or books that you are purchasing were new last year, then it's most likely there are no notes inside them, students wouldn't want to write in them. However, if your book is a couple of years old, then there's a high chance.

Many students just don't understand how writings from other people who had their books could possibly help them. Fortunately, when it comes to being a college student, we think a lot and, at times, we often take random notes down, even if we hate it. Notes inside of assigned books could have a word of advice for a piece you're about to read, an answer to a question in which you were struggling on, or even great simple or detailed notes on a passage that you have to read in class. I find it very interesting to see little notes that previous students have made. Sometimes people write very wondrous things that have you more attuned to what you are reading and sometimes they even write down questions that emerged from their minds that you might consider as well. It's almost like having an invisible partner throwing in their suggestions every once in a while to lead you on or help you think. Once again, not everyone would love this, but for those that do, think about this while you're at it.

Less Worrying

The ultimate goal of having a used book. Less stress. With the cost much lower than a new book, notes being scribbled about in them, and the wear and tear of the years, used books are so much nicer to have lying in your book bag without worrying about every little thing that is going to occur. I know that when I have to buy a brand new version of an assigned book, I always look into my book bag, I always check for the tiniest of marks, and I basically treat it as if it were a piece of glass, afraid that the place or people I bought it or rented it from, would tell me that I either have to pay a fine or they won't accept it because of something I did. To be clear, I am no way condoning mistreating your books in any way but it is a sigh of relief when you can look at it and know that it was time that wore it down and not your own hands.