Many students may not know that they can take their used textbooks to a variety of places and get cash back for them. In most colleges, universities and community colleges textbooks are recycled all the time. Generally speaking, if a class is going to go from one semester to the other, there will be a great need for used textbooks.



One of the first places to start is the college bookstore where the textbooks were first purchased. There will be several times during the year that used textbooks will be bought back by the bookstore and depending on their need a student can get half of their money spent or more. It really depends on the book. At other times, they may only get a few dollars back but it is a good idea anyway.

Another way to get money for used textbooks is to advertise on a bulletin board. Around most colleges and universities there are students who need to find textbooks for undergraduate and graduate classes. Let's face it. With new textbooks costing anywhere between $100 and $150 or more per course, it is a wise thing to advertise those you don't need anymore. Often you can get more for your textbooks by advertising them; you can also advertise in the school newspaper.

There are a variety of online sites now that allow you to sell your books online. They will either buy your books or you can offer your books for sale. You can also purchase used textbooks at these sites. A Google search for used textbooks will bring up more sites than you can imagine.

Some of the things to keep in mind when you have used books for sale:

1. Make sure they are in good condition.

2. If you think you are going to sell them back or sell them to someone else at the end of the term, don't mark in them. Also, don't use highlighters. You will get more money for a book in perfect condition than one that looks used.

3. Check the bookstore to see when they are going to sell it back.

4. Some bookstores have a way that you can check to see whether the book is being used. For instance, with some websites you can actually check the ISBN number to see the amount you can get in buy back.

5. Be sure to include your email or phone number if you are selling them on a bulletin board.

6. Go online and check out the various places that buy used books and post yours for sale.

You may not make a big profit from selling your used textbooks, but you will save on the cost of new ones for yourself.

One other way that you can be of help with used textbooks is to send them overseas. There are many programs that ask for textbooks of any kind as long as they are new. If you can afford to let yours go, this is a worthwhile cause.