How To Get 90% off Textbooks, While Making a Little Money

It is school season. There is no doubt about that. I open my Facebook page and everyone is talking about back to school, whether they are a stay-at-home mom, homeschool mom and dad, college student friends, everyone. 

Some of the posts I see also reminds me how expensive this time of year can be for so many! That expensive price tag hits home seemingly the most with college students. The broke college students and their parents. 

We have been talking about alternatives to student loans all summer, but we are going to take a break from that series in this week’s college article to focus on some big-time savings for college students, which will ultimately reduce the amount of student loans needed. Not only are we going to share savings, but a way for college students to make a bit of money on the side this year. 

All of this can be done from one site called Amazon. 

Yep, Amazon is the answer to your financial woes again. 

First, Amazon has an AMAZING used textbook library. Amazon does things well, but since Amazon started as bookstore originally, with textbooks being one of their biggest markets, it would make sense that the online retail giant is still doing it well today. 

How To Get 90% off Textbooks

Amazon’s used textbook library means that you can get the textbooks you need for some of the best possible prices and up to 90% off. 

Here’s the other option. If a textbook you need still isn’t the right price, Amazon has a textbook rental program. Yes, a nice little way to save a bit more money. Compare the used price to the rental price and choose the best option. 

But the savings doesn’t end there. Sign-up for a free 6-month Amazon Prime account and save money on shipping, plus everywhere else too for all of your needs this year from more books, to movies, to food, to clothing, to dorm and apartment essentials, without having to even leave. Which means you could technically get by without a car and just use a bike! Do you see the savings rolling in all over? 

With textbooks up to 90% off and the free Amazon Prime membership, you will be set for your college needs this year, but you can also make a little money from Amazon in the process too. 

First off, resell your old textbooks to Amazon and get paid. Amazon has a great program to trade or sell your used textbooks (and cds, dvds, video games, etc.) and get paid for it! We have written an article on this topic already HERE for more details, but we do this regularly and make some nice money from books and media we have on hand, as well as books and media that we buy at garage sales for the purpose of selling to Amazon. We just use their app and scan the book or media and Amazon will return an immediate buy back price.  At this moment, we could add another $78.92 with the few items we can sell back. Check your no-longer needed books and media often to make a little extra here and there. 

In fact, my dad has made a side business out of this – buying used books and media at garage sales and selling to Amazon. 

This is an easy little side-gig for college students as you have access to a plethora of old and no-longer-wanted textbooks. 

That is not the only way you can make money from Amazon as a college student this year. You know how we mentioned that you can get a free 6-month Amazon membership for students? 

Well, as a college student, if you refer other college students, you will make $10 for each one of your fellow students you refer. 

How amazing is that?!? 

We mentioned it above, but since we are not college students, we are not eligible to make the $10 per referral, but you certainly can! We have talked about this in more detail in this article HERE. 

All of this adds up to a great option for college students to save big time money and make a little money on the side. 

We will continue sharing the alternatives to student loans, but hopefully these ideas will help you in the immediate to save big time and to make some extra money too! 

See more frugal living ideas HERE