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ValoreBooks.com is giving away free textbooks every semester!

 

Enter to win free college textbooks by purchasing your books on ValoreBooks.com or by telling your friends to use ValoreBooks.com.  If you already purchased your textbooks at ValoreBooks.com this semester and you win, ValoreBooks.com will reimburse you for those and pay for your books next semester.

Enter to win Free Textbooks now!

-Everyone that purchases a book from ValoreBooks.com is automatically entered.  There is no limit to the times you can enter. Search for cheap textbooks now!

-If you tell a friend and they win, you will receive $100 in free text books.

-Read more about the ValoreBooks.com Free Textbook Giveaway.

Oh, Spring Break. The coveted escape from the classroom every college student begins to pine for upon the return from Winter Break. Lucky for you ValoreBooks.com is here to make planning your week of freedom a breeze!

First Thing’s First

Trying to decide where to spend your Spring Break in 2009 can be half the battle. Many Spring Break websites and college students have deemed these locations the most popular destinations this year:

United States – Panama City Beach, FL; South Padre Island, TX; South Beach Miami, FL; Daytona Beach, FL; Key West, FL; Las Vegas, NV; Lake Havasu, AZ; San Diego, CA

Mexico – Cancun, Acapulco, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, Rocky Point, Rosarito Beach

Jamaica – Negril, Montego Bay

Nassau, Bahamas and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic are also hot spots for a great Spring Break Celebration!

Party Cruises are another awesome option for Spring Break vacations! A party over the ocean? Why not! And you and your friends can spend your time on the open water saying “I’m on a boat.”

Bundle Deals Can Save You Money

Many websites are offering package deals that include airfare, hotel stay and even some all-inclusive deals! Also, if you know a large group of your friends that are all heading to the same destination, you can organize group dealsthat can save you a large chunk of change. If you can get enough people to make it a group event, you may eligible for a free trip!Even if you’ve already booked your travel arrangements, you can snag great Party Packages that will still give you access to the best events, clubs and shows.

Where’s the Party At?

Well, it’s Spring Break so the party is everywhere. But where are the BEST parties going to be? Well MTV and mtvU have teamed up with StudentyCity.com again this year to provide the best entertainment under the sun. Panama City’s Boardwalk Beach Resortwill be the official headquarters for MTV and the mtvU Village in 2009. Specialty packages have even been put together to ensure the craziest parties for Spring Break 2009.

Celebrities at Spring Break

Spring Break is never complete without some celebrity performances and appearances. In past years Fall Out Boy, Fergie, Akon, Gym Class Heroes, Paris Hilton and many others have all stopped by the spring break locations. View the full list of past celebrity appearances here.This years confirmed celebrities to show up at Student City locations, include 3OH!3, Akon, Asher Roth, Lil Wayne, The All American Rejects, LMFAO, Jim Jones along with tons of MTV Real World personalities. View the full list of confirmed celebrities here.Go to Spring Break 2009 for Free
Surprisingly enough, may companies are willing to send you to the most popular Spring Break locations for free! All you have to do is put a little time and effort into the whole deal. StudentCity.com has a few ways to travel on their bill simply by organizing group trips. If you’re great at organizing events, love getting paid to have fun and want to make sure everyone is having the best time possible on their Spring Break, you can also travel as an Onsite Staff Member!SunsplashTours.com also offers major earning potential for group trip promotion, organization and sales. Learn more here.

Alternative Spring Breaks

Sun, sand and bronzed bodies just aren’t your deal for Spring Break? No problem! United Wayoffers Spring Break retreats where students can attend and make a difference in a variety of communities around the United States. Learn more information about the United Way Alternative Spring Break programs
here.

This year, United Way will have hosted events in these areas:Detroit, Michigan: Volunteers will work to help sustain and support the infrastructure of the nonprofit sector by working to help families meet their basic needs, children be ready for school, and families to be financially stable.Indiana: Hundreds of homes destroyed by severe flooding still need to be repaired and rehabilitated. Volunteers will work to ensure that families in the Wabash Valley can return to their homes safely.Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coasts: Volunteers will assist with reconstruction efforts after the severe hurricanes of the last three years. From Katrina to Ike, families, businesses and communities have been decimated. Volunteers will play pivotal roles in helping communities to rebuild.Cross-Cultural Solutions also offers alternative spring breaks. Through their Insight Abroad program, you can spend a week volunteering in one of the twelve countries Cross-Cultural solutions offers their services.

Wherever your 2009 Spring Break takes you, just be sure to relax and enjoy the time off from school!

While rising textbook prices seem to be an expected occurrence at the beginning of each school semester, ValoreBooks.com has put together a few simple steps for students to beat the increasing costs.

Research shows that the overall cost of textbooks has been on a continual rise for many years. If the trend continues, many students may not be able to afford their books. However, by following the follow tips, any student can benefit financially.

1. Major Textbook Buying Tips

• Opt for a cash back credit card or a rewards card over the use of cash, debit or checks for purchases. You will receive an added advantage when purchasing your textook(s).• Contact your professor or his/her office about a month before the start of the semester and inquire about the course material. This gives you the opportunity to purchase the required material before the major demand sets in. When purchasing used book the earlier you buy, the better, as a wider selection of top quality texts is still available. This allows for a higher resale value at the end of the semester.
        o Ask your professor if bundled materials really will be used. If he or she says the CD-rom isn’t required or the companion workbook won’t be needed, you can save much more money finding a seller who isn’t offering these add-on items.

• If you plan on purchasing an older edition, be sure that the savings are substantial. While you may be getting a great deal now, you also may be risking a low resale value, especially if an updated edition is about to be released.

• When buying a used text, be sure to check the condition of the book as well as any comments the seller has provided. If a deal sounds like it may be too good to be true, contact the seller with any questions you have regarding the item’s description.

• Check seller feedback left by previous customers. While you may save a few dollars by going with a low-rated seller, you can also risk the chance of having a hassle when ordering from them. A smooth and timely transaction can be far more valuable than the couple bucks.

• Always search for a text using the book’s ISBN number. Searching by referencing a title or author’s name can lead to confusion and may end up in the result of you purchasing a similar book but not the correct material.

• Shop around for the most expensive books, as this is where the most savings can be found. ValoreBooks.com still offers new and used books at great prices, even as costs continue to rise elsewhere.

2. Condition is Key

The easiest and best way to ensure the highest sell-back value of your textbooks is to keep them in great condition. Using book covers, a digital highlighter and even hardshell backpacks or messenger bags are all ideal ways to maintain the condition of your books.

3. Sell books for you AND your friends.

If you’ve already done the research for your own textbook sell backs, why not offer the service to your friends? We all have friends who are too busy, or even lazy, to sell back their books at the end of the semester. It takes almost zero extra time to help them out and it will make you some money in the process! Just negotiate a fair price or percentage for your work and you’ll both win.

4. Ultimate Selling Tips

• Don’t wait until the start of the semester to sell your books. The best time to sell your texts back is about 7-10 days before a new semester. However, if one of your books is due for a new edition release, it may be best to sell it right at the end of the current semester to avoid a drop in value.

• If you’re planning on selling back a book that came with a bundle, be sure you save all the original packaging and pieces. Sending a book with an incomplete bundle may reduce the buy back price.

• Many buyback websites will offer payment via Paypal. This may seem like an quick and instant way to receive your payment, but unless the site specifically states that they will cover processing fees, you may stand to lose part of your money. PayPal often charges 2-3% for each transaction so be sure to make sure you won’t be slammed with this extra fee. ValoreBooks.com will actually cut and mail you a check when your book is received!

• Another great money-saving feature to keep an eye out for is free shipping. Just be sure you compare the total return value including shipping fees to ensure that you really are saving money. ValoreBooks.com offers free shipping and you can print your pre-paid shipping label right when you finalize your order.

Buying discount and used textbooks is a great way to save some major money while in college and taking advantage of buyback programs will help put a little extra cash in your wallet. ValoreBooks.com has documented the latest textbook sales trends as well as some helpful hints which can be viewed here.

By simply following these tips and advice you can help avoid potential financial hardship brought on be the increasing cost of attending college.

The New Year is a time when everyone gets a fresh start. Throw away old habits and start 2009 on the right track. ValoreBooks.com has put together a list of easy and reasonable New Year’s Resolutions that all college students can  benefit from!

1. START RECYCLING
Recycling will not only benefit the environment, but it can enhance your pocketbook, as well.

After you wake up from the New Year’s festivities on January 1st, dust yourself off, grab a trash bag and get to cleaning! Be sure to pick out bottles and aluminum cans, then make a run for the recycling center to collect a few dollars for your good deed. You’ll be helping the environment and making a pretty penny at the same time. Not sure where you can recycle your treasure? Hop over to Earth911.com to locate your nearest recycling location.

Another fantastic way to start recycling is by purchasing or selling used text books. ValoreBooks.com is an online marketplace that allows students to buy used text books at a lower cost than on-campus bookstores. Users can also use the ValoreBooks.com Textbook Sell Back program to earn some cash for their used college school books. When you purchase or sell used textbooks it helps out the environment and your wallet! For more information on textbook recycling, check out the ValoreBooks.com SAVE GREEN blog!

2. LOSE THAT “FRESHMAN 15”
The dreaded curse the of the “Freshman 15” may be somewhat deceptive. It can strike Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors alike. Even students on the 5 year program aren’t immune to the notorious college weight gain that is generally anywhere from 5 to 20 lbs. Stress, lifestyle changes and college meal plans chalked with unhealthiness are usually the main culprits of those extra pounds. So what are some student-savvy ways to shed the weight? Well,  the first, and probably most obvious, answer is to eat healthy. True, that meal plan offers tons of free food but chances are trips to the vending machine and fast food drive-thru are part of your routine, as well. Cut out the snack foods to see a significant change in your waistline and your wallet.The 2nd important step to driving away the “Freshman 15” is exercise. Most college campuses offer various physical education classes or access. You can get in shape and earn credits at the same time! Or just go about it the old fashioned (and free) way by taking a couple laps around the block.

3. GET MORE SLEEP
Being well rested is crucial for a healthy academic lifestyle. While that all-nighter may have seemed like a great idea to jam-pack your brain with an entire coursework’s worth of information, it probably did some serious damage to your body. Losing sleep can be detrimental to a student’s health in many ways, including: daytime drowsiness, decreased mental activity, headache, memory lapse and delirium, just to name a few. None of which are going to be any sort of benefit for daily functionality, let alone an exam. For a full list of how sleep deprivation can become harmful to one’s health, click here.Finding time to sleep can be tricky for any college student. Between class, projects, exams, jobs and a social life, it can be difficult to catch the necessary hours of sleep. Keeping a schedule is one way to assure those Z’s get snagged. Scheduling will also help eliminate all-night cram sessions, which will in turn provide a better chance at retaining study material, promote alertness and provide more energy throughout the day. While you may miss the late night infomercial marathon, your mind and body will thank you later.

4. RELAX A LITTLE!
Winter break is often a sigh of relief for most students. Finals are finally over and while the weather may be less than appeasing, it’s a great time to catch up with friends and family. So how do you keep the low stress lifestyle once school starts up again?Organize your life – This doesn’t just mean rearrange your closet and pick up your room. Although, that would probably help out. Instead, start planning ahead, make a schedule and keep things in a relatively designated area. Knowing what you’re doing, where you’re going and where all your things are will save time and you may just actually start showing up on time for things!

- Don’t sweat the small stuff – Sounds easy enough, right? Most of us can get wrapped in little problems and unforeseen issues. Focus on what you can take care of now, at this moment. The big picture is far more important than miniscule inconveniences.

- Spend time with friends – Being around those you care about and make you feel good is one way to let your worries slide away for a while. Try getting together for a movie night or just go grab some coffee.

- Turn off your phone – “Me Time” can be great for anyone caught up in a busy lifestyle. Cut yourself off from the world for an hour or even day to let your mind play catch up and relax.

5. PLAN AN AWESOME SPRING BREAK
Heck yeah! You deserve it, right? Getting a head start on vacation planning is the key to securing the best deals you can find. Looking for sandy beaches, bikinis and tons of other college students? Check out ParadiseParties.com for the best deals in the most popular locations. They’ve even been generous enough to put together Spring Break packages. StudentCity.com is another good find to locate awesome deals for your much-needed getaway.

Above is a picture from the ValoreBooks Spring Break promotion at Panama City Beach. To view all pictures from this promotion click here.  If being surrounded by scantily clad co-eds isn’t your deal, you may want to think about taking a Spring Break trip to make a difference. The United Way offers local and national opportunities that allow students to volunteer their time for a great cause. To learn more about an Alternative Spring Break, click here.If you’re worried about not being able to stick to your goals, try implementing the buddy system with one or more of your friends. Offer support and keep each other in check to make sure everyone sticks to their resolution for the best results!

As finals start to wrap up, many college students are feeling the economy slow down while the holiday season approaches. ValoreBooks.com has compiled a list of 5 easy money saving (and making!) tips that any student can benefit from during this money-crunch time of year.

1.VALOREBOOKS.COM
With Spring Semester approaching, it’s time to start scouting out text books. Valore Books offers new and used text books at a fraction of the cost compared to on-campus bookstores and online retailers. With a selection of over 100 million books, shoppers can save up to 90% on each purchase. Because ValoreBooks.com is an online marketplace, you can also sell your own used books to make some extra money during the holiday season!

2. COUPONS
Your mother spends hours digging through and cutting them out of the paper for a reason; they save money.  Many retailers print them in their weekend newspaper advertisements.  To take full advantage of grocery coupons, find a local store that offers a club membership as well as the option to double your savings for every voucher you bring in. You’ll also be saving cash by purchasing groceries instead of heading out for fast food or a meal at a sit down restaurant.Online retailers and department stores are offering coupons for holiday shoppers, as well. You can find savings for major retail locations, web shops and your favorite mall stores at websites like RetailMeNot.com and CoolSavings.com.3. COUNT COINS
This task may sound daunting at first. However, if you’re going to be zoned out in front of the television or computer for a few hours over winter break, you may as well put together some extra cash while you’re at it. It might be easier to just take your bag of loose change to the closest coin counting machine, but that’s a fast way to lose 10% of the money you spent precious time digging out of the couch. Pick up a variety pack of paper coin wrappers, sit yourself down for the TV show marathon of your choice and get to counting! Once you’ve successfully sought out and wrapped your extra change, simply head down to your bank and make a deposit!
4. WATCH TV FOR FREE
Cutting back your extended cable package is a great way to save some cash.  Many major networks will post latest episodes of their popular shows for viewers to watch online for free. Also, there is a variety of websites offering a seemingly never-ending selection of the most recent shows. Sites such as Hulu.com, Joost.com; and Fancast.com provide streaming videos with limited commercial interruption.  These sites are even beginning to incorporate movie libraries to include new and classic films. So, if the thought of missing It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia or Gossip Girl nearly breaks your heart, keep in mind you can stay up to date (for free) just by watching online.5. SHOP ONLINE
Avoid the madness known as holiday shopping at the mall and purchase gifts for loved ones online.  You’ll save time and money, all without having to get dressed.Most online vendors and marketplaces will offer products at a much lower price than traditional brick and mortar store fronts.  Sites like Overstock.com and SmartBargains.com have name brand products for up to 75% less than MSRP. ValoreBooks.com is a great source for buying discounted textbooks, as well.Online shopping is generally void of sales tax and many websites will provide free shipping during the holidays. Added bonus? Many webstores provide gift wrapping at no charge or for a nominal fee. By choosing to have your gift wrapped and shipped directly to the recipient, you’ll save money on wrapping supplies and shipping to multiple locations!
College is stressful enough without having to worry about finances. Following the 5 simple steps above won’t make you rich, but they will definitely put some extra cash in your wallet for the Holiday Season!Have any of your own money saving tips for college that you’d like to share? Post them!