Valorebooks.com wants to extend students an invitation to participate in an our recent email initiative called “Real Students – Real Savings”!

We are going to feature 1 student per week showcasing the savings REAL Students got as a result of buying or renting cheap textbooks through the ValoreBooks.com textbook marketplace.

Therefore we want to hear from YOU, our REAL customers about how much you’ve saved with Valorebooks.com. The winning entry will be featured in an email blast to our customer base and will receive a $50 CITI GIFT CARD!

Requirements for entry:

1. Your Name, Last initial

2. A high resolution picture of You – SMILING - preferably in your college gear or in a collegiate setting. Keep in mind that the email will be sent to over 600,000 students.

3. The Name of your College, University

4. Your current enrollment status, ie: Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, or Senior

5. The amount you you’ve saved by buying or renting your books with us and which you posted to our Facebook Page Wall.

If you think you would like to participate, please post to our Facebook wall, tag @Valorebooks.com and email the 5 things above to: giveaways@valorebooks.com

We look forward to seeing all the great entries!

and you’re probably already realizing that you need to carefully manage your funds

The following are a handful of ideas for saving cash - and if you have any additional ideas, feel free to add your two cents.

1. Eat at home or make lunches. It may sound a bit boring and somewhat of a hassle to make your meals at home, but you will be amazed at how much you save. This includes regular Starbucks runs. Dare yourself to make your own coffee and bring it in a thermos. To see how much you’ll save, go through your last bank statement and add up how much you spent on eating out.

2. Purchase Used Books. Why spend two to three times as much for a new college textbook? You can find used books that have barely been touched. As you can imagine, some students were well intentioned when they planned to read through their textbooks and instead used them as bookshelf decorations. Valore Books can save you up to 90% on your books!!

3. Reduce Your Cell Phone Plan. Cell phone bills can be astronomical, no doubt. You can revolt by cutting your cell plan and using Skype or other similar technologies. Did you know that you can enjoy unlimited phone calls within the US on Skype for only $2.99 per month? Or better yet, make unlimited calls internationally for around $15 bucks? It’s a great idea to use Skype when at home and your cell when you’re out and about.

4. Limit Yourself to a Set Amount of Cash Per Week. Make a trip to the bank and take out a limited amount of cash. Put the cash in your wallet, and then put your debit/credit cards away in your sock drawer. When you run out of cash, you’re out of cash! Holding cash in your hands makes you much more aware of the value of a dollar.

5. Discover FREE Activities. There are all sorts of free stuff going on and activities to engage in. No matter where you live, you can probably enjoy great hiking spots, fun places to ride your bike, public tennis courts, beaches & lakes and more. Additionally, as a college student, you can take advantage of free sporting events, art exhibits, concerts, poetry readings and clubs on campus. Don’t miss out!

These are just a handful of ideas on cutting down your cost of living throughout the month. We’d love to hear your ideas as well. How do you cut expenses? Share away!

The campus bookstore is a good option for students who need their textbooks right away. Sometimes, students don’t have access to their required textbooks until the first day of classes. Because of this, students turn to the campus bookstore because it is a quick, convenient way to purchase textbooks. While the campus bookstore provides convenience, it is almost never the cheapest option compared to buying textbooks online or renting textbooks. Normally, only two price points are offered; the book’s list price and its used price which is generally set to 25% less than the new list price. Students’ recognize that they are over spending at the bookstore, however if they need a book in order to complete an assignment on time, they may need to turn to the bookstore. Professor’s can help students save money by posting required reading materials at least two weeks in advance to the course start date. This gives students ample time to explore other options such as buying cheap textbooks online and accounts for shipping time as well.

Buying Textbooks at the Campus Bookstore:

· Expensive

· Convenient

· Timely

· Able to sell back qualified titles

By purchasing textbooks online, students can find both new and used copies at varying price points, as well as older editions, instructor’s editions and international editions. Online marketplaces are typically the cheapest place to buy books due to competition among sellers. Many sellers competing to sell their items as well as numerous options lead to lower prices. Budget minded students are already familiar with the savings of buying textbooks online. Some students worry about timeliness and reliability of purchasing from online vendors. When purchasing from a marketplace, students are encouraged to purchase items from sellers with high customer feedback ratings. Choosing a seller with a proven track record of reliability and timeliness eliminates possible order problems. Besides choosing a recommended seller, many marketplaces offer fast shipping options. Choosing Priority Mail or faster is the best option for students in a time crunch. Lastly, purchasing from an online marketplace gives students the backing of the customer service department at that marketplace. In the event that a vendor sends an incorrect item or any issue surfaces throughout the order, this is important.

Buying Textbooks Online:

· Inexpensive

· Variety of editions and sellers

· Must account for shipping time

· Able to sell back qualified titles

Renting textbooks is another option that has gained traction this year; however current textbook rental prices can be deceptive. There are fees for late returns, lost or stolen books and books that are returned in a worse condition. Renting textbooks also does not leave students with the option to sell the book back through a textbook sell back program or list it on an online marketplace to recover some additional cash when they are done using the book. Lastly, students who wish to keep their book at the end of the semester should not rent textbooks. The option to purchase the book at the end of the rental period is currently very expensive and students can end up paying the list price of the book or greater. The advantage to textbook rentals is that students can spend less money upfront, though that is not always true. Depending on the book, it may still be cheaper to buy the book used online.

Renting Textbooks:

· Low upfront cost

· Late/Damage/Replacement/Purchase Fees

· Must account for shipping time

· Unable to sell back

The three options above have both pros and cons, so it is important to weigh your needs when choosing where and how to acquire your textbooks. We want to know where you bought your college textbooks this semester! Please make your selection on the poll below and share any comments about your experience!