Seven ways to spend less on textbooks this year
By the ApnaBook team · 2 min read · Updated
School and college books are one of the biggest costs at the start of every academic year, and many of them are used for only a few months. A few habits, repeated every year, add up to real savings.
1. Get the official book list first
Wait for the list from the school, college or coaching centre before buying anything. It tells you the exact titles, publishers and editions, so you do not end up with an expensive book that is not used in class.
2. Buy the main textbooks second-hand
Textbooks for the current syllabus are often available locally from students a year ahead of you, for roughly half the printed price or less. Check the edition on the imprint page so you know the content matches.
3. Buy the whole set from one seller
A seller with a complete class set is usually happy to give a discount for taking everything at once, and you save time with a single handover.
4. Use free official resources
Many boards publish their textbooks free online — for example, NCERT textbooks can be read and downloaded from the official NCERT website. A digital copy is handy for revision even if you prefer studying from a printed book.
5. Share reference books
Reference and practice books are often used only for a few chapters. Split the cost with a friend, or borrow from a senior and return the favour later.
6. Do not buy every guide
Pick one good question bank or guide per subject rather than three. Teachers can usually tell you which one is worth having.
7. Sell back at the end of the year
Look after your books during the year — use pencil instead of highlighter, cover them, keep them dry — and sell them as soon as your exams finish. Recovering even a third of what you spent makes next year's books noticeably cheaper.
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