I’m always alarmed when students tell me how much they’re expected to pay for a single new textbook, even though I know all too well how much they cost.

At $100 a pop in some cases, this is such a serious expense, especially for students paying their own way. The fact that textbooks are now tax deductible under the Recovery and Reinvestment Act only helps a bit.

What really helps is to pay less to begin with.

The good news is that if college students don’t wait until the last minute, often that $100 text can be had for $5 on eBay, or Craig’s List, or used textbook sites that are popping up from demand.

The trick is for college students to start shopping for the textbooks the moment they register for Spring semester 2010.

When I asked one of my students why he paid $100 for a textbook that was available on eBay, or even Amazon for a discount under used books, he could only say: “I was in a hurry.” He waited until the semester began, so even if he could find the textbook he needed online–which he probably couldn’t, because they were all snatched up–he would have missed assignments and gotten behind if he had to wait for the book to ship.

The domino effect of poor planning, or no planning, is my favorite part because it’s such a multi-faceted money lesson for students.

So, here’s the path for college students to take for cheaper textbooks.

Get your college students to go to their advisors right now to decide on next semester’s classes. Register for classes the first day they can. (For incoming freshman this is of course the first step.) It’s past mid-term time now, so that day is upon us, or is coming very soon. Early registration is key.

After registering, go online and start comparison shopping: Amazon, eBay, Craig’s List, used textbook sites. Make sure to have your kids do due diligence on any textbook site they shop at. There should be a phone number to call if there’s a problem, or don’t let them shop there.

Buy the textbooks online ASAP. Sometimes used textbooks can be more damaged than anticipated when you buy them online for $1, so you want there to be ample time to return it, and try again.

Have college kids total the amount they spent for textbooks this time around, versus this present semester. If it’s your money they saved, and you can afford it, it might be nice to deposit the amount saved in their 529 college fund or savings account.

A bonus idea for enterprising college students: Once college students get the hang of comparison shopping textbooks, they could start a side business. They can tell their friends how much they saved registering early and shopping online. They can offer to comparison shop and purchase textbooks for fellow students in exchange for a set fee or a percentage of the money they save people.

They could even advertise this service on their Facebook pages.

I’m very curious to see if any students turn this into a side business. And of course I’d like to know how much money students are saving by buying used textbooks.

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