Coupon Queen: Tips to save on college textbooks

College can be expensive no matter how much you prepare. When I started my journey at Lorain County Community College, my parents offered to pay for my first two years but explained that I would be in charge of buying my books. I thought I'd be getting off easy until I saw the price of just one book. I knew right away budget would need to be rearranged. Luckily, textbooks can be one of the easiest ways to save some money. Whether you have just started your college degree or decided to go back to pursue a higher degree, here are a few ways to save money on expensive textbooks. Skip the package option When my husband went back to school for nursing, it was highly suggested that we buy the college's book package. After comparing prices, we chose to do a little leg work and find the books on our own. Finding the books on our own saved us at least 50 percent. Wait to buy I rarely brought a book with me during the first couple of classes in college. I found that you rarely need your textbook right away, as often the first class is spent going over the class syllabus and what to expect. You can use this information to decide if you need the book. When I went to college, I found that some of my professors would make textbooks optional or provide additional study options for free or cheap. Of course, there are a few classes where books are non-negotiable such as math but for the majority, wait until that first lecture to decide. Rent, don't buy Renting college textbooks wasn't an option when I was in school, but thankfully it was when my husband went back to school. I loved how easy it was to borrow a book for a fraction of the price. There are quite a few places to rent online such as Barnes & Noble, Chegg, and Amazon, but before you rent, check CampusBooks.com, where they will compare rental prices from all the top companies. Check Facebook Marketplace My friends and I often borrowed books from each other semester to semester, but nowadays, you don't have to know someone to grab a deal. Many students post their books for sale in local Facebook groups and Marketplace. If you don't luck out on Facebook, you can also check Craigslist. Use Amazon I can personally vouch for Amazon as this is where we got most of my husband's college books. We found that Amazon's rental service was quick and easy, and some books arrived in less than 24 hours without extra shipping fees. You don't have to have a Prime account to rent, but you can get a free six-month trial with a .edu address for college students without Prime. Buy used The market for used college textbooks has always been tremendous, and it continues to save college students money. Chances are you'll be able to buy most of your textbooks used at bookstores on or around the college campus or even online. Don't forget to take care of your book; you can usually still make money by selling back the book you bought used. This week's deal Here's a deal to grab this week at Target. Through September 24th, Target is hosting Circle Week for Circle members (free to join). These Circle offers can be used in-store or online, but check the app or online to see them. Here are a few that I spotted. 20 percent off indoor toss pillows and blankets 20 percent off bedding 20 percent off bath 20 percent off candles 20 percent off decorative accessories Rachel Krych is passionate about helping others spend less and save more. In addition to her weekly column, she has a blog, Couponing With Rachel, which earns her compensation from Google for ads it places there, and from entertainment marketers whose promotional codes she touts. She doesn't write about entertainment in her column. Email her at couponingwithrachel@hotmail.com.