Probably the worst part of starting a new semester is buying books. My loans won't kick in until long after I need the books and campus is overcharging me by a few hundred dollars. It is really stressful to buy all the textbooks needed in time for the first two weeks of school, but here are some great alternative ways to get your books without killing your bank or having to rent.

1. Thriftbooks

Finding this site changed my life. Not only can I get great coupons from them, but these books are so cheap! Last spring campus was going to charge me almost $800 for my textbooks. I found all of them on Thriftbooks and only paid $67. Just double check you get the right editions of the books.

2. Chegg

You've probably heard of Chegg already but never forget to check here! Sometimes a book is so new and crazy expensive that used book sites won't have them. In my experience, Chegg is the cheapest. If you have to rent a book Chegg is the best place. Unlike a lot of rental places, they let you keep the books till after finals and pay for you to send them back. They also like to send you things like laundry detergent and Redbull. Free stuff? I think yes.

3. Amazon

Of course, Amazon sells books, but they also sell cheap used textbooks and occasionally rentals. It isn't always the cheapest option, but if you have Prime you can catch some good deals. If the book you need is brand new or hard to find Amazon is sure to have it.

4. Barnes and Noble

It is a bookstore so it is going to have books, but I didn't know until this past semester that they have a textbook store online. They claim you can save up to 90% on their books, I haven't found that great of a deal yet though. They constantly have coupons to help you save beyond that though. Currently, the code STUDIOUS will get you $10 off of every $100 you spend. You can buy new, used, or rent through them. If you can't find what you're looking for on the other options, it is usually cheaper than the campus bookstore. BONUS! They always give free shipping on orders over $25.