• Find out what texts are required and what are merely recommended. You may be able to borrow the recommended texts from the library or share them with a friend.

• Check your book list before going off to college. Bookstores at many universities post the textbook lists on a Web site, or you could e-mail your professors. Knowing what you need before you arrive on campus can help you find better deals, as well as get a jump on other students searching for cheaper used texts.

• If you prefer online book-buying sites, you can also choose slower (and therefore cheaper) shipping methods. The U.S. Postal Service offers media mail -- a low-cost way to send books, records, cassettes, CDs, videos, printed music and recorded computer-readable media. Rates start at $1.42 for a package weighing one pound or less.

 
• Lurk near the book buyback window. Some universities offer students a chance at the beginning of the semester to sell back their books from the previous term. Make a deal with students waiting in line. You both may benefit.

• Ask friends if they or anyone they know has taken the course in question. Some people hang on to their old books as resources or haven't yet had a chance to sell their old texts.

• Look locally. College towns may have a used bookstore or two, as well as larger chain stores. You may find cheaper used versions of the titles you need. At the big-box stores, you may be eligible for student or preferred reader discounts.

• When buying your textbooks online, surf for the lowest prices; don't forget to factor in shipping. Some popular Web sites for textbooks include www.ecampus.com, www.half.com, www.amazon.com and www.bn.com. Compare several retailers' prices at www.bestbookbuys.com.

• Also check online text rental companies. Sites such as www.safarix.com offer online texts at prices significantly lower than hardcover versions, according to the Wall Street Journal.

No matter where you buy your textbooks, save all your receipts. That way, if you add or drop a class, you can get a full refund.