Back when I was in college, I think the worst part about going to college was having to fork out outrageous amounts of money for books. The even more frustrating part was that some of those books WERE NEVER USED. When our book list was given to us (of required books for the semester), I always cringed. The thought always crossed my mind "How much is this going to cost me and am I even going to use it??" You see, I paid my own way through college and worked my tail off for every penny. This was why the college textbook issue was such a big deal to me. Too many times I would sit in class with my brand new book and throughout the semester, the professor would refer to the book several times but we were never required to read it, nor would we be tested on the material found in the book. Then, when the new semester would start, you couldn't get a used book because the publisher would change one word in the book and suddenly, it was no longer usable. So, selling my textbooks after I used them was pretty much out of the question. Now, I did sell some of them but didn't get near what I paid for them new.

So, for all of you "newbies" out there who are starting college, or are in the middle of your education, I wanted to tell you about CampusBookRentals. This website caters to the student...no matter what stage of college you are in!

This is a fantastic option when thinking about buying textbooks...how about renting them? Here are some benefits of renting your books through CampusBookRentals:

-Save 40-90% off of bookstore prices
-Free shipping both ways
-Can highlight in the textbooks
-Flexible renting periods

I can take so many things on that list and talk for hours about how great these benefits are. I love the idea that with CampusBookRentals you can actually highlight in the books without worrying about being penalized for "damaging" the book. I also love the fact that you get free shipping both ways so all you are paying for is the rental of the book itself.

Here is a brief video of how this cool site works...

One thing that CampusBookRentals does is donate to Operation Smile with each textbook that is rented. Operation Smile is a children's medical charity that helps children's smiles and improves the quality of their lives. I don't know if you have ever seen a child with a cleft palate but honestly, it is one of the saddest things to see...especially when it effects a child.
When I was working, my boss was someone who had been born with a cleft lip and palate but her parents could afford to get her the medical help and attention she needed. Today, she is a beautiful woman who has minimal scarring and a gorgeous smile. Many children don't have the luxury of being able to be treated and that is where Operation Smile comes in. This is a truly wonderful work that CampusBookRentals donates to and one that I would be honored to be a part of...even if it was just a small part.

So, as you can see...renting books is definitely an affordable and fantastic option. I wish I had known about this company when I was in college years ago. It makes me ill thinking about all the money I wasted spent on my textbooks...most of which have either been thrown away or are now collecting dust. I am definitely going to share this information with my sister, who is a college student now.

Have you ever rented college textbooks? If so, I would love to hear your story and about your experience!!