4 Ways to Save Money on Expensive College Textbooks

iPad vs. Textbooks (Photo credit: Abstract Machine)

In another week my kids will be returning to college. Besides paying the tuition and fee's, colleges have to gouge you one more time by charging insane prices for textbooks. For many years the college bookstore has been the only source of these books but thankfully things have changed.

A course my daughter had to take called for an expensive book for her Chemistry class. The college bookstore wanted to charge $226 for it. Today, if I went on Amazon the book was going for $147. A third party vendor on the Amazon Marketplace was selling the same book for $98. Not bad. But lets try for a better deal.

A real lifesaver for parents and students is the companies that rent text books. This expanding and growing business has exploded because it has provided students with their required textbooks for a price which is at a fraction of the cost of a new book purchase. The required chemistry text book mention previously rents for $24 at many textbook rental websites. That's an overall savings of $202, wow!

Textbooks have become a commodity. The same version of textbook, rented by many online sources allows the costs to come down. The success of the textbook rental business has made them affordable again. Now it's just a game to find the cheapest source for your textbook. To save money sourcing your textbooks I have listed a few tips to help you get started.

Shop early. Campus bookstores usually carry a good number of used books, but if students wait too long, they could be forced to go new or look elsewhere.


1. Look online. This is pretty obvious, but there are still some students who go by the book and buy all their books at the bookstore. Be careful of shipping costs; most big rental websites offer free shipping, but buying new and used could incur big shipping costs. Amazon is the kingpin, but Half.com, AbeBooks.com, or BigWords.com may have better deals, depending on what students are looking for.

2. Go digital. Electronic textbooks are really starting to become more of a factor in the textbook world. E-readers are gaining popularity and offer students an easy and convenient book-reading experience. It's important to look at software requirements, however, as some computers can't run certain book software. E-books usually don't come with access codes or accompanying CDs, either.

3. Don't buy, rent. Renting books can save a lot of money, that's no secret. Renting also eliminates the dreadful book-selling process at the end of the semester. CampusBookRentals, Chegg, and BookRenter are the big players in the rental business, and those companies advertise up to 90 percent in savings over the retail cost of books. Don't miss the due dates because there are late fees and they can make a dent in the savings.

4. Save your receipts. The American Opportunity Tax Credit may be available to students who qualify because of textbook and other out-of-pocket higher educational expenses.

Students can save up to $2,500 on their 2012 federal taxes and up to 40 percent is refundable. The full $2,500 is available to those who pay $4,000 or more in qualified expenses for an eligible student.

Another avenue for textbook shopping seems to be on the horizon. PostYourBook.com is a social networking website dedicated to connecting users so that they are able to buy and sell textbooks with each other. Students are able to search textbooks and find the best possible price, and then exchange books with other students from their school.

My hope for the future is for textbooks to go totally digital. Apple Computers new platform for digital textbooks is incredible. An entire textbook can be uploaded to an iPad. It has the entire book and also the capability to have video and audio. For an affordable rental fee a textbook can be used by a student during the semester and afterwards can be erased when the semester is up. This purely electronic supplying of textbooks would be environmentally better and increase the bottom line for textbook providers. And of course save parents lots of money.

5 Ways to Stretch Your Casino Vacation Dollars

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you’re a real penny pincher like me, finding ways to have the most fun for the least amount money is a necessity. Whether you are going to Vegas, Atlantic City, or a Mobile Casino; setting rules and a budget is important. Just as you set a budget and plan an itinerary for your trip, why not set a budget for your gambling. Setting a daily limit to your expenditures will not only allow you to stretch your dollars but it can also take the worry away of running out of money or spending too much.

I have 5 simple rules that will help you not only save money but have a more enjoyable experience. 

1. Do your research.

If you have little or no experience with gambling it would be a great idea to do some reading about what type of gambling you would like to do. It's so easy to go online and search for information concerning gambling or gambling activities you may want to try. You can learn how games operate and if they are appropriate for you. Learning the rules and difficulty of different gambling games will help you feel more confident when you play. 

2. Gambling is Entertainment.

Gambling is just another form of entertainment that carries a bonus of monetary payback. Only the hype of the media or advertising shows you how you can win big money. It's true you can win and win big but most people don't. If you know the house has the advantage and only play for fun you will have a much more enjoyable time.

Just as you set a certain amount of money aside for vacations, dinners, and other entertainment so you must with gambling. You don't go overboard when spending money on a dinner at a restaurant, by ordering the most expensive meal. Why is gambling treated any different? 

3. Join a player's clubs.

You may think player's clubs are only for the high rollers. You would be surprised to know the bulk of any casinos business comes from the average visitor like you or me. Player's clubs are a great way to get great discounts on food, drink, shopping and accommodations. Be sure to register online before visiting the casino because there may be greater sign-up bonuses when applying online. 

4. Use your player's club card as much as possible.

You probably are not surprised to learn that when using your player's club card the casino is tracking you. Whenever possible use your player's club card. The casino will see your activity and reward you with discounted or free rooms, meals, or shows. When you’re in the casino make sure you place your card in the slot machine or show the dealer when at a table.

Another way player’s club help you save money is by mailing you money saving offers. Be sure to check your mailbox for offers sent to you trying to entice you back with free meals or entertainment. 

5. Don't have too many free drinks.

One of the great things about the way casinos try to keep you gambling is by offering you free cocktails while you gamble. This can be a great way to save money on your alcohol but it can also impair your thinking.

Remember the problem with gambling is when people abuse it by overspending. If you are frugal by setting limits on your spending you can have a great time.

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How to Save Money on Car Insurance When You Retire

 (Photo credit: West Midlands Police)

When going to work or driving the kids to school you can really put a lot of miles on your car. Also running errands to the mall and grocery store add to those miles. But what happens when you are in your retirement years when none of that occurs anymore? When lifestyle changes occur in your life it's best to have your car insurance policy reevaluated to see if you can save some money. 

When you call or meet with your car insurance agent you need to ask if there are ways to lower your monthly payment. The amount of driving you do has changed, you drive less so it makes sense that you should pay less. When discussing your policy be sure to ask a lot of questions. I have listed a few topics to consider. 

Driving less every month.

Not driving to work and family commitments can really reduce the mileage driven. Keep a log and record the mileage when you make trips to the store and other errands. You will find that there is a drastic reduction in miles driven. Bring the log to your agent and show them the miles you drive, I am sure it will get you a reduction in your payment.

Offer to take driving courses.

Some car insurance companies have or can tell you about safe driving course for the older driver. These course for people over 55 years old are similar to drivers education courses that are taught in high school for teenagers. Many car insurers offer generous discounts when you have taken a course. Some states even require insurers to give you discounts when you complete a course. 

These courses can be had for as little as $25. They can be taken in a classroom or online. The American Automobile Association (AAA) has information about these courses and can be contacted via phone or email. 

Cut down to just one car.

When everyone has to go their separate ways to work or shopping; it pays to have multiple cars. But when there is no need to do a lot of driving it makes sense to cut back to one car. If it's just you and your spouse and you mostly go everywhere together, why two cars. Get rid of the older car and save some money. Not paying insurance and maintenance on a the car save you a lot of money over time. Read more

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One of the Most Beautiful Ski Resorts in the World – The Courchevel Chalets

Courchevel hosted the Nordic combined events for the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Courchevel Chalet is a ski resort nestled in the town of Saint-Bon-Tarentaise located in the French Alps in the Rhône-Alpes locale. The entire resort spans half of Les Trois Vallées and is the largest linked ski resort on the planet. Courchevel is comprised of five separate villages known by their heights in meters as: Courchevel 1300 (Le Praz), La Tania (1350), Courchevel 1550, Courchevel 1650 and Courchevel 1850. The five villages are connected by piste, road and ski lift so you can easily get from one location to another fairly easily.

The alternative villages that make up Courchevel (1650, 1550 and 1300) tend to be less pretentious than 1850. They also have more affordable accommodations, but their prices seem to rising as the market rises.

Though large numbers of Courchevel's patrons are British nationals, the resort also has an elite Russian following that usually visits the chalets when Russian Orthodox Christmas and Russian New Year occur. Because this influx of Russian visitors happens every season, Courchevel has become the "winter playground of the wealthy and famous" of Russia. January's first two weeks have become the height of Courchevel's resort season.

There are many ways to occupy your time while at Courchevel Chalets. If you like shopping, Courchevel 1850 has lots of boutiques, and snowshoeing has also gotten very popular. There is a pedestrian lift available which makes it easy for non-skiers to get around the mountain, and you can book panoramic flights around the mountain from the altiport.

Of course, if you love skiing, there is plenty to be had. With the various ski trails offered by the Three Valleys lift pass you will have trouble deciding which one to try first. The Jardin Alpin also offers access to some great runs for novices, while at the Saulire there are some wonderful red and blue runs. Each of Courchevel’s runs is marked with their famous colors.

The Courchevel Valley is a great starting point for discovering the entire Three Valleys area. You'll find tree runs great for newbies along side the more advanced red and blue runs. There is lots of variety so that skiers of all skill levels can all use the same area. Also, there are lots of black runs available for more advanced skiers.

The Courchevel Chalet is world's most famous ski resort. It towers above all other ski resorts since it provides the most varied range of accommodations of anywhere in Alpine region. No matter what your interests or your spending capacity, the chalet staff and personnel will make sure that you have the ski vacation of a lifetime as you enjoy the strikingly beautiful environs.

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Finding the Right Creative Agency to Promote Your Business

 (Photo credit: bargainmoose)If you own a business, you spend a lot of your energy, money and time promoting your service or product. The problem is you have no way of knowing whether your investments will translate into profit for your company. The practical resolution is to hire a creative agency to promote the product or service for you. Contracting a dependable creative firm is very cost-effective move because a good agency will bring with it the skills and knowledge needed to help you get more sales for your company.

The best way to start your search is to make a short list then narrow it down to what you feel are the best two or three firms. Set up a meeting with each of them to discuss the particular goals that you would like to carry out. Of course, clear communication in this area is critical. Be sure to raise any questions with them about how they plan to help you hit your targets, or whether they can even deliver what you are looking for. Can your business afford the agency's rates? You may have to talk terms with them to get an affordable arrangement.

Make certain that the creative agency you select has the right frame of mind. After all, branding is what makes your business stand out. If you're working with a firm that is too conservative no one will ever notice your company. Spend time researching prospective agencies until you find the right one for you.

On a more specific note, it is essential that the agency you pick has a team of professionals skilled and experienced in custom creative development and design. The agency should be keeping you apprised as the production process progresses. Finally, just as you must be open to suggestions, the agency should take your opinion into account as well. Furthermore, the agency's own imagination and creativity should be able to discern the reaction that you wish to generate from your customer base. 

A confident creative agency will not take "no" for an answer. 

The main reason some of the largest brands in the world are where they are today is because to them the sky was the limit. Anything is possible if your have a creative agency with the firepower to open the doors to those prospective customers.

However, it is crucial to choose the proper agency for your business goals. You must thoroughly examine each agency's creative style and services. Find out their track records and also the various types of clients they have served. Check out their portfolios (these are usually available online) and see if they have any experience with the sort of services you are asking them to provide.

Finding the best creative agency for your needs might be difficult, but if you use some of these suggestions, you will ultimately be able to find an agency that's just right for your particular needs and goals.

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You CAN Recover Your Deleted Emails – Find Out How

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)Have you ever unintentionally deleted an important email? Has a virus attack left you with lost files? You probably thought that you could never get these files back again? Well, believe it or not, lost or deleted emails can be recovered. You can restore your lost or deleted emails the same way you would recover lost data on your hard drive. As a matter of fact, there are lots of email recovery software tools available on market today.

Each email account is located on a "server" maintained by your email provider. 

This server where all your sent and received emails are kept. Each email is sent to the recipient's post office protocol (POP3) email account. This protocol is used to bring up email messages quickly so they can be read through programs like Outlook. But sometimes people don't realize they need to create certain account settings in their email software so that their get saved to the server. Otherwise, it will only be sent to the POP3 account saving only "soft copy" of the email.

Since email was an early form of information sharing, it shouldn't be any surprise that emails get lost as they are sent from all over the web. Since so much critical information is sent via email these days the process of email recovery has become a field in its own right.

An email server recovery tool is a piece of software that can help you recover deleted emails. Whatever the reason for the email deletion, whether it be an application error or accidental deletion, the email recovery software can bring them back.

Here are some features to look for if you want a good piece of email recovery software:

• Make sure you have the option of using both HTML and RTF formats for your email messages. 
• It should have the ability to bring back password-protected files 
• It should be able to fix broken or corrupted PST files 

You should also check out Outlook PST Repair Software. It can bring back emails that have been deleted as well as restoring many features of Outlook Express and Outlook such as emails, notes, contacts, distribution lists and calendar information.

If you're a novice user you should check with other experienced users or professionals before choosing email recovery software. Getting good advice before choosing a recovery program will keep you from wasting time and money that you would later regret. If you find a software package you think will do the job for you, evaluate its performance.

Since information loss can happen at anytime, you should have good email recovery software on hand so that you can be up and running as quickly as possible. Whether you are dealing with personal or business email, time is money and you don't want to waste either.