I don’t like paying full price for anything, which is actually one of the main reasons I co-founded Extrabux.com in 2006 while in college. During that time I figured out a (genius) system that saved me about $1,200 per year on textbook costs. I have the textbook buying system down to such a science that I’ll show you how to get your textbooks for about $22 each:

We all know that a college education is expensive. According to The New York Times, 80% of college students graduate with more than $36,000 in loans. While we here at Extrabux can’t do much about lending rates or the job market awaiting grads, I can offer some advice to help students save hundreds of dollars on textbooks every semester.

The average undergrad can spend more than $1,000 each year on textbooks alone. While brick-and-mortar campus bookstores still draw a large amount of business, 30% of college students are now buying their textbooks online, where required reading often comes at a cheaper price.

But not all online textbook brokers are equal. Using online data that I’ve compiled from a number of sources, I crunched the numbers and created the definitive cost-saving guide that can help students cut their annual textbook expenses by 90%. Before I get into how students can save, let’s take a look at how   consumers typically shop for textbooks.

How do online consumers shop for textbooks?

There are three options for online textbook shoppers:

1. Buy
2. Rent
3. Download

As you’ll see in the graph below, which I created using data from Google Trends, while textbook rentals are catching up, the vast majority of online consumers prefer to buy used textbooks, and for good reason (read on).

The cheapest textbook sites

Half.com has the best prices on used textbooks. Chegg.com has the best prices for textbook rentals. As for new textbooks, students should simply avoid them at all costs.

In my quest to find the best way to buy textbooks online, I’ve checked in with a host of popular merchants to see how their rates stack up. In the graph below, I took the average price of a random sample of textbooks sold by all of the merchants selected.

My analysis confirms what I already learned from my college days: When it comes to textbooks, newer isn’t better—it’s just more expensive.

• A new textbook costs about 50% more than a used textbook.
• Half.com has the best prices on used textbooks.
• Textbook rental sites like Chegg can provide big up front savings to students who don’t want to provide textbooks with a permanent home on their bookshelves.
• Renting textbooks can save about 37% up front compared to buying textbooks used.

Given these numbers, I know what you’re thinking: Rent, don’t buy. Not so fast. Let’s take a look at the long-term savings when you buy your textbooks and sell them later.

Where to sell your old textbooks

Abebooks.com gives students the most cash for their textbooks.

So it’s time to get rid of old textbooks—now what? There are several websites that buyback student’s old textbooks. While most universities have textbook buyback programs, selling online pays more. Using the same sample set of textbooks as above, I’ve charted the average buyback price from each merchant below.

As you can see, students get about 20% more from Amazon than from the runner-up, Abebooks.com. However, it’s worth noting that Amazon doesn’t pay cash for textbooks. Instead, the site issues an Amazon gift card for the amount, which students can use to buy textbooks on Amazon the next semester (assuming they have old books lying around and they will need to buy textbooks next semester).

To simplify this decision-making process, I’ve created a chart to help students determine where to buy and where to sell, depending on whether they also need to buy textbooks, hock old ones or engage in any combination of the above. Think of it as the choose-your-own-adventure of buying and selling textbooks.

Rent vs. Buy and Sell

Renting textbooks may save students some cash up front, but they’ll save a whopping 46% per semester by buying and selling textbooks as opposed to renting them.

How do students get the most money back for a textbook they don’t want to keep around?

To answer this question, I used the same textbook sample set as above, subtracted Abebooks.com’s  average buyback price from Half.com’s average used price for those textbooks and then compared that to Chegg’s average rental price for those textbooks. (Please excuse our math lesson).

Enter the mathematic payoff: Renting textbooks may save students some cash up front, but they’ll save a whopping 46% per semester by buying and selling textbooks instead of renting them.

Granted, this analysis does not consider that a semester of use may slightly decrease the buyback value of the textbooks, but a textbook’s buyback value would have to decrease by about 50% for renting to be cheaper. So, as long as students are not conducting chemistry experiments with their actual chemistry textbooks, values shouldn’t decline much over time.

Need convincing? The graph below, which was compiled using data from BookScouter.com, shows that the average buyback price history of all textbooks in our sample set doesn’t change much during the course of a few semesters.

Selling textbooks: Timing is everything!

Students can sell their textbooks for as much as 28% more by selling during the right months. July, August and January are the best times to sell while April and December are the worst times to sell.

For students looking to sell old textbooks, I have one important lesson to impart: Timing is everything. Well, that and this nugget from Economics 101: The best time to sell is when demand is high and supply is low. When it comes to textbooks, this means that students will get the most money for their books if they sell them when there are a lot more people buying rather than selling textbooks.

When exactly is that time? Using data from Google Trends, I’ve created a graph that shows when the textbook market is most lucrative.

When I compare the difference between the number of  searches for “used textbooks” versus the number for “sell textbooks,” the peak times to sell become apparent.

Based on that trusty theory of supply and demand, it’s clear that the best months to sell textbooks are July, August and January. And, as the chart shows, the worst months to sell are April and December (especially before Christmas).

If you need more convincing, take a look at the next chart. To confirm that the theory of supply and demand does in fact influence online textbook buyback prices, I overlaid the demand (minus) supply graph with a zoomed-in version of the average textbook buyback price history graph from earlier.

The supply and demand of used textbooks significantly affect the buyback price. In the course of a couple months, the fluctuating number of sellers and buyers in the market can affect the buyback price by as much as 20%—that translates to about $12 per book! Even non-math majors can rejoice in those numbers. The best time to sell this year will be the week of August 23^rd.

Now that we’ve completed today’s lesson on textbook economics, I’d like to hear what you have to say. How do you prefer to buy textbooks? Is buying used and reselling at the right time too much of a hassle, or is it worth the savings?

As you’re reading this, I’ll be rumbling along the interstate in a moving van piloted by my mister, a few miles closer to my new home in Nashville. So it’s pretty safe to say that I have travel on the brain and that I’m very much consumed with thoughts of newness and starting over. After all, with a new city comes new hope and opportunity. What’s the sense in fearing change, anyway?

Speaking of change, you’ll soon notice that this very blog is quite different. After more than 100 blog posts in which I’ve shared my personal shopping lists—all of the styles, products and gorgeous pieces I’m obsessing about—the Extrabux blog will be going in an exciting new direction. Starting next Tuesday, you’ll notice some amazing changes here.

While the creators and masterminds behind Extrabux are cooking up some great new things to share with you, I’m thinking of overstuffed boxes and what life in a new city will bring. So let’s talk travel, shall we? Nothing says “I’m going somewhere exciting and fabulous” like a chic piece of luggage.

I’ve put together a luggage roundup that features some of the cutest, most stylish pieces out there. Take a little looksy and dream of travels of your own. I would say, “Bon voyage, mes amours,” but this really isn’t goodbye—it’s simply a hopeful “see you later.” And don’t forget to check back here on Tuesday to see what’s in store for the Extrabux blog.

1. Barrel Tote, Bodhi (bloomingdales.com): This washable coated linen tote in a sophisticated color combo has tons of inner pockets and a separate bottom compartment for a pair of shoes or other travel necessities—brilliant!

2. Betty Collection 20-inch Wheeled Duffel, Diane von Furstenberg: It’s electric pink, lightweight and fits in the overhead compartment. What’s not to love? Oh, and did I mention that you can nab it for about a quarter of the original price?

3. Graceful Traveler Wheeled Carry-On, Amy Butler for Kalencom: Famed fabric designer Amy Butler lends her graphic genius to this bag, which combines 100 percent organic cotton with rich leather handles and accents.

4. Foldover Crossbody Tote, Olsenboye (jcpenney.com): Searching for a carry-on bag that is both sleek and affordable? Look no further than this crossbody tote, which looks far more luxe than the price tag (less than $30!) suggests. Not to mention, the bag’s floral lining is a sweet surprise!

5. Laptop Sleeve, Juicy Couture (nordstrom.com): How cute is the print on this PVC-coated cotton laptop case? It reminds me of delicious green apples.

6. Hardside Cubis Three-Piece Set, Heys USA: Eliminate all baggage carousel confusion with a set of neon-hued luggage in the most covetable shade of mustard yellow.

7. Medium Laptop Skin, Orla Kiely (piperlime.com): Orla Kiely is the queen of chic retro patterns, and this laptop sleeve with durable leather handles is no exception.

8.  Pretty Nylon Pouch, Marc by Marc Jacobs (shopbop.com): Let me guess, you’ve been traveling with the same beauty product pouch for decades. Consider this magenta nylon pouch a chic (and long overdue!) upgrade.

9. Giselle Collection Rolling City Bag, Diane von Furstenberg: With its snakeskin print and classy feel, this bag embodies all that is luxury travel.

10. Xcase Exotic Polka Dots 20-Inch Carry-On, Heys USA: This bag may be known as the world’s lightest carry-on, but it’s the retro, oh-so-graphic dot print that sold me on this piece.

11. Palma Hip Bag, Tory Burch (shopbop.com): I know what you’re thinking, but this isn’t your grandma’s fanny pack. It’s just far too sleek for the early bird dinner special.

12. CH-97 Carry-On Duffel in Green, Victorinox: If you’re a one-set-of-luggage-for-the-whole-family type, you’ll love this duffel. The no-frills look and superior burst-resistant zippers will satisfy him. And the sleeker-than-average styling of this duffel will certainly appeal to her.

13. Marni Duffel Bag, Amy Butler for Kalencom: An unapologetically girly duffel bag? I love pieces that are studies in contrast!

14. Dopp Kit, Bodhi (bloomingdales.com): When it comes to traveling with shampoo, toothpaste, shaving cream and the like, spills aren’t just probable, they’re inevitable. The coated canvas lining of this luxe dopp kit ensures that product spillage won’t cause any turbulence upon arrival

(Images: Elizabeth Ulrich)

What a day! Cyber Monday 2009 is coming to a close, but it has been an exciting day filled with thousands of one-day only coupons and jaw dropping deals. Although there were coupons and specials that you won’t see again until next year, rest assured that many of your favorite stores will have more great deals over the next few weeks before Christmas

Over 65,000 online shoppers performed over 120,000 searches on Extrabux this Cyber Monday. We’ve compiled a list of the top 25 most popular products searched for on Extrabux over the last 24 hours. We hope that this list helps you find gift ideas for the holiday season (or maybe a little something for yourself). Enjoy!

1. Nintendo Wii

2. Apple iPod Touch 8gb

3. Nintendo DS Lite

4. Sony PlayStation 3

5. Apple iPod Nano 8gb

6. XBOX 360

7. Nintendo DSi

8. UGG Boots

9. Zhu Zhu Pets

10. Amazon Kindle

11. Nintendo Wii Fit

12. Apple iPhone

13. Digital Photo Frame

14. Flip Video

15. Mattel Mindflex

16. Nintendo Wii Fit Plus

17. Apple iPod Touch 32gb

18. LeapFrog Leapster2 Learning Game System

19. Sesame Street Tickle Me Elmo

20. Acer Aspire One Netbook LU.S690B.037

21. XBOX 360 Elite

22. Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2

23. Band Hero

24. DJ Hero

25. Canon Powershot 10 Megapixel 3476B001

Some observations and highlights of the top 25 Cyber Monday products…

-11 of the top 25 products were video game related. The Wii was by far the most popular video game console and the PS3 was slightly more popular than the XBOX 360. The three most popular video games were Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, Band Hero, and DJ Hero.

-9 of the top 25 products were from Nintendo or Apple.

-Zhu Zhu Pets are this holiday season’s surprise craze, with more searches than the Amazon Kindle or Apple iPhone.

-Parents listen up! This year’s most popular toys: Zhu Zhu Pets, Mindflex, Leapster2, and Tickle Me Elmo.

-The iPod Touch 8gb was searched for 5 times as often as the iPod Touch 32gb.

We’re pleased to announce that today Extrabux.com officially launched the first ever comparison shopping website to integrate cash back and coupons.

Thank you to everyone that generously provided such great feedback on our private beta. While it may take some time to implement all of the requested features, we’re working hard to include as many as possible in the coming months. Now that the new Extrabux is live, please help spread the word by telling your friends and family.

A couple of years ago we started getting feedback that it was frustrating and time-consuming for online shoppers to find that elusive “lowest price”. Last year we found out that most of our shoppers would first visit a comparison shopping website to figure out where to shop, and then visit a cash back or coupon website (or both!) to get online discounts. It was a big hassle!

To solve this problem we’ve been working night and day for the last year to bring you the all new Extrabux.com. You can now compare prices on millions of products with store price, cash back, coupons, and tax & shipping all included! Search for the best price and the best discounts all in one place! Plus you’ll get cash back and coupons on your everyday purchases from thousands of top online stores.

We hope you’re as excited as we are. If you ever have any questions or feedback, please post a comment or contact us.

Thanks!

Jeff Nobbs
Co-Founder, Extrabux.com