This guest post was provided by Liz C.
 
Liz is the editor for FindCollegeCards, a student credit resource, helping students with tips, advice and more.
 
No student can attend college without having to purchase books, and when you’re ready to purchase your textbooks for the first time, or maybe even the fifth time, I wanted to tell you why you should avoid the bookstore.
 
#1 Always compare prices – I’ve done so many price comparisons when it comes down to the college bookstore. I would say 99% of the time, you’re going to be able to save outside of your bookstore. Use price comparison websites.
 
#2 Watch the buyback process – When you want to sell your books back, it’s great to get money right away, but what if I told you that you could get 20% back online? A great way to see what you can get for your books is simply by going to a site such as We Compare Books.
 
#3 Used isn’t a good deal– Most college bookstores will offer used books as well. While the pricing is attractive, again, you’re going to want to look online to ensure that it is the best price. With used books, I have found that there are good deals sometimes, but not all the time.
 
#4 Supplies are the same way – Most college bookstores have pencils, notebooks and many other various items that you can purchase. This is what you’re going to want to avoid as well. While it’s great to stop by before class if you forget something, you will find that your local dollar store will have all the supplies you need at a great discount.
 
#5 Out of stock quite often – When I was attending a local community college, I had found that the books that I wanted were always out of stock. Since I didn’t want to wait, this is when I found out that the Internet was a lot cheaper. Sometimes, you may find that even if you want to buy in the bookstore, they may not even have your book!
 
#6 No long lines – If you want to purchase your books in the college, and you’re attending a rather large college, you’re going to find that everybody else in the school is going to do the same thing. You will find that the lines are extremely long, and will be nothing but a headache. When you purchase online, you can do it at anytime, and have it arrive right at your doorstep!
 
While I think all of us make the mistake of purchasing books at the bookstore, you’re going to find that the Internet is the way to go. Since I’m sure you’re already on a strict budget, you will find that these six tips above should be the reasons you should shop online, rather than in the store.

This is a guest post byLouise Baker

Louise is a freelance writer and blogger who usually does car insurance comparisons over at CarinsuranceComparison.Org. She recently wrote about finding cheap car insurance quotes.

The first year of college is one of the most exciting, eye opening experiences of a student’s life. This period marks the time when a teenage becomes a young adult and is able to freely make their own decisions, without the supervision of their parents. However, while every student’s freshman year experience is different, there are a few things that all first year students must try at least once.

5 Things Every College Freshman Needs to Do:

1. Get involved. Most freshman are mainly concerned with meeting new friends, getting by in their classes, and making the most of their new freedom. However, getting involved around campus during your freshman year will not only look good on future resumes, it is a great way of making lasting connections and friendships with students that share your interests. Becoming active on campus helps many students stay committed to their education, as well as their college.

2. Make an effort to get along with your roommate.

Roommate situations can be difficult. Dorm rooms are generally very small and make it nearly impossible to avoid a roommate that you don’t like. To avoid a stressful situation, ask your roommate what their expectations are, as well as clearly state your expectations at the beginning of the year. Simply telling your roommate that you hate a messy room or loud music upfront, can save endless disagreements throughout the year.

3. Refuse to snooze.

At all costs, avoid hitting the snooze button. While 9:00 am classes are early and the walk may be far, first year college students need to go to class. Missing class means possibly missing notes, assignments, and attendance points, and is no way to get on your professors’ good side.

4. Avoid going home too often.

Almost every student is homesick during their first year of college. However, going home every weekend to visit your high school friends and family, is only going to prolong the homesickness and make the transition to college that much harder. Even students that decide to stay with their high school sweetheart need to give themselves time to adjust to college life.

5. Take care of your body.

Freshman year of college is arguably the hardest on the body. Students think that they need to constantly pull all-nighters, make it to every party, and honestly believe that they can live off of pizza and french fries. Unfortunately, this lifestyle will only lead to stress and fatigue. Freshman need to maintain a healthy diet and sleep schedule, as well as get adequate exercise, in order to do well in the classroom.