How To Buy Textbooks in Online Bookstores

Online bookstores are sprouting out on the Web, going against traditional campus bookstores, offering lower prices and a hassle-free shopping experience for students. Imagine, without even leaving your own room, with only your computer and the internet, students can already order their books and wait for them to be shipped to their doorstep.

In order to find the best deals and make shopping online easier, students like you only need to follow these simple steps:

• Know the ISBN. To make buying textbooks online easier and error-free, online bookstores will ask for the ISBN number of the books you are looking to buy. These numbers are unique to the book and exact edition you are looking for - making it a foolproof way to identify the exact title you need. You start shopping online with these numbers, so make sure you ask your professor what the ISBN number of the book you need is.


• Use comparison sites to check prices. Not only can you buy textbooks online, you can also find sites to help you look for great deals online. These sites will look at the popular bookstores and with one search, show you which sites have the book you are looking for and their prices.


• Buy safe. Make sure that the site can be trusted before you buy, to not be scammed online. Look for recommendations or feedback on the site before you buy. This is the easiest way to make sure you are not wasting your money on nothing.


• Join membership sites. Most online bookstores offer membership, and give perks to those who are members - either through discounts, rewards or free shipping. You can also sign up for alerts sent via email to be informed if there are deals on the books you need.


• Buy more to save more. If you are looking for more than one book, consider buying them from one online bookstore. The rational for this is that sites might offer buyers more savings for buying more. For example, you might also save on shipping of the books, as well as possibly earning more rewards should the site offer them.


• Add shipping costs. Thankfully, most sites will already ask for your zip code when you start the search, in order to incorporate shipping costs when you get the overall price. A book might seem cheaper, but if the store ships them from out of state, shipping might add up to the cost and make it more expensive.


• Be an early bird. As in the saying, early birds catch the early worm. By starting your search early and buying before everyone else does, you are ensuring that you have your book before stocks run out and prices go up.

These are the simple rules you need to put to mind when looking for textbooks to buy in online bookstores - just follow them and end up with greater savings and an easy online buying experience.

Healthy Foods for a Starving Student: It's Possible!

It is common knowledge that being a starving student includes eating low priced, highly processed foods to keep their brains working. This is a total myth! Did you know that you can spend just as much money on nutritious, healthy food that won't break your bank account, keep you energized, thinking clearly and doesn't any time at all?

Here are some great foods to stock up on with some recipe ideas to make sure you stay full, energized and healthy. You will want to make sure you have a small fridge with a small freezer so you can store the essential fresh items we will list. Remember, you will find yourself saving money Instead of wasting money on expensive take-out pizza, consider this quick, easy and much healthier option:

• Purchase a stack of whole wheat pita bread, top with pizza sauce, cheese, veggies and a lean meat for a high protein quick meal.

• Pasta is great to store in your dorm room and cost-effective. Just make sure you purchase the whole wheat or whole grain type. Stay away from white pasta or Ramen. Whole grains help you eat less and stay fuller longer.

• For a quick snack, store pieces of fruit and cut up some veggies ahead of time to store in plastic bags. This way you will be able to grab them quickly when on the run to class.

• Eggs are a quick and easy breakfast that will keep you full of protein and energy. Eggs also last a long time. Store in your fridge and prepare ahead of time by hard boiling or scrambling with ham, salsa, veggies and your favorite spices. Heat up in the microwave for roughly a minute and roll up in a whole wheat tortilla for a healthy breakfast-on-the-go.

• Stock up on whole wheat bread, legumes, frozen veggies, chicken or beef stalk, whole grain rice and try to stay away from highly processed ready-prepared foods. Some great healthy snack alternatives are popcorn, whole grain crackers, nuts and dried fruits.

Here is a great basic recipe where you can substitute any of the above ingredients we listed. This stir fry goes well with rice, pasta or beans along with any type of veggie or meat you have available:

½ cup whole wheat rice or pasta, dry 

½ tablespoon olive oil 

¼ red pepper, in strips

½ cup green pepper, in strips 

½ carrots, shredded

1 cup broccoli cuts 

Teriyaki or soy sauce, amount per your taste

- Boil water for the rice or pasta. Follow instructions on the rice or pasta bag, adjusting for ½ cup of rice. Pour the olive oil into the deepest frying pan you have. Add all of the veggies, and then turn on medium heat.

- Cover and let steam for about 10 minutes. Move the veggies around with a spatula occasionally to make sure that the frozen bits hug the bottom of the pan. It's normal to have some water at the bottom. The vegetables should begin to look more vibrant in color.

- Drizzle your sauce throughout the pan, covering all vegetables. Adjust the amount based on your taste.

- Move the vegetables around with a wooden spoon to make sure the sauce covers all of them evenly. Then let sit for 5 minutes on low heat.