We don't normally do stories about college kids. We don't want to ignore your triumphs and your struggles: this one fits in the latter category.

I can't believe what textbooks are going for these days! According to NBC News.com, the cost has gone up 1,041 percent since 1977. Now that's three times the rate of inflation, for God sakes.

Cost Of University Textbooks Rises To About $900 Per Year
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Hey, it's not like they can comparison shop and get the best price. They have to pay whatever is on the sticker.

I LOVE this rationalization (or shall I say lame explanation) from the Association of American Publishers. They say that this figure is misleading, because-because WHY?

...because of the "law of small numbers" where a small item that increases from $100 to $200 will appear as a 100 percent increase whereas if tuition increases from $10,000 to $11,000 it's only a 10 percent increase.

 

Say WHAT? Yes, it does APPEAR like a 100 percent increase, because it IS, no matter how you slice it.

There is a way around it, kind of. You can rent them if they are available. There is a site called Textbook Rush, which lets you buy the digital download version of some of them and save some cash.

So how much are you paying for YOUR books? Would love to know. I feel bad for you!

 

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