Form a book pool
You don’t have to add each book that you may need currently to your lifetime book collection. So why itch to own a copy? Form a book pool with some friends and buy books collectively. Keep them till you need them and then sell them off to buy more relevant books. This will not only save money but also ensure that you don’t collect books you don’t require later.
Be sure of what you want
Have clarity on what you want the book to cover before you walk into a bookstore. Compare the contents of a few books to figure which one covers the relevant topics better before making the final decision.
Don’t base your buying decision on the index/content page alone
Though it’s fair to derive information on what the book comprises from the contents/index page, you still need to turn pages over to figure out how these content heads have been covered. Check for understandability of language, clarity of content, flow, depth required and so on. You can go through 4-5 topics at random to arrive at a decision.
Always be open to bargains
Ask your seniors if they have the books you are looking for. You might get a second hand copy from them at a great price. Also, always enquire at the bookstore for a second hand copy of the book you want, in usable condition. You anyway will want the book for a year or a semester so it’s cool to grab a second hand copy and invest the saved money in another book.
Ask your instructors for guidance on what to buy
Teachers tend to know some of the best reference books on their subjects. So ask them for their referrals. If you have come across a book that you think is better than one they have recommended, do mention the name and the details to them for a second opinion. After all, they will be the one who will check your answer sheets so might as well study from the books they approve of.
By Juhi Dua at http://www.tips4me.com/tips/study