AnneOnCollege.net

This one ends November 1st and is super simple to enter. Really, it takes seconds.

Just head on over to FastWeb and register if you do not have an account. It is free and a great resource for scholarships, internships, and just about anything to do with college.

If you already have an account, then click here to be taken directly to the entry page. This is considered a scholarship and, yes, that makes a difference to you or your parents when it comes time to file those tax returns.

What can you win? Good question. Does $1,500 sound good to you? That will pay for some of those really expensive textbooks, or you can make that stretch even further and check out Chegg.com. [Just click on my link at the top right of this page and save an additional 5% when you rent your books from Chegg.] See, now you've just stretched that $1,500 even further!

Other information as taken from FastWeb:

The FastWeb Halloween 2009 Sweepstakes is open to registered FastWeb members who are legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, and who are at least thirteen (13) years of age. Residents of Maine who are under eighteen (18) years of age are not eligible to participate in this promotion. Void in Puerto Rico, all U.S. territories and possessions and where prohibited by law. This Sweepstakes is governed by US law and is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. Entrant must have Internet access in order to enter the Sweepstakes. Each Entrant must be the rightful owner (or have authorized use) of the e-mail address identified in the Entrant s entry. Sweepstakes begins on or about Thursday 10/22/2009 at 5:00 PM (EDT) and ends on or about Sunday 11/01/2009 at 11:59:59 PM (EDT)

Good luck!

I just paid $97.95 plus shipping for the textbook to the left.  This is not even a hardcover book!  To me it is absurd to think college students (who have no money) are forced to pay so much for a textbook.  What a racket!  It is the equivalent of the mafia, only in the form of strong-arming the higher learning sect.

Chegg is simple to use, too.  Just go to their site and enter in the ISBN number, Author, or Title of the book you need.  Their smart recognition will list books that match your request.  Pick your text, and then select the length of time you need, and add to your cart.  Chegg pays for you to ship the books back when you are done.

My classes run month-to-month, so I only use my textbooks for one month.  With Chegg you get four options for renting:

1. Rent by the semester
2. Rent by the quarter
3. Rent for 60 days
4. Pick one of the options above and requst additional time be added

So, I would choose the shortest term of 60 days.  Which would then result in the lowest cost.

As you can see from this screenshot, I would have saved $68.78 on my current textbook by renting it from Chegg as opposed to purchasing it. 

And I have not even gotten to the best part.  Chegg will plant 1 tree for every textbook you rent.  Save money and be environmentally friendly all at the same time.

Just ask yourself, what could you do with all of that extra money?  Do I hear student loan payback?

One last thing...
make sure you use this special promo code CC103319. You’ll get an extra 5% off your order.

Mashable is a wonderful site with the all-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-social-media-but-were-afraid-to-ask information.  Quick!  Get an extra A for effort if you can name the movie reference!  =)

Thanks to Mashable and David Spinks for this wonderful list of social media sites every college student should check out:

• Cramster.com - Find resources, answers to questions, study help, and more.  And did I mention this is free?
  
• IntershipRatings.com - Want to know what to expect when it comes to internships?  Find out from those with experience.
• Zimride - Carpooling for college students.  Find a ride across town, across state, or across the country.
• Box.net - Collaborating software for college and beyond. 
• Remember the Milk - A task master for those who need some help in keeping it all straight.  Works with various applications.
• Gradefund - Get paid to make the grade.
• Evernote - Find information now, retrieve it later from any computer or internet-capable device.
• Zumeo - Find a job, connect through Facebook.
• CampusBooks - Search for your textbooks, get the best price, sell them back when you are done.

And as if that list was not extensive enough, I would like to add a few of my own:

• ISleptThroughClass - Connect with other students, upload notes, share, get points, earn rewards.
• SallieMae's Free Scholarship Finder - A great resource from a name synonomous with higher education.
• ExpoTV - Submit video product reviews, apply to be the first to try new products (for free), get paid for doing so.  This is not specifically for college students, but what student couldn't use a little extra spending money or free products, am I right?

Know of any great sites not listed here?  Looking for something specific?  I want this site to be as helpful as possible to all that visit.  Your comments, questions, and suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

For the past two and a half years I have been paying anywhere from $100 to $200 for textbooks, per class! That is right! I just paid $200 for a textbook and another $100 for a workbook for just one class. And my school does NOT buy back books. This is a tremendous expense and one that should be addressed, but that is another post.

What would you say if I told you I found a way to pay much, much less than $200 for a textbook? You would be there, right? There is one little catch. I know, I know, but if you can handle it you will save a TON of money. And who does not want that?

First, an example. I bought the textbook Information Systems Today for just under $200 through my school. I am fairly certain I will not be using this book beyond this course, so that is $200 thrown out the window. For $89.67 I could have purchased a 180-day eTextbook subscription from CourseSmart. Yes, an eTextbook. These are available in two versions: online and download.

Since I take all of my classes online, an eTextbook would work out well for me. I would always have it available (as long as I had my laptop and internet access, for the online version), it would not take up space in my house (along with all of the other dust collecting texts), and it would save me money. In this instance it would be a $110.33 or 55% savings.

Unfortunately, I am almost through with my education and have paid full price these past two and a half years. Fortunately, you can learn from my mistakes. If you are in the digital age, then eTextbooks could be just what the professor ordered! Why not give them a try? Save a little money and a tree at the same time. Talk about your warm, fuzzy feelings!