My niece is off to college for the first time next week. She’s excited — and a little nervous. Her bedroom is a disaster area strewn with half-packed boxes, toiletry-filled tubs, stacks of clothes and all the other “essentials” needed to outfit a dorm room. My sister is a little overwhelmed by the expense of sending her first child off to college. It’s not just the high cost of tuition and room and board; it’s all the unexpected peripherals: new wardrobe, laptop, sheets, towels, mini fridge, microwave, desk lamp, storage tubs, etc. – and they haven’t even bought her books yet!

College textbooks can run $500 to more than $1,000, and my sister was already sweating her budget. Having already weathered the college years, I shared my best budget-saving tip with my sister: Don’t buy college textbooks at the campus bookstore; purchase them online at eCampus.com on Coupon Cactus.

The smart college student’s source for textbooks, reference books, medical books, office and art supplies and great college apparel, eCampus also carries best sellers, cookbooks and hit movies — all at college-budget prices. On eCampus, you can buy or rent textbooks new, used or as etexts. And you can sell your books back to eCampus when the semester ends. My sister and her daughter are cruising eCampus now and taking advantage of money-saving eCampus coupons on Coupon Cactus. They’re saving 3% off orders over $80 and getting free shipping on orders over $59. With the 2.4% cash back rebate my sister saves as a Coupon Cactus member, my niece may even score a new hoodie!

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