Students are seldom more fiscally responsible when it comes to purchases than during the beginning of the semester when it’s time to buy textbooks.
Bargain-hunters cross town looking for the best deals and check Amazon, Facebook and other sites, making sure they can save every penny.
But for William O’Donnell, a freshman in the College of Management, the decision was easy.
“I just like convenience,” O’Donnell said of his mantra while shopping for textbooks.
Because of his preference for simplicity, he booked online through the NCSU Bookstore in December since it assured his books would be waiting on him for pickup when he returned to begin spring classes.
At that time he didn’t realize he would be getting all of his books for free as part of a sweepstakes the Bookstore was putting on.
“I had no idea,” he said. “It just said I had to do it by this date and I got a call the next day.”
O’Donnell’s quest for convenience left him more than $460 richer, while fewllow sweepstakes winner Lauren Hahn, a senior in zoology, said she saved more than $500 by winning the contest.
Hahn said she always tries to sign up for books early.
“It’s easier than having to fight the crowds,” she said. “There were a couple of semesters when I tried to get a better deal, but it didn’t seem to be worth it so I just get it from the school. When I got it for free it was a great surprise.”
And the timing was near perfect for the two winners, as well, as the two were notified just after exams concluded.
“I ended up using some of it to buy more Christmas presents,” O’Donnell said. “I found out right after my last exam, so it was good to be able to use extra money for that.”
Instead of blowing the money on himself, O’Donnell bought his parents a new TV, a move he hopes solidifies his place as the favorite child, since he has two brothers.
O’Donnell said his biggest savings came from the Plazas package he needed for a Spanish class. The book, audio CDs and online registration would have cost him $162.50 if he hadn’t won the contest.
“The Spanish book was new,” O’Donnell said. “It was a big change to the third edition, so that one was the most expensive.”
Hahn said her parents had always helped her out financially with books and tuition and that they were paying for her wedding later this year as well, so keeping them from having to dig deep into their pockets for her final semester was a help. But Hahn’s savings could be even more beneficial than scoring brownie points with her parents.
“I’m getting married this summer, so any money I can save is definitely going into the wedding budget,” she said, adding she may use the money to hire a photographer for the event.
