Saving, Earning, Re-using, & Giving With Campusbookrentals.com

When my husband and I were in graduate school getting our teaching certificates, we were on a budget and searched for the most cost effective way to get the textbooks that were required for our classes. We researched and compared every book we needed across a handful of websites. Then, we came across CampusBookRentals.com and compared their rental prices with other popular textbook retailers & renters. The vast majority of the time, it was much cheaper to rent through CampusBookRentals.com than it was to purchase the book compared to what it may be sold for later (those darn revisions...grr).

Image created by April Duda w/permission

  I was in a cohort taking 8-16 week classes and was able to adjust how long I needed the book, which made it even cheaper since I didn't need it an entire semester. While they offer paid shipping options, say if you need your book tomorrow, they offer FREE standard shipping, both ways. They send you a postage-paid and addressed envelope so you can conveniently return your book at no extra cost to you. Since we have used them, they have made some fantastic developments!

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For one, they make a donation to Operation Smile for every book rented. So not only are you saving money and helping out the planet by reusing books, you are helping out children in need of life-saving surgery. Operation Smile is "a mobilized force of medical professionals and caring hearts who provide safe, effective reconstructive surgery and related medical care for children born with facial deformities such as cleft lip and cleft palate." To find out more about this amazing organization, please click the links above, or go to www.operationsmile.org.

Another development CampusBookRentals.com has made is a program called RentBack. Rather than selling your books back at the end of your class, and getting depressed when you take that big hit, you can use RentBack.com to rent your books out to other students. You stand a chance to make 2-4 times more dough than you would by selling it! You can check out their site and see if your book is a hot renter or not to help you decide if you'd be better off renting or selling...or propping up that crooked table. Unfortunately, my Art History books from 2006 are not considered hot renters. Shucks. To find out what Rentback.com is all about, check out their video here, or take a gander at the infographic below (Click to enlarge):

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You may be asking why I'd choose to blog about a textbook rental service. There are a few reasons actually. One, I've used their service and had a great experience with it. When I began this blog, my goal was to help make my readers' lives more simple by sharing what has helped me, and CampusBookRentals.com helped my family save money when we were living in a 220sq ft apartment and racking up student loan debt. Another goal of mine, is to share tips for green living and its importance with my readers, and I feel that this service promotes that lifestyle by reusing textbooks. I also believe in being kind to one another and supporting organizations and initiatives that make a positive impact on the world, like Operation Smile. I would have rented my books from them anyway based on cost alone, but to know that they turn around and make a donation for every rental is the icing on the cake. 

To sum up all of the awesome things CampusBookRentals.com has to offer:

• Save 40-90% off of bookstore prices

• Free shipping both ways

• Can highlight in the textbooks

• Flexible renting periods

• Donation to Operation Smile with each textbook rented

• If you change your mind and/or drop your class, you have 21 days to return your rental for a full refund

• If you decide to keep your book, you just pay them the difference and it's yours
• Fantastic customer service (in my experience!)
• 15 Day grace period for returns
• Their envelops are bright colored, so they're not as easy to lose!
• Sale! Use code FallSale70 for $8 off any order over $70 (limited time)
• Went and bought that expensive Art History text? Check out RentBack.com

I was compensated by Campusbookrentals.com for this post. Please view my disclaimer for more information on how this does not effect my personal opinion.

 

Heather's Story - Mesothelioma Awareness Day

Today, September 26th, is Mesothelioma Awareness Day. We all see the commercials from law firms telling us, "If you developed Mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos, you may be entitled to a settlement." But do we really think about it beyond that? Does a commercial like that ever make you stop and think about those victims? Does it make you think about your own home and work environment? I kind of doubt it...we see commercials like that for just about everything these days. But when I was contacted by Heather Von St. James asking me to help her promote her story for Mesothelioma Awareness Day, it was something I couldn't get out of my mind.

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 We have an older home, and we know the walls don't contain asbestos, nor does the insulation. The floors that had asbestos tile have since been covered, either by ceramic tile or a barrier and hardwood floors. (See? This stuff is everywhere!) But, there is one small attic space we don't access that is questionable. And especially with our new little E in the house, Heather and her story reminded me to have that checked out, and hopefully this will remind you, too! Unforunately, it isn't only found in old homes...Asbestos is still not banned in the US. Roughly 30 million pounds are still used each year! Uhg.

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Heather is a Mesothelioma SURVIVOR who is working to spread awareness, as well as share her hope and optimism to inspire those who have been diagnosed. She is a mother who fought hard to make sure her daughter, Lily, didn't have to grow up without her. She was diagnosed just 3 months after her little girl was born and given 15 months to live. That's 7,200 hours. Now, Heather has set a goal for her story to get 7,200 social shares. Please take a moment to donate your status for Heather and Mesothelioma Awareness Day!

For more information and to read Heather's story, please visit Mesothelioma.com/Heather and don't forget to share!

You can view and share her video:

Send a Tweet by clicking HERE -and/or- Share in your Facebook status HERE

You can also follow Heather on:
Facebook - Twitter - Google+ 

Thank you, Heather, for sharing your inspiring story with all of us <3 


Are you blogging about Mesothelioma Awareness Day? Please add your link below so we can all share & spread awareness!
 

Sweet & Spicy Bacon-Wrapped Jalepenos

My husband teaches at a school that actually has quite a few male teachers. Every now and then, they have a "guy fire" in our back yard to relax at the end of the week, and I take it as a time to use them as my taste testers. Typically, the munchies I make include jalapeños because the hubz loves anything spicy (and rarely does he actually think things are hot...he's a little crazy in the taste buds). I'd seen pictures of bacon wrapped jalapeños floating around Pinterest and decided to throw my own version together. I'm a fan of contrast. In art, fashion, and food. I like hot food with a cold sauce, sweet with savoury, and while I'm a wuss with heat, LOVE sweet & spicy. It's a party in your mouth. And what meat-eater doesn't love bacon?

I always suggest using homegrown or as natural/organic as possible ingredients. So if you can, start with organic jalapeños. Cut in half lengthwise and gut the suckers. I highly recommend wearing gloves, especially if you have a baby that may need you at any given moment. Or if you have a hang nail. Ouch.

Mix 1/4C of cheddar cheese with 8oz of cream cheese (softened). I threw in some celery seed here, but if you don't have onion/garlic issues like we do, feel free to add some garlic powder here.

Then, using a spoon, stuff the jalapeño slices. You don't want it spilling over, but feel free to stuff them to the top!

Then, wrap with nitrate/nitrite free bacon. You may cut the bacon in half, or use whole pieces. Half a slice of bacon fits nicely around one average sized jalapeño, but more bacon never hurt.

Here comes the sweet! Top with your BBQ sauce of choice (I prefer honey) and sprinkle with brown sugar.

 I cooked them in our toaster oven (we don't have A/C and I like to avoid unnecessarily heating up the kitchen). Next time, I will use a broiler pan so the bacon grease drains and the bacon gets all around crispy! In the toaster oven, at 350, these took about 20 minutes to cook. In a regular oven I'm sure it will take more like 30 minutes. Just keep an eye on it and cook until the bacon is to your liking.

One fire attendee said, "Duda if you weren't already married, I'd say these are marriage material." I'll take it!

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Ingredients:

• 10 Organic jalapeños (makes 20)
• 1 package Nitrite/Nitrate free bacon (10-20 in a package, make sure to get enough or you can cut some in half)
• 8oz Cream cheese
• 1/4C Cheddar cheese (shredded)
• 1T Celery seed OR garlic powder
• Honey BBQ Sauce
• Brown Sugar

Instructions:

1. Cut jalapeños in half, lengthwise and remove pith and seeds (or keep some seeds if you like it hot)
2. Mix softened cream cheese with cheddar and celery seed/garlic powder
3. Stuff peppers
4. Wrap with bacon (cut in half or full length, up to you!)
5. Top with BBQ sauce & baste
6. Sprinkle with brown sugar (don't be shy!)
7. Bake for 15-25 minutes, depending your oven and bacon crispiness preference.