Uni books

[polony]

I applied for a bookshop grant last week to help me buy some of my school books. Unfortunately I didn't get one, even though I pleaded my case as a single mother with hardly any money. Still didn't get it. Oh well.

Anyway, does anyone know of anyway I can maybe get some financial assistance to purchase texts? At least one of my books is $100 and there are no copies in the second-hand shop! HELP!

I will not be able to buy these books otherwise and will have to hope that they are available in the library and not out. Makes life harder.

[SweetDreams]

What are you studying and where have you tried looking? Usually I find the uni noticeboards are the best place to go especially 1st/2nd week of uni.

Here's a site that may help:

http://www.textbookexchange.com.au/home.php

[Beany]

I'm not sure if they have them in Western Australia but the Co-op Bookshop offers a membership deal. You pay something like $20 to join and then you get at least 15% off all purchases you make - forever. My membership paid for itself (and then some) in the first transaction.

Another idea would be to put notices up around the campus requesting a second hand copy of the book you are after in the hopes that some former student of that unit might have a decent copy.

Finally, try looking the book up on Amazon.com. They deliver pretty promptly, the delivery costs are very reasonable and the prices can often be lower than the prices quoted to you by local bookstores.

Best of luck :)

[oceanblue]

Get in to the library early and get them out. Thats what i did for a few years. There was no way i could afford $400 - $600 every 6 months on books plus parking, student fees, photocopying and printing and the occasional lunch for when i was at uni all day.

Or wait 2 -3 weeks in to make sure you really need the book - most of the time you dont use them anyway. My first semester at uni i brought all my books (6in total) and only used 1 so i wasted $450.

Shae
&
Matilda

[ThomasMum]

From my experience, your university should have internal emails, internal links for students to communicate with each other. I found it useful esp if you are looking for 2nd hand textbooks. Every book stores should be able to give you discount if you show them your student ID

TM

[Starlet]

I got 2 of my books from Textbookexchange(Sweet.dreams posted the link above). They have heaps of book there(I got a $100 book for $40), you can even search to see if they are in the same city as you, etc. I'm in Perth and there were heaps of copies of books I needed from people here.

I think it's a ridiculous amount to pay. I had 4 books this semester and brand new they would cost me $450. Bleh. And I only have 10 weeks left before I finish these units. So not worth it. But what can ya do? At least they'll still be in good condition and I can sell them to get next semesters books!

[fruitjuice]

I have survived by going to the library. You can put books on hold for when you need them. Chapter summaries are great for study periods when you can't get hold of the book. Photocopy relevant pages. Most of what you need is in the lecture notes anyway. The ideas already mentioned are great too.

BUT there's a problem with going to the library. I found this year that i need ALL the past years' books. So i have to go to the library for more and more books and i can't imagine doing that with a child!!! I have to fork out over $1000 this semester which is making me nervous (that's a LOT of money!!!, and i still have 4 years to go). So what i've had to start doing is to buy the books when i can afford it, not all at once. If your course doesn't continue on (ie. once you've finished a subject you don't build on that next year) then don't worry about this problem. But mine will last my whole career so i see it as (yet another) investment.

Also, commonwealth learning scholarships are great - apply for one, they give out a lot of them and it's enough cover your textbooks and stationary etc for the year.

[polony]

Thanks guys! Heaps of great ideas.

I really, really appreciate it. :hugs:

[cupcakemafia]

Do you currently receive any Centrelink benefits - ie. Family Tax Benefit or Parenting Payment Single?

If so - on Family Tax Benefit you can be eligible for a $200-or-so advance every 6 months, and if you receive Parenting Payment Single you may be eligible for an up to $500 advance every 12 months. You pay these advances off in fortnightly installments, and if you call Centrelink you can apply for them over the phone. They'll tell you if you are eligible, and if you are you can apply over the phone and you'll get the advance in your bank account within 2 working days.

Other than that, if you're getting Parenting Payment Single, you may be eligible for other education assistance like the Pensioner Education Supplement and the Education Entry Payment. If you want more details about those kind of payments, then call Centrelink and they can see if you're eligible.

If you are unsure what you're currently receiving from Centrelink, or are a bit unsure of what you COULD be receiving from Centrelink, just give them a call and you can test your eligibility for various allowances and payments over the phone.

Hope that comes in handy! :detective: