There’s nothing worse than getting that dreaded email a month before your course starts with a long list of books you have to read. You’ve already spent an arm and a leg on tuition fees, student accommodation, and a trolley full of things from the homeware section of IKEA, and now you’re being expected to fork out on learning materials too!
But you don’t have to break the bank to tick off every item on your reading list. As a final year English Lit student, who has had to read many a book during my time at university, here are my best tips and tricks to stay up-to-date and well read on a budget.
Facebook is Your Friend
Most university courses will have their own Facebook page or group chat. They are easy to join and are filled with students at your university and on your course, who will be selling cheap textbooks at the start of every year and often throughout the term. This is a great way to get the books you need- and the correct editions- for cheap, and often you won’t have to pay postage because you can meet on campus and exchange the cash for books. This is also a great way to sell your course books when you finish.
Charity Shops
Why not get thrifty to find the books you need? Chances are you’re never going to read the books again after you finish the module, so there really is no need to buy everything new. You’re likely to have luck looking for classics in charity shops, but if it’s science textbooks you need, it may be harder to find what you’re looking for.
Student Discounts
Student discounts aren’t just for clothes and laptops. You can actually get some pretty good ones on textbooks and course materials. Search engine plugins like Honey can actually secure you deals on textbooks too and are an easy hassle-free way to shave a few pounds off your total. UNiDAYS offers students 10% off Waterstones and 10% off WHSmiths. It is always worth asking at the till if the shop offers a student discount when buying books- often they do and all you need to do to have it applied to your purchase is show your student ID or UNiDAYS profile.
Online Versions
Many textbooks have an online version or PDF which you can read for free or at a reduced cost. You can also rent online versions, which may be more cost effective if you don’t plan on borrowing it for too long. Ebooks are also a good way to read books at a discounted cost and many classics are either free or very cheap on a Kindle. You can get a 30 day free trial for Kindle Unlimited with UNiDAYS.
The Library
Yes, you heard me, the library. Whether this is your local library or your university library, this is undoubtedly your best shot for getting your hands on the exact book you need for a grand total of zero pounds and zero pence. Cheap isn’t always the best you can do when it comes to university textbooks.
You’re paying upwards of £9,000 a year in tuition so you might as well take advantage of the benefits offered to you. Sometimes the library can be daunting, but you shouldn’t let this stop you. Many university libraries come with a map or a guide, and if in doubt, ask the librarians- that is what they’re there for!
See also: How to reduce your cooking costs