Can't afford textbooks and materials

baktrax
Wed, 15 Jan 2014 14:49:56 +0000

Ranting and venting is fine, but there are always possibilities. Life is hard, yes, and it’s unfair, but you can’t always assume that everyone else has it so much easier than you do. Other people work hard to save money on textbooks and on school, and there are many people who’s make too much for financial aid but are still unable and unwilling to help their kids with school. Keep figuring out ways to minimize costs, including ways to bring down rent or other costs, and while it might not help you right now, it’ll help you in the future to have some savings to pull from when you’re strapped for cash.

First, there’s the immediate problem of getting the books. Does your library rent out textbooks? Some schools rent out copies of textbooks for a couple hours of a time, and that might be a fantastic option for you. Could you use older copies of the textbooks? University libraries often have older copies of textbooks that you can borrow. Other students may have already checked them out by now, but it doesn’t hurt to check. Older editions also sell for much cheaper, if you want to buy them, but it sounds like every dollar counts so try to borrow them if you can. Also, check if your library lets you borrow books from other associated libraries and check them for copies as well (sometimes public libraries will allow you to do this from university libraries as well).

I’m assuming you need these books immediately because there’s homework from the textbook that’s due. Is there someone in your class who would let you borrow the textbook? You could make photocopies of the pages you need so that you only need to borrow it for a couple of minutes. If you don’t have friends in your classes, make some ASAP. Have any of your friends taken this class before? They may be able to let you borrow their copy of the textbook. Also, check to see if there’s a facebook group for buying and selling books at your school. Someone may be willing to sell it for cheaper than you can get it on Amazon or through another seller, or perhaps, you could arrange to rent it from them for a cheaper price. Do you have a professor (or TA) that would be willing to lend you the copy of their textbook (they probably have a copy) so that you make photocopies of the pages you need? If you don’t have a copier or can’t pay to copy the pages, see if you can scan them at your library. If you explain your situation, they may be able to let you make copies of the pages you need for the first week or two until you can get your hands on the books. If you’re professors are unwilling to help, then maybe one of the TAs (who typically have access to the textbooks) will be willing to help you.

Scientific calculators are fairly inexpensive. Find the cheapest one you can, and get it. You don’t have to get it new–see if you can buy a used one or if you can find a sale. It’ll last you at least until you graduate. If you still can’t afford it, see if a friend or roommate will let you borrow theirs (especially if you only need it during exams). I lent my scientific calculator to my roommate all the time, and it was no big deal. See if your library checks out scientific calculators to students.

The online access code will be harder to get, but see if your parents or a good friend would be willing to lend you the money for it and let you pay them back later. I’ve lent money to a friend so they could make rent. It’s a tough spot to be in, but if you have a good friend who has the money, they may be willing to help you out. Just make sure you pay them back. Your parents also may be able to spot you some money now, if you can pay them back later, even if they can’t afford to pay your tuition.

Is there anything you can sell to help come up with some quick cash? Maybe old textbooks, games, etc. Anything you have that you don’t need. It sucks, but if you need the money, you need the money.

Then, for future costs, consider ways to bring down other costs so that you can afford to buy books (I’m assuming you know all the tricks for bringing textbook costs down). Do you live off campus? Could you get another roommate or two to bring the cost of rent down? Could you cook and eat at home more often to bring the cost of food down? How necessary is your car? Car’s are extremely expensive, and if there’s any possibility of you getting around via public transportation/bumming rides/bike, then sell the car.

Drop the unpaid internship, ASAP, and getting a paying job. It may be great experience, but if you need the money, then you need the money. Or get more hours at your current job, or ask your unpaid internship if they would be willing to start paying you. Someone said earlier that you want to be a teacher. Could you get some extra money tutoring? Does your school hire undergraduate TA’s? Could you babysit? Those may be ways to get some extra money, and they tend to pay more per hour than other jobs. They’re things that are often relatively easy to work around a school schedule, and every little bit adds up. Could you be an RA and get your housing covered? Are there any scholarships you could get?