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Tip Store: Education: Textbooks
Keep Track of Text Books
Even pre-owned text books are expensive and it can be costly if any need replacing during the school year. Here is a way to minimise thefts or mix ups.
Simply label the front of the book BEFORE covering with contact to clearly identify the owner.
If you intend to sell the book later, then a more discreet label or a name written on page 3 or the bottom corner of the inside back cover can be used so as not to affect the appearance of the book but still affix a bright label to the contact on the front cover which can be peeled off later .Either way your child can be identified as the rightful owner if the book is found. It is surprising at our school's secondhand book store just how many books are not named.
Contributed by Caroline C., 1st January 2018
Simply label the front of the book BEFORE covering with contact to clearly identify the owner.
If you intend to sell the book later, then a more discreet label or a name written on page 3 or the bottom corner of the inside back cover can be used so as not to affect the appearance of the book but still affix a bright label to the contact on the front cover which can be peeled off later .Either way your child can be identified as the rightful owner if the book is found. It is surprising at our school's secondhand book store just how many books are not named.
Contributed by Caroline C., 1st January 2018
Don't Blindly Pay for School Stationary
Approximate $ Savings: $80 per child
Each year I dutifully paid my $80 stationary fee for school thinking that my children were getting the right stationary they needed for the year and it saved me shopping around at back to school time. After a moving last year in term 1 however, I asked for my children's stationary for their new school that I had just paid for. They came home with bags of glue sticks, books, usbs etc. I sent them to the new school with the basics and kept the rest in a box ready to hand out when needed. It's been sitting there since as the kids never asked for anything extra. This year I asked for the stationary list as I thought it's a waste all that stuff in a box not being used. Plus we have tonnes of pencil cases and stationary bought home left over from previous years or given as gifts. When I saw the stationary list I was shocked. It included white board markers (for the teachers), boxes of tissues, reams of photocopy paper. Times that by 500 children and you soon discover that you are supplementing the school supplies budget! With a few little buys of a 20c book here and there my $160 for two stationary packs was reduced to $5 by using what we already had. With 4 children off to school in the next couple of years I will always read the stationary list now.
- Contributed by Rebecca Taylor, 18th January 2015
Each year I dutifully paid my $80 stationary fee for school thinking that my children were getting the right stationary they needed for the year and it saved me shopping around at back to school time. After a moving last year in term 1 however, I asked for my children's stationary for their new school that I had just paid for. They came home with bags of glue sticks, books, usbs etc. I sent them to the new school with the basics and kept the rest in a box ready to hand out when needed. It's been sitting there since as the kids never asked for anything extra. This year I asked for the stationary list as I thought it's a waste all that stuff in a box not being used. Plus we have tonnes of pencil cases and stationary bought home left over from previous years or given as gifts. When I saw the stationary list I was shocked. It included white board markers (for the teachers), boxes of tissues, reams of photocopy paper. Times that by 500 children and you soon discover that you are supplementing the school supplies budget! With a few little buys of a 20c book here and there my $160 for two stationary packs was reduced to $5 by using what we already had. With 4 children off to school in the next couple of years I will always read the stationary list now.
- Contributed by Rebecca Taylor, 18th January 2015
Book Covers Your Kids Will Love
Approximate $ Savings: $7 per 5 A4 books
This year due to there being hardly any nice girly contact in our shops & loads of that horrid metallic contact that bubbles & creases no matter how skilled you are, & the cost (about $3.50 - $4.80)I decided to look for another alternative. I purchased pretty wrapping paper for under $2 a roll & a roll of clear contact, also under $2 a roll. The rolls were much bigger in length then the normal rolls of contact so more books could be done for less, using a patterns my daughter loves and no struggling with horrid bubbly contact as the clear goes on super smooth. It even ends up quicker I found to be covering the books in paper then clear contact, compared to using the horrid metallic contact.
- Contributed by Michelle, Capalaba, 12th January 2010
This year due to there being hardly any nice girly contact in our shops & loads of that horrid metallic contact that bubbles & creases no matter how skilled you are, & the cost (about $3.50 - $4.80)I decided to look for another alternative. I purchased pretty wrapping paper for under $2 a roll & a roll of clear contact, also under $2 a roll. The rolls were much bigger in length then the normal rolls of contact so more books could be done for less, using a patterns my daughter loves and no struggling with horrid bubbly contact as the clear goes on super smooth. It even ends up quicker I found to be covering the books in paper then clear contact, compared to using the horrid metallic contact.
- Contributed by Michelle, Capalaba, 12th January 2010
Get Your Uni Books Free!
Approximate $ Savings: at least $500+ every 6 months
Being a third year undergraduate student I found that by familiarising myself with both my university library and Libraries Australia, there was no need to buy any textbooks every semester (6 months). The first tip: to contact future lecturers two months before the start of semester to see what books are needed for your specific subject. Second tip: If your university library does not stock the book, then you can request to order it in (it usually takes 4-6 weeks to get the new book in). Third tip: OR You can request to have the specific chapters/readings to be used downloaded into the library system (no need to buy the whole book!) The university librarian is more than happy to do this when the lecturer allows it. The first two tips above will give you a borrowing period time of two weeks with an option to renew twice for another two weeks each time, (in total up to 6 weeks borrowing time). The approach I most usually use is to request through Libraries Australia. Fourth tip: Locate the books needed at Libraries Australia website, it will show you all the libraries that will have the current book(s), then contact the library that has the book and request an "interlibrary loan". There is usually an interlibrary librarian at most libraries, by you requesting the book yourself (only takes a phone call, you just need to provide your local library card details and state the library you would like it delivered to) you will save $2.50 per book request. The great thing about the interlibrary loans is that the borrowing period is for 6 weeks and you can also renew the book twice unless there is a request (that means if there is no requests you can borrow the book for a period of up to 18 weeks!! This is great because each university semester has only 14 weeks!!!). As a result, instead of paying at least $500 every semester for books you can redirect that money into paying your HECS debt, AND by paying early you receive a 20% discount!! More money to spend on yourself once you are out into the workforce.
- Contributed by Ketty, Liverpool, 2nd September 2009
Being a third year undergraduate student I found that by familiarising myself with both my university library and Libraries Australia, there was no need to buy any textbooks every semester (6 months). The first tip: to contact future lecturers two months before the start of semester to see what books are needed for your specific subject. Second tip: If your university library does not stock the book, then you can request to order it in (it usually takes 4-6 weeks to get the new book in). Third tip: OR You can request to have the specific chapters/readings to be used downloaded into the library system (no need to buy the whole book!) The university librarian is more than happy to do this when the lecturer allows it. The first two tips above will give you a borrowing period time of two weeks with an option to renew twice for another two weeks each time, (in total up to 6 weeks borrowing time). The approach I most usually use is to request through Libraries Australia. Fourth tip: Locate the books needed at Libraries Australia website, it will show you all the libraries that will have the current book(s), then contact the library that has the book and request an "interlibrary loan". There is usually an interlibrary librarian at most libraries, by you requesting the book yourself (only takes a phone call, you just need to provide your local library card details and state the library you would like it delivered to) you will save $2.50 per book request. The great thing about the interlibrary loans is that the borrowing period is for 6 weeks and you can also renew the book twice unless there is a request (that means if there is no requests you can borrow the book for a period of up to 18 weeks!! This is great because each university semester has only 14 weeks!!!). As a result, instead of paying at least $500 every semester for books you can redirect that money into paying your HECS debt, AND by paying early you receive a 20% discount!! More money to spend on yourself once you are out into the workforce.
- Contributed by Ketty, Liverpool, 2nd September 2009
Save on Back to School Shopping
Approximate $ Savings: $525
Shopping for the kids books and stationary can be very expensive. I used to just send back the booklist from the school and pick it up at the beginning of the year, I also tried shopping at the major department stores but found they did not carry a lot of the products and it was very time consuming and stressful going from shop to shop. However this year, with my son starting high school, I decided to shop around for textbooks. 1. Most schools will have a secondhand book sale at the end of each year. Most books are in good condition and bargain prices. 2. The books I couldn't source from the sale I purchased from Ebay for at leat 50% off the retail price. 3. The book lists required multiple sets of everything to last the whole year. I would send my kids with all supplies and they would still get lost and I would need to replace them. Instead now I only buy what they actually need to start with and replace as needed. 3. This year I used Officeworks online. They were much cheaper than the bookshop used by the school and will beat the price by 5% if you find it cheaper. I ordered on line on a Saturday and received the goods on Monday. Postage was free and only a $4.95 handling fee. In the end I only had to buy a couple of textbooks at full price. The original cost of both book lists was $860 and I only spent $362. The money left over can be used for a special outing during the holidays. - Contributed by Chelsea, Forrestfield, 5th January 2009
Shopping for the kids books and stationary can be very expensive. I used to just send back the booklist from the school and pick it up at the beginning of the year, I also tried shopping at the major department stores but found they did not carry a lot of the products and it was very time consuming and stressful going from shop to shop. However this year, with my son starting high school, I decided to shop around for textbooks. 1. Most schools will have a secondhand book sale at the end of each year. Most books are in good condition and bargain prices. 2. The books I couldn't source from the sale I purchased from Ebay for at leat 50% off the retail price. 3. The book lists required multiple sets of everything to last the whole year. I would send my kids with all supplies and they would still get lost and I would need to replace them. Instead now I only buy what they actually need to start with and replace as needed. 3. This year I used Officeworks online. They were much cheaper than the bookshop used by the school and will beat the price by 5% if you find it cheaper. I ordered on line on a Saturday and received the goods on Monday. Postage was free and only a $4.95 handling fee. In the end I only had to buy a couple of textbooks at full price. The original cost of both book lists was $860 and I only spent $362. The money left over can be used for a special outing during the holidays. - Contributed by Chelsea, Forrestfield, 5th January 2009
Secondhand Textbooks in Quokka WA
Approximate $ Savings: $180 +
January is always expensive getting my 3 kids ready for school. This year I discovered that I can buy second hand text books in the Quokka (WA equivalent to the Trading Post). My girls' text books are usually about $50-$60 EACH!! I have so far purchased six text books for $25 each, from just one edition of this paper. An investment of $2.50, and I made a saving of $180. Even better when I realised I was paying for most of it with my household money....so a double saving, not having to dip into the "school" fund. And I collected them all in one afternoon I was out and about, all in all about 2-3 hours - not a bad pay rate really!!!
- Contributed by Jenny, Port Kennedy, 11th January 2009
January is always expensive getting my 3 kids ready for school. This year I discovered that I can buy second hand text books in the Quokka (WA equivalent to the Trading Post). My girls' text books are usually about $50-$60 EACH!! I have so far purchased six text books for $25 each, from just one edition of this paper. An investment of $2.50, and I made a saving of $180. Even better when I realised I was paying for most of it with my household money....so a double saving, not having to dip into the "school" fund. And I collected them all in one afternoon I was out and about, all in all about 2-3 hours - not a bad pay rate really!!!
- Contributed by Jenny, Port Kennedy, 11th January 2009
School Project Resource
I have discovered a site that can help with children's assignments. It is www.kidcyber.com.au. It has information on any topic you could think of (all for free) including information on how to do Bibliographies. It is set up for children in easy to read language and has many other great sections. Well worth a look.
- Contributed by Emma, Guyra, 23rd November 2008
- Contributed by Emma, Guyra, 23rd November 2008
Student Association Dues Include Book Shop Discount
Approximate $ Savings: $100+
Save money when buying student books. To become a member of the TAFE Student Association costs just $10 and will save you $100+. The books at their book shop have two prices, one for members and the other for non-members. For each book I bought I saved $5-25, so it pays for itself. Some courses require yearly a dozen books per semester, so it is a big saving. Each year when you join/renew your membership they give you a free environmentally friendly tote bag, a good quality diary (that would cost more than $10 on its own from a newsagents) and a small calculator. Contributed by Katherine, North Nowra, 12th March 2008
Save money when buying student books. To become a member of the TAFE Student Association costs just $10 and will save you $100+. The books at their book shop have two prices, one for members and the other for non-members. For each book I bought I saved $5-25, so it pays for itself. Some courses require yearly a dozen books per semester, so it is a big saving. Each year when you join/renew your membership they give you a free environmentally friendly tote bag, a good quality diary (that would cost more than $10 on its own from a newsagents) and a small calculator. Contributed by Katherine, North Nowra, 12th March 2008
Stationery Stock-up Saves $200
My mum works at Officeworks and I noticed that couple of times last year(after big events such as the "back to school" sale when they may have over ordered)the cost of notebooks, paper and other stationary items is reduced to practically give-away prices. For example 100 page paper fillers for folders which normally can cost up to $5.00 were reduced to 1c each! Notebooks which were normally 40c - 80c were 1c for a bag of ten! USB storage devices were $5.00 instead of $35.00. Folders and clipboards are also reduced to 10c instead of being $3 - $4. Through thinking ahead and buying these items in advance my mother has managed to buy enough notebooks, pens, folders and other stationary items to last my sister for her remaining 3 years of school. All for around $1.50.
- Contributed by Sandra, Cooroy, 25th January 2008
- Contributed by Sandra, Cooroy, 25th January 2008
Purchase Tatty Second hand Schoolbooks and Restore
Approximate $ Savings: upwards of $20 (I've saved $60 on one book alone)
When buying school books, check on eBay and look for the cheapest book listed. It may just be that the cover is damaged or has come away from the spine. Most people would not bid on it, but I do. I found a book for $0.99 on eBay (instead of $70 brand new). For the sake of $8 to get the book's spine guillotined off and the book bound at Officeworks, I've ended up with a good as new book. Saving in this one instance was $60 and collecting from the seller saved me even more money as they were a local seller and I didn't have to pay for delivery (around $10). You could even apply this idea to books found at a second hand book store or at the school book sales.
- Contributed by Leanne, Cranbourne, 7th January 2008
When buying school books, check on eBay and look for the cheapest book listed. It may just be that the cover is damaged or has come away from the spine. Most people would not bid on it, but I do. I found a book for $0.99 on eBay (instead of $70 brand new). For the sake of $8 to get the book's spine guillotined off and the book bound at Officeworks, I've ended up with a good as new book. Saving in this one instance was $60 and collecting from the seller saved me even more money as they were a local seller and I didn't have to pay for delivery (around $10). You could even apply this idea to books found at a second hand book store or at the school book sales.
- Contributed by Leanne, Cranbourne, 7th January 2008
School Start Bonus
For Victorian Cheapskates, if you have a child entering Prep or Year 7 in 2008 you should be receiving a letter from your school with a voucher entitling you to collect $300 to help offset the cost. The vouchers are part of an initiative by the Victorian Government and you can collect the paymen from any Australia Post branch after 14th January. You just need to present photo id and sign for them when you collect them. They are for all parents or guardians of children starting Prep or Year 7 to help with the cost of school uniforms, books, shoes etc. If you haven't received one by the 14th January, chase it up with your school office. Every little bit helps and $300 is a big help. Here is the information off the
website: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/aboutschool/lifeatschool/schoolstartfaq.htm
- Contributed by Anne, Scoresby, 18th December 2007
website: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/aboutschool/lifeatschool/schoolstartfaq.htm
- Contributed by Anne, Scoresby, 18th December 2007
Back to School Savings
I always stock up on clear book covering after school has gone back. I usually get it for around 40 cents for a 5-metre roll. I buy a few rolls to stock up for the next year. Then at the beginning of the school year I cover all the textbooks and they stay in great condition (even if 2nd hand as well as looking as new again) and I allow kids to sell them at the end of the year and they can keep the money. It an incentive for them to take care of the books and not lose them as well!
- Contributed by Beverley, Geelong, 5th January, 2007
- Contributed by Beverley, Geelong, 5th January, 2007
School Book Saving
You can save money by going into a general second hand store and trying to pick up school curriculum books. I did this just last week and saved over $52.70. I purchased a second hand book not in a second hand bookstore, but a junk store for $4.25. New it was $21.99, and another one for $15, which was $50.00 new. I thought it was a bargain not only that I saved $52.70.
Contributed by Mary, Keilor, December 5th 2006
Online Book Exchange Saves on Textbooks
Being a uni student I am finding text books to be very expensive. I recently found out about the website textbookexchange.com.au Using this site I was able to buy all my books for this semester at about half the retail price. I was also able to sell my books from last semester. The money I made from selling my old books has paid for this semesters book. Without this website I would have had to pay over $300 for my textbooks but by using the money I made from selling my old books I am not out of pocket at all. At the end of this semester I should be able to sell my books again. Not only has this saved me a lot of money but also it has reduced clutter at home.
- Contributed by Michelle, Waverley, March 17th 2005
- Contributed by Michelle, Waverley, March 17th 2005
Free Textbooks for Uni Students
I am a university student and as I am studying nursing I find the textbooks to be horribly expensive between $50.00 - 180.00 each. I could not afford that on Austudy so I find out early what books I need and borrow them from the library, I have a scanner and I scan the book onto my computer. This can take some time but many students have holidays and can make the time if they want to save the money.
- Contributed by Tamara, June 27th 2006
- Contributed by Tamara, June 27th 2006