I feel rather bad about spending so much, but I just ordered my first two textbooks to the tune of $260.00. DF and I are used to spending sizeable amounts on books - but only because the ones we normally spend this much money on are guarunteed to INCREASE in value... not be outdated in a year and un-usable to anyone except as a reference. Sheesh!
My reasons for purchasing the books new:
- Even though the first units I do will no doubt be the easiest ones, I am still a bit iffy about buying accounting and financial law books that are older editions than the ones required for the course. Laws change so quickly.
- DF thought I was crazy for buying them secondhand.('Someone else has probably written all over them and highlighted the text, and you'll get confused because you haven't made the marks but they're there' 
he knows me well, my DF).
- The first two books I get come with programs on discs, which can only be used by the first purchaser, otherwise I have to purchase another license to use the disc again - which brings the total up the roughly the same amount it would be to buy the new books with cd - but instead, I would have an old book with scribble in it, and possibly a scratched disc, and the hassle of finding out how to buy another license for the disc. Yay! Hassle I really don't want.
So, next semester I will again look at secondhand books, but will go new for my first ones. I am nervous enough about starting university without having to stress myself out about buying books for the first time.
Over the next few weeks I am going to get myself organised. I need to make up a list of the units I am doing, and which year/semester I am doing it in. It is SO WEIRD to be looking at these and realising that in 2016 I will be doing, for example, Unit LAW3130: Revenue Law & Practice. It seems so far away. *sigh*
Also I am planning on doing up a list of ALL the textbooks I will need for next year, just so I can keep an eye out for them.
textbooks
October 23rd, 2010 at 07:03 am
October 23rd, 2010 at 01:58 pm 1287842312
Good for you for attending classes and working. I found it too overwhelming.
October 23rd, 2010 at 10:36 pm 1287873361
October 24th, 2010 at 03:57 am 1287892641
October 24th, 2010 at 05:33 am 1287898416
October 27th, 2010 at 03:50 pm 1288194609
Good luck!