Inquiry about renting, texts books etc from a prospective student

I got an email from a Nigerian student who wants to know about renting and buying texts books while studying in Canada. I have posted the conversation below.

Nigerian student:

"I feel so comfortable talking to you am motivated by your use of words
and advice thank you.
God will bless you.
Sir ...
books can one get them from the library or you have to buy or can I
just bring from here, and is it possible to get a job in ur first
year, and I was reading another article it was talking about the
expensive cost of groceries and spices is that true Sir, the rented
accomodation does it comes with internet, telephone, cable tv,computer
and a washing machine and is electricity bill and other miscleanous
bills included in the rent, what the cheapest range of suchaccomodation Sir."

My reply:

"You can lend books from the library but you will have a certain duration to return it and during peak periods like exams and midterm exams you might run out of luck because other students will have it booked.

There is also the Used-Book store option. You can look up the text book you need for your class and then go to that store to get your books for cheaper than regular price. Its essentially books other students have used or simply older edition of the same text book. Use this option first before the university's main book store.

The school's main book store is where you can find all the text books you need. Make sure you check with your prof first if you need the book for the class. They are often expensive so get ready but that also depends on what you plan to take as a program.

The other cheap option will be looking up the text books online if you have a credit card. Sites like amazon.com or abebooks.com etc.

Don't bother bringing books from Nigeria because you might not know what text books you need until you register for your courses.

When it comes to jobs it is really up to you look for sth whether off campus or on campus.  No one is guaranteed a job. The only thing is I don't really recommend working in the first year especially when you are very new to the country.

I would suggest you see how you do academically first in the first year 1st before proceeding. 

Combining work and academics in your first year while trying to adjust to the weather, culture and people in your 1st year in a new environment can be frustrating. 

When it comes to groceries and spices its a personal budget issue. It depends on what you want to eat and how much you are willingly to  spend. Keep im mind that it is important to always think like a student whenever it comes to money.

Always plan and organize your self ahead.

While some rented accommodation may provide almost all you have listed some may not provide cable, telephone and a computer. If they do, you could potentially be over charged. 

In my opinion you don't need cable to succeed as a student. Your assignment and projects will keep you so busy you might not have time for tv.

Its advisable you get your own computer and cell phone. No one is going to provide that for you.

Washing machine is provided and bills will be covered in the rent.

Make sure you look up rooms on kijiji.ca website to see what a typical range is for rent. I believe I said this before. 

Rent for rooms in a house vary from city to city so choose a city on the top right corner of that website and go from there. See that nairaland thread for the discussion about kijiji.ca. I believe it was back in January.  

Just for an example for a place like Winnipeg, Manitoba,the  range of rent can start at 250 to 600 and up. It really boils down to your budget."