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I can't afford the book, but I don't want them to know that

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kingsrings:
Here's the situation: I go to a weekly Bible study for a while now. We've just started a new book. I decided this time to not buy the book and just sit in on the class. It was for two reasons, one being that I haven't been able to keep up with the class in the past and ended up just wasting money as I never read the book. But more importantly, I simply can't afford the book right now. It's not much money, but I'm at the point where I have to cut back on even what seems like minor expenses to most because I'm so broke. I DO NOT want people to know about the second reason. It's really embarrassing and shameful to me to be so broke right now, and I don't want anyone to know. If I told the group, then they would buy the book for me, making me feel like a total charity case, 'poor little kingrings', which would really be humiliating. I have my pride! They all make a lot more money than I do, and it's embarrassing to be the poorest member of the group. Last week I was questioned as to why I didn't have the book and was told it was instrumental to the study going on in the class. I just told them about the first reason and was met with protestations that it was very easy to do and wouldn't take a lot of time, blah, blah, blah. Now I'm afraid the teacher will find out I don't have the book and really give me a hard time about it. Let me point out that they are not doing any of this in a mean way to me at all, they simply care about me and want me to get the best out of this study. I am getting a lot out of this study just by sitting in, but I'm afraid that they're not going to let up about this. I have a lot of bills to pay right now and just plain can't afford to be buying this book, no way, no how.

Anyone have any advice I could use to get them to be quiet about this without letting the cat out of the bag? Anyone else in my situation, being broke and surrounded by rich friends making more money?

DottyG:
Just out of curiosity, have you tried finding the book 2nd hand?  You can actually find a lot of books for mere pennies, if you look for them.  Do you have a "Half Price Bookstore" near you?  Start there.  Look on EBay.  Check the Barnes and Noble Used Book section.  You may be able to find it for a dollar or so.

kingsrings:
It's a workbook that you write in, so there would be no point in buying it used because then it would already be written in. Plus a lot of people in my class are having trouble just finding the book new and it's had to be back-ordered and stuff.

guihong:
Do you know anyone in the class that you trust with your situation?  If so, can you discreetly ask that person if you can  run off copies of the chapters that you will be studying so you can fill them out?  I did this in some studies where I wanted to take it, but didn't want to be overrun with books.

gui

DottyG:
But, have you checked?  You won't know if 1) you can find it or 2) you can find a clean copy unless you check.  It's worth a shot.  If you can't, fine.  But, it's still worth trying.  If having this book is helpful to learning the subject, it's worth trying to find it somehow.  It doesn't have to be expensive.  Seriously, I've found books (even hard-to-find ones) for a dollar or less before.  But, I had to try and not just give up before I started looking. ;)

As for what to say to the people in the class, I don't know.  They're not trying to be rude to you.  They care for you and want you to get the most out of the topic.  So, you don't want to be rude to them in your response.

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