With Recession and all...*

Most, if not all of us, have felt the effects of recession. You're one of the lucky persons, if you haven't. My mother-in-law and I were discussing Education last night. We were having a talk about my daughter who's about to attend toddler school this June. I told her about where I went to highschool and life about my college days.
We even talked about my brother-in-law who is now a junior in college. My hubby has 10 siblings. A few of them, in college already. My mother-in-law is looking for ways to buy cheap college textbooks. With different courses, it is most difficult for her to find resources and buying brandnew is not really an economical or a practical option. Some of the methods she uses is to search second-hand bookstores, borrow from friends or other relatives who took the same course or even from friends of friends.
I've been beginning to imagine my kids as they go thru elementary, highschool and college. I guess when it comes to books, since they only have one schoolyear as difference, what the 'ate' or my eldest daughter is going to use, will be inherited by her little brother.  I am dreaming that my two kids will share their books, so in that little way, I might be able to save some money and be able to use the money I was able to save for more important stuff like medicine, vitamins and food for my kids. What do you think? What do you do to save money? What are your plans?