If you do go for a pack, I don't think you can go wrong with a CRP-1 and Trevor Thom. A lot of schools have these and most instructors are familiar with the contents.
However, if you do buy stuff piecemeal, all of the mailorder businesses are v. quick with delivery (Pooleys, Transair, AFE, Flight Equipment etc etc). Check the saving made, it may not be worthwhile to buy everything in one go and use up "capital" but, then again, costs of postage may be such that by buying bit by bit you'd pay more but spread over a length of time.
Personally, I did it piecemeal since I could only study one subject at a time and, as I spoke to other pilots and students, they had different and valuable opinions on some other books that were not Thom or Pratt.
'sup to you but I like shopping even if it is from a catalogue
Cheers
Whirlygig