It may seem a large initial outlay but try to invest in a PPL starter kit. You get the six books you will need (yes, you will need nav) a PPL confuser, kneeboard, ruler, square protractor, whizz wheel, VFR pads, VFR flight guide, pens, 1:500 000 chart and a bag to keep it all in. At the moment they are about £220, sometimes they turn up on e-bay for about a hundred but check that the books are the latest editions. Asking around your school may turn up a kit a recently qualified PPL wants to dispose of especially if he is going the commercial route. It will probably save you money in the long run if you get it up front.
Apart from that lot, other things like a fuel tester and check lists can be bought later when you are into the training.
