Friday, October 22, 2010

How Do I Save Money on Books?

I just got a brand new book in the mail today.  There's nothing like cracking a book for the first time.  I sometimes even run my hand across the paper or flip the pages a little with my thumb.  Just a kind of get-to-know-you moment. 

In honor of the new book, I want to give you some tips on how to save money on books.  (Make sure you go all the way to the bottom; I promise you won't want to miss the last tip!)


First of all, there is the tried and true library.  Thank God for Andrew Carnegie, right?  A building chock full of books, and even audio books, movies, magazines and newspapers.  But especially books.  And you can take them home for free!  Just be sure that you get them back on time.  If they sit in your house too long past the due date, those fees start stacking up.

If you have several friends that all like the same kind of book, try swapping with each other.  If you loved it, your friend or neighbor might, too, and chances are they have one that you want to read.

If you like the idea of book-swapping, you might want to take that a step further and try out BookMooch.  BookMooch is a website that allows you to list books that you no longer want.  You earn points by listing books and sending books to other members who are interested in those books.  Then you spend those points by requesting books that other members have listed.  This works great except for books that are particularly heavy because you do have to pay postage.  Generally though, postage is cheaper than buying a book new.

Try out used book stores.  You never know what you're going to get; some are fabulous, and some are not so great, but you may find some great buys.  Many used book stores also buy used books for either cash or store credit, but you'll want to be careful of that.  BookMooch may net you a better deal if the used book store doesn't pay much for your book.

Go yard saling.  This does take some patience and gas in the car, but you never know what you might find looking through the book collections that people no longer want.  I especially like church and other fundraising type sales because so many people are donating their items, not to mention knowing your money is going to a good cause.  Also sometimes libraries will purge their shelves and have a book sale.  Just imagine how many great books will be there!

Be particular about the books you buy.  If you don't really think you'll end up reading it, don't get it.  And if you're unsure if you're going to like it, check out the reviews.  Get a better idea of what you're in for, and if it sounds like it's up your alley, go for it.  If not, let it pass you by.

Consider the timing of your purchase.  If it's a new release, it's going to be more expensive.  Wait a while, if you can stand it.  Even better, wait till it's released as a paperback.  You've always heard patience is a virtue! :)

Get familiar with the classics.  Did you know that a lot of classics are no longer copyrighted and are available online?  You don't get a hard copy of the book to set on your shelf, but you can read it.  And if you love it and want a hard copy, then go buy it.  Project Gutenberg is a great place to look for those classics.  And there is an iPhone app called Stanza that links to Project Gutenberg and other similar sites that allow you to download the books right to your phone.  I read The Count of Monte Cristo and Alice in Wonderland that way not long ago.

Another way is to check out used bookstores online.  Barnes and Noble, Amazon and many other web sites have used books alongside of their new books.  Just make sure the shipping cost doesn't negate the benefit of buying used. 

One last way to save money on books:  win them!  I am going to be giving away the book I received in the mail to one lucky reader!  Keep watching to find out how you can win. 

Here's a hint for what the book is.  The author was born in and now lives in the state of Texas.

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