I am a total bookworm. Now I won’t admit what I read, but I admit I read a lot.
Everyone knows the most cost efficient way to get books is to go through your public library. Don’t get me wrong, the library is a fantastic source for reading material. Apparently everyone else has caught onto this fact as well, because I can never get a book I want without waiting on a waiting list for a million years.
I have never been one to pay full price for anything, (okay milk, eggs, stuff like that…) so of course I have some great ideas for you! Not all of them are free, but they are all cheaper than going out and buying brand new books.
1. Half Price Books- Love this store! Take half the price off the retail price shown above the barcode, and that is how much you pay (typically). They generally have a pretty good selection and they’ll pay you for your old books.
2. Half.com-eBay’s little sister site. You can buy or sell here. You can even buy your textbooks here. I’ve sold a few books on there and it was a really good experience.
3. Amazon.com- another site that you can buy or sell on. Look up any book on Amazon and they’ll tell you how much a used of that title will cost you
4. Paperback Swap- this is free (for now, looks like they might start charging a yearly fee in the future). You list 10 books that you would be willing to mail to someone else and they immediately give you 2 free book credits to request 2 books of your own right away. From that point on, you earn one credit for every book that you send someone (so don’t just put throwaway books in your list of 10, that hurts you too). I did this for a bit before I got my kindle. It was a very pleasant experience!
5. Books Free- this is a paid for site. You pay a set amount each month to have a set amount of books at a time. Kind of like Netflix or blockbuster. 2 books at a time is $10.99 a month. To be honest though, I did this and the media mail took sooo long it pretty much averaged out to me buying 2 books at half price a month and getting to actually own them. It is an option though.
6. An E-Reader- okay, this is pricey up front. In the long run, EBooks are often cheaper than dead tree books (especially new releases). And there is a LOT of free content out there. Every Tuesday Amazon releases several free titles. It might not be something you’d normally read, but since getting my e-reader, I have started reading authors and genres I never thought I had an interest in before. Any public domain titles are free as well.
So, you have more options than just the library or paying full price. There’s a lot of middle ground in there!
Find more money saving tips like this on Heather’s blog http://www.familyfriendlyfrugality.com
iPad App: iBooks
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Wrestling Ernest Hemingway [VHS] $8.79 Adventures in geezer land–make that lovable geezer land–describes this often manipulative comedy-drama that is rescued only by the personalities of its leads. Richard Harris is a feisty retired sea captain in a Florida retirement community who still wants to chase girls and squeeze the most out of life. He forces his friendship on an also-retired, shy, and routine-loving Cuban exile (Robert Duva… |
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The Hobbit $12.98 The J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy classic set in Middle-earth was adapted into this excellent 1978 animated feature first broadcast on television. Codirectors Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr., working from a script by Romeo Muller, are faithful to Tolkien’s story and for that alone they get big points. The vocal cast can’t be improved upon: Orson Bean is perfect as Bilbo Baggins, the timorous hobbit who … |
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The Big Blue (Director’s Cut) $29.95 A hit in Europe but a flop in the U.S.–where it was trimmed, rescored, and given a new ending–Luc Besson’s The Big Blue has endured as a minor cult classic for its gorgeous photography (both on land and underwater) and dreamy ambiance. Jean-Marc Barr is a sweet and sensitive but passive presence as Jacques, a diver with a unique connection to the sea. He has the astounding ability to slow hi… |
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Kindle Touch, Wi-Fi, 6 E Ink Display $139.00 Simple-to-use touchscreen, with audio and built-in Wi-Fi – Most-advanced E Ink display, now with multi-touch – New sleek design – 8% lighter, 11% smaller, holds 3,000 books – Text-to-speech, plus audio books and mp3s – Built in Wi-Fi – Get books in 60 seconds – Massive t book selection, over 800,000 titles are $9.99 or less – New – Borrow Kindle books from your public library… |
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N2A (TM) – 16GB Nook to Android bootable microSD Card for the Nook Color $49.99 Get the full potential out of your Nook Color (R). N2A’s (TM) Nook to Android bootable microSD card effortlessly transforms your ebook reader into a fully functional Android (R) tablet without voiding your warranty–and it doesn’t hurt your Nook Color (R) either. Don’t be fooled by imitators and don’t settle for anything other than the original authentic N2A (TM) Nook to Android bootable microSD c… |
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N2A (TM) – 8GB Nook to Android bootable microSD Card for the Nook Color $25.00 Get the full potential out of your Nook Color (R). N2A’s (TM) Nook to Android bootable microSD card effortlessly transforms your ebook reader into a fully functional Android (R) tablet without voiding your warranty–and it doesn’t hurt your Nook Color (R) either. Don’t be fooled by imitators and don’t settle for anything other than the original authentic N2A (TM) Nook to Android bootable microSD c… |
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Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit $6.00 Winner of the Whitbread Prize for best first fiction, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit is a coming-out novel from Winterson, the acclaimed author of The Passion and Sexing the Cherry. The narrator, Jeanette, cuts her teeth on the knowledge that she is one of Godâs elect, but as this budding evangelical comes of age, and comes to terms with her preference for her own sex, the peculiar balance of… |
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The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More $1.89 Almost like new, some pages have been dog-eared and written on… |
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Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 $3.96 Anna Deavere Smith’s stunning new work of “documentary theater” in which she uses verbatim the words of people who experienced the Los Angeles riots to expose and explore the devastating human impact of that event…. |
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Neoprene Case Bag Sleeve for Acer Aspire Glossy Black AS7741Z-4433 , AS7741Z-4643 , AS7741Z-P613G32Mnkk , AS7741Z-4592 , AS7741Z-4839 , AS7741Z-5731 , AS7741Z-4433 , AS7741Z-4450 17.3 Widescreen Laptop + SumacLife TM Wisdom Courage Wristband $44.99 Carry and protect your Laptop or Net book with this Jet Neoprene Protective Glove Cover Case. This Stylish scratch and water resistant case lets you carry your Laptop wherever you go. Its neoprene padding protects your Laptop or Net book from bumps, dents, scratches, and every day wear and tear. Dual zipper opening allows you quick access to your device. This case has been newly designed with an e… |