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Last Updated on August 30, 2016 by Diane Hoffmaster
If you ask me how I want to spend my free time, the answer will always be reading books. Ever since I was young I have tried to figure out how to read more books on a limited budget. I had a very worn out library card and multiple book cases filled with favorites that I couldn't bare to part with. As an adult, rarely do you see me go anywhere without a book or my iPad in case I get a free 15 minutes with nothing to do. If you are as much of a bookworm as I am, I figured you would like to know how to read more books and spend less money on your favorite hobby. Here are a few tips I have learned over the years that might help you stay in budget:
How to Read More Books for Less Money
Get to know your library system: This is absolutely the easiest way to save money on books. Going into your library and picking up something off the shelf is only the tip of the iceberg. Many libraries have relationships with other nearby libraries so you can 'interlibrary loan' things that may not actually be on the shelf. Our local library actually offers an app so that you can download ebooks directly onto your iPad or other electronic reading device. They sit on your device for 3 weeks and if no one has requested them, you can renew it for another 3 weeks. You get free books to your device without leaving your home to pick them up.
Shop second hand books: If you need to know how to read more books on a limited budget, second hand books are the way to go. You can find them at garage sales, thrift stores or secondhand sites online. Places like Half.com, eBay, and even Craigslist are great resources when it comes to cheap books.
Find a little free library in your area: Have you ever gone downtown and seen a tiny little house on a pole and inside of it were tons of books? The little free library is a new trend taking place all over the country. Basically, it is a system of sharing books between people that works on an honor system. Browse through the selection, take what you want, leave something to share with the next person, and then go along your merry way. You get new books, clear out your own unwanted stories, and don't spend a single penny. Find a little free library near you and start swapping with your neighbors!
Join your bookstore's member program: I rarely join membership programs but when I was trying to figure out how to read more books for less money, I realized that it really would save me a ton of money. I spend a lot of time in Barnes and Noble and their membership program offers a discount on each purchase as well as coupons that are sent out throughout the year. In the long run, the few dollars I spend on a membership actually saves me money on all the books I read.
Look for FREE ebooks: Free is always good in my mind! Fill your eReader with more books than you could read in a lifetime without spending a single penny. Check out these 6 Sources for Free eBooks and you will never run out of reading material again!
Become a Beta Reader: If you are fairly well educated and have good attention to detail, you can look into becoming a beta reader for authors in the genres you enjoy. Beta readers are the first people to read an author's story before it goes to print. They are there to make sure the story flows smoothly, check for grammatical errors and just give feedback to the author about the storyline, characters, setting, etc. Check out this post about how to become a beta reader for more details about getting started.
Trying to figure out how to read more books without going broke isn't always easy. Books are an addiction that I have trouble saying no to, even if my bank balance is hovering lower than it should. Hopefully these tips will help you save money on books so you can go on sticking your nose in one without feeling too much guilt!
Have any other tips to save money on books?
Diane is a professional blogger and nationally certified pharmacy technician at Good Pill Pharmacy. She has two college aged kids, one husband and more pets than she will admit to. She earned her BS in Microbiology at the University of New Hampshire but left her career in science to become a stay at home mom. Years of playing with LEGO and coloring with crayons had her craving a more grown up purpose to her life and she began blogging and freelance writing full time. You can learn more about her HERE.
Denise C
I love the idea of the little free library. I hope there are some near me!
Erika
I am an avid reader and have used all of these tips. I frequent my library often to get the latest releases.
Beeb Ashcroft
I think the free library idea is soooo cool! When I was in my teens, I used to go to our public library and check out their used book selection - I bought and discovered many of my favorites that way. Great list!
Danielle K
I always go to my library to get books. I've never done secondhand book shopping before but I need to check that out for books that I love enough to want to own.
Jennifer
Thanks so much for sharing these tips! I love to read, and I definitely love to save money. Woot!