How to Read Books for Free

As I try to stack yet another paper back in my already overcrowded library, I promise myself next time I will be lured into Barnes and Noble we will be driving space age cars. Books have been my cherished friends since I was old enough to turn the stiff pages of my board books. I can not imagine a life without them. Yet even though I love reading, I finally reached the conclusion that buying books the traditional way does not make financial sense. Here's how to save boat loads of cash when you make your next book purchase.

When buying books does not make financial sense

In my thirty four years of life I have invested thousands of dollars both in non-fiction and in fiction books. Maybe one fourth of it went to text books or reference books, I keep consulting over the years, the rest was spent on material I never read more than once maybe twice in my lifetime.

I cringe when I think about the money spent on newspapers and magazines. Let's face it, our interest in a newspaper doesn't last more than a couple of days and the biggest crux in many households is finding new places to stash the massive loads of printed matter until we give it up for recycling.

The cost to our planet

Yes we do recycle, but whenever I see the fifteen inch piles of periodicals that regularly leave our house for the recycling plant, I hear mother nature screaming at me. It is not only the pulp used to produce the paper. Think about the energy invested in the production of that magazine. The cost ( in carbon emissions) of transforming the raw material to its finished state and then delivering it your doorstep. If this is not enough think about the additional cost in carbon emissions to transport your thick piles of unwanted newspapers and magazines to the recycling plant and the energy consumed during the recycling process. Wouldn't it be better to find ways not to kill our planet and maybe save some cash in the process?

If your conscience is plaguing you as badly as it is plaguing mine, here's some options that should placate the nasty stings.

Sell the books you don't need

This was my impulsive reaction, when I saw my credit card bill after a shopping spree at Borders. In a time of financial constraint, nearly brand new books sitting on my crammed bookshelves gathering dust and space are a commodity I cannot afford. My solution - sort through the rift of novels and reference books I never use and part with the riffraff. My next step was to use my E-bay and Amazon accounts and start selling what I don't need.

You will pry my old and tattered Jane Eyre and Tolkien's sagas from my dead hands but I realized I could lead a perfectly happy existence without my copies of Daniel Steel or Jackie Collins.

The good part is that the profit you will make from your sales can be reinvested in new books - thus getting new books for at no cost.

Buy second hand

Many intelligent bookworms sell their used copies of new books for a fraction of the price you'd get them at the book store. The latest Dan Brown or Stephen King read will still be just as enjoyable ( if you're into the genre) a few weeks after it's debut on the market. Waiting for a couple of weeks until the book becomes available on the second hand market is a green option that makes loads of financial sense.

If you cringe at the idea of buying 4 novels for a $1 at a second hand store or yard sale, check out the used items on the Amazon website where you can get the latest releases at reduced prices.

Get a library card

It is funny but I realized that my library is much less frequented than the local book store. Getting a library card is one of the best options I have found so far. It is certainly the most economical way of reading plus you don't get stuck with the problem of finding a space on your bookshelf - and if you make friends with the librarians they will give you great tips on what to read.

Use the peak option when buying books online

Armed with the extra cash you made from your sale of unwanted books you might be tempted to spend your stash on the latest work from your favorite author, but before you jump into a hasty purchase, check out the first few pages of the book you are about to get.

Many sites like the Amazon and Barnes and Noble have a 'look inside' option that will let you see what you are getting, before you make your purchase. Just because a book has received rave reviews doesn't necessarily mean it is your cup of tea. Invest in something you will enjoy reading rather than throwing money out of the window on a book which makes you drowsy after the first couple of chapters.

E-books and free online books

E-books are the new trend, and yes they are eco-friendly, but even though they are far cheaper than buying the traditional paper version of a novel, they still make traditional book lovers cringe. The introduction of the Kindle - a handheld device that lets you read electronic versions of your books and periodicals, has been acclaimed as the equivalent to the introduction of the cell phone back in the 90's and many are predicting that it will be as successful. ( If you want to know more about the Kindle click here)

If the price of the Kindle does keep you back, try downloading an electronic version of a book directly onto your computer. The web offers sites where you can get free downloads of your books. Check out this site if you are intrigued.

Cut your magazine subscriptions.

It is difficult to resist the many tempting offers for annual newspapers and magazine subscriptions, especially since your favorite periodicals come neatly delivered on your doorstep, but do you really have the time to read all the newspapers and magazines you subscribe to?

A good option if you want to cut your costs and save the planet, is to subscribe only to what you really read and unsubscribe from what you just don't use. Unless you have the time to read your Vogue or Cosmopolitan by the time the next issue comes on your doorstep, think about unsubscribing and buying your copy from the newsstand when you think you have time to read it, or simply checking the e-version of your favorite periodical on the internet - which will not cost you a dime.

Network.

Borrowing and lending books is one of the easiest and most economical ways of getting the books you want for free. If you think about it, we hang out with our friends because we share common interests, so it is likely that your best friend might have similar tastes when it comes to reading.

Borrowing a book from a friend or relative is definitely one of the most economical ways of reading and a green alternative to buying new books. If you are afraid that your treasured copy will not be returned, simply keep track of what you are lending and use the same courtesy of returning a book to its owner when you have finished with it.

The rules of building a network of lending buddies are simple and the benefits are great. There is no harm done in getting a taste of a genre your friend loves - if you don't like the book you can simply return it. Your lending buddy might be the gateway to an author or genre you would have never picked at the bookstore and the best part is - that it's totally free!