Ways to Find Books for Less

Reading has rapidly become an expensive venture. A trip to Borders or Barnes and Noble runs the average person at least $25, and some walk out with triple digit receipts. The small, independent book stores, the ones who have somehow survived the box store movement, cannot give the reductions-they'll go extinct if they discount the products. Conversely, the big bookstores offer minor savings, such as 30% on Best Sellers, or they suggest you join their club for further savings-some for a nominal fee of course. Just become a part of the insiders' club and you'll shop smarter and wiser than the rest of us standing at the frosted windows looking inside. Knowing that you just dropped $25 on an annual membership, you will go there each chance you get-birthdays, holidays, Flag Day, Arbor Day, whatever--in order to justify fronting the initial fee. Boy, they got you good, huh?

All of this sounds like a great plan, one that will keep you from paying cover price-something you should never do (it's like forking over the price on the tag in a jewelry store; with mark ups such as these, absolutely not!). If you have the money to burn and the desire for brand new books, dive right in and get moving. In fact, I encourage you to do so. I'll buy your book later at a much better price, and the words will read the same way.

As an avid reader and teacher of literature, if I paid full price for all the books that come my way, I would eat Ramen Noodles twice a day for twenty-six days a month. Unable to afford gas, I would have to ride my bike everywhere, and when I reached wherever that was, I could only window shop. It frustrates me to no end when I have to lay down over twenty bucks for a book I know I'll finish in less than three hours; I'm paying that book more per hour than most people in this country receive working for minimum wage. For example, James Patterson, who makes an obnoxious monetary living and who represents my pure entertainment reading, got the best of my wallet for quite a while, but no more. I have resolved to find cheaper, more budget-friendly ways of expanding my mind. Some may be obvious, while others aren't so much. Either way, with a little bit of effort, you can read for next to nothing.

Borrow books: Seems a little less than clever, but I find that people don't share books enough. They read them, close the cover, take a deep breath while lamenting over the experience, and then they place it aside. The lucky books find their way onto some gorgeous personal bookshelf in a well-read man's library; however, most, especially those second class citizens, the paperbacks, get stacked in the corner, and then eventually moved to the garage or attic. Finally, they end up on a grandmother's old pastel blanket in the driveway during a fall tag sale. Save these books from months and months of inexplicable dormancy. Ask a friend, a co-worker, a family member, or anyone who looks willing to give. I'll bet you'll be shocked at how many people just hand it over.
Plus, it's free, and that's the best darn price you'll find.

Book Sharing Boxes at work: Grab an old cardboard box, a permanent sharpie, and get going. Put a sign on the side that explains the deal: Leave a book, take a book. Let your co-workers know what it is all about, engage in conversation about reading, and then check back regularly. Start by sacrificing a few of your own books, ones you know are good reads. It may begin slowly, but give it time. If you have readers around you, this will certainly work. Again, it's free!

Use the public library: Probably one of the most underutilized and underappreciated public services, the library houses all you need; however, if the title is a popular one, you may have to wait a bit. Sign the list and be patient for the book to become available. In the meantime, take a different book out. I have yet to meet someone who has read every book he has ever wished to complete. Therefore, go find one you may have missed earlier, and then, when the call comes, get the one you originally wanted. Always remember the deal with public services: anything not used is normally cut or reduced. It would be a shame if public libraries became the next place to slash budgets even more so than they already are.

Annual library sales: This is a gold mine. Each year, in an effort to raise money and reduce overflow, libraries stage large book sales. The selection normally contains numerous copies of virtually new books and countless others to add to your own collection. Also, they are cheap. A couple bucks for a hard cover and under a dollar for paperbacks. The last one I attended, I purchased forty books for $30. Can't beat that. Make sure to get there as it opens on the first day for the best selection, and bring a shopping bag. You'll need it.

Tag Sales: Another perfect place to score good reads for next to no money. Most people who hold yard or rummage sales want to clear their house of stuff, so they will ride themselves of the books for virtually pennies. Arrive as early as possible, and go from sale to sale on a Saturday morning. Also, don't fear bargaining. Five paperbacks for a dollar is a nice take.

Used book stores: Although rare, used book stores represent a perfect chance to not only sift through endless titles, but also to speak with someone who knows about the inventory. Your search will have a guide of sorts, but that won't cost you much. While slightly more expensive than library or tag sales, these little mom and pop shops will undercut the big box stores by 80%.

Goodwill: Not too many people consider this as an option. Normally seen as a place for old clothes and beat up furniture, the Goodwill usually has a ton of books. While some do not sparkle, others have had eyes on them only once, and the most expensive, even in hardback, is about a $1. Purchasing here both saves you money and lets you contribute to an important foundation. A win-win situation.

Buy, read, sell: Numerous websites exist that sell used books at great prices. If you do not mind shopping on the web and waiting a few days for the orders to arrive, then this is a nice consideration. While you'll have to add a little for shipping, the retail cost is so low you'll make out well in relation to heading out to a large bookstore. Then, if you are industrious, throw the title back up on ebay and resell it. You could possible make back most of what you spent, making the original purchase almost free.

E-books: My idea of reading is not cuddling up with a seventeen-inch monitor, but some people like the option of downloading entire books, as they take up no space and help avoid the clutter of stacking books in all corners of the house. The price generally runs between $4 and $15, so, if you love your PC and hate tripping over mounds of ancient literature, then click away.

All of the above will save you a ton of cash as time goes. Therefore, at these sales and shops, buy in bulk. Get ten paperbacks for two bucks or five hardbacks for five dollars. Take them on vacation, leave them by your bed, give them to friends, resell them, donate them back...whatever. Just remember, a book should have more lives than a cat, and the words are the same words no matter how many times they have been read.