Share on ThriftyFunThis guide contains the following solutions. Have something to add? Please share your solution!
How many of us see a movie a second, third, or even more times and always find something we missed? Well, it's no different when reading a book. Our brains cannot absorb all the information the first, second, or even third time around. So instead of letting those books sit on the shelf collecting dust, spending money buying new books, or spending gas money for a trip to the store or library, simply read those books again! Not only will you find those nuances you missed before but you'll also save oodles of money and you just might enjoy the second read more than the first.
By Ann from Richland, WA
I have been re-reading my collection of SF paperback books, some dating back to the late 50's when they sold for 25 or 35 cents! Nearly all of them are as if I was reading them for the first time. Quite amazing the change in writing styles over the last 50-60 years (grin). I have a few favorite authors whose books I have read a half dozen times over the years.
I have been doing that for years. The experiences I have had, the places I've gone, the people I've met; these all color how I read the book. I may have sympathized with a character years ago but change that upon re-reading.
I've reread my collection of "Little House On the Prairie" books so often that I can almost recite parts of them from memory, however, just the act of seeing the words on paper and reliving some of the hard times those people went through has often given me renewed energy when times were tough for us. I always say those books keep me grounded, and it's so true.
I love Nora Roberts and have just recently become acquainted with a Florida author Randy Wayne White who writes so much like John D. McDonald did that it's almost like having John D. back again. When he passed away, I was despondent for a whole year. I also loved Jean Auel and her "Clan of the Cave Bear" series. There was really nowhere for her to go when the 5th one had been written, and I was lonely for a while. Randy Wayne White's books take you to so many different and exotic places and are so full of adventure and great mystery that you can reread them over and over and still feel that you've been somewhere.
Books to me are like friends. I never ever will have too many and I'm never tired of them. They are a joy from the time I first read them until I finally might give them away. Then I still never forget them.
Great advice, Deeli.
Pookarina
I've been doing this too. I've also found books that I've bought and have never had time to read, so they've just sat on the shelf.
Consider joining paperbackswap.com and recycle your books while receiving new ones to read.
I used to hang onto books for many years "just in case I wanted to re-read them." I wound up with a couple hundred books, many of which I didn't really ejjoy the first time around so never would start it again.
After a while I decided to downsize my collection. I made a list of all my books. Then, I started keeping track of which ones I really did pick up to read a second time. If, after one year, I hadn't picked the book up again, it got donated to the library. Now I still have a few dozen books, but they are all ones that I enjoy and know that I will read over and over.
I do go to the library a lot. But I stop there on my way to or from other errands. I get not only books, but also audio books to listen to in the car whenever I go to the store or anywhere. Makes the car time go a lot more enjoyably without costing me a thing.
I've always been a bookworm, and love to have several on hand I have not read yet. Lately I have noticed all the e-readers, Nooks, Kindles, and such on the market and thought it would be handy to have one when I couldn't get to the library, such as 2 years ago when we were snowed in for a week.
Today, while at the library I noticed you can now check them out, the same as a book. What a good way to try one out before you buy, or to have someone hospital or bedbound to be able to load with their favorite books without getting out.
You can also download the computer software for free that will let you download the e-books onto your computer for free. No gas to get to the library! And, you don't have to worry about over due books and their fees.
By mom-from-missouri from NW, MO
This is a great way to go, however, just like a book they do expire, so try not to download so many at one time that you won't be able to finish reading them. Some libraries also have a limit on how many you can check out at one time. Amazon does not have as many limitations. I use it all the time. I also love the audio books, I just load them to an MP3 player.
I have a Kindle and now, a Kindle Fire. Perhaps the Fire is so-called because it's the first thing you'll reach for if you have to get out of the house quickly! Seriously, though, I subscribe to a free site, eReaderIQ.com. They send you a listing every day of hundreds of books.
You set up your own genres so you don't have to wade through topics in which you're not interested. The site shows covers, descriptions, author's other ebooks, etc. I must admit I have over 4,000 books downloaded! How's that for a rainy/snowy day, or frequently resting due to "bone problems"! Happy hunting for other sites (Amazon has one that includes out-of-copyright classics for free).
I love this website ereadernewstoday.com/
I am an avid reader, and would haunt book stores and buy minimum 3 or 4 books a month. Then I started frequenting thrift stores and would come home with 10 or 12 at a time. I would donate my used books to a local senior center thrift store. Then I realized the LIBRARY was across the street from the senior center thrift store and membership is FREE. Now I can read my favorite author from the first book to the most recent in order, and if the library doesn't have one of the books, they can get it from another library for me. Also, the library has subscriptions to many of the magazines I read, so I no longer subscribe to them. Sometimes I just go and spend a few hours reading the magazines at the library. Once in a while, I do find something I want to add to my personal library, however, all of this has saved me a lot of money in a year.
By dakota from CO
You may not consider the purchase of an ereader as frugal but in my case, it is. Our "local" library is 60 mile round trip. Then the books have to be returned. Consequently, I've not been able to enjoy reading a book in several years.
My reader was cheaper, because it is a refurbished model. Having had it less than a week, I've found there are numerous web sites whereby one can download freebies.
Our Canadian libraries loan ebooks for two weeks, if one has a Sony. An annual subscription works the same as regular books. My little reader fits into a large pocket, and accompanies me everywhere. I love it.
By joan from Ontario
And I'd like to add that, if you can purchase an older or used Kindle that still works fine: Amazon.com has many ebooks free. The titles rotate every few weeks.
I have recently become a "reader". I wanted to start my own library so I could be able to read books at my own leisure and to be able to lend my books to others to read. I started purchasing books at the book store paying the asking prices for my books.
I seldom ever buy books new and I love to read. I go to second hand bookstores and garage sales to find my books.
I love reading books and spent a fortune in used book stores. Then I developed a back problem and could not leave the house. I started ordering all my books and DVDs from the library, my library had a program where they mailed all the books directly to my home, free of charge.
I am a librarian, so I know about many sources for books. It is always best to see the books before you purchase them, but that isn't always possible. I have found that amazon.com is the best review source.
Our library has a program where you can take home 10 books from a paperback shelf. You do not have to return them. They are donated books; you can return all the paperback books on your shelf that you do not want any more.
Do you still read books? I have bookcases full. There are two websites for trading books.
My solution to buying or selling books is to swap your books for another book, CD or DVD. This helps to lessen the carbon footprint, and you get an item that you want! There are a few swap sites that you should check into, such as swap.com
Love to read? Have you noticed the price printed on books these days? Yikes! Here are some tips to get great books for less.
Satisfy you love of reading without breaking the bank. Below are some tips to help you save money on books.
Join a book trader club and get books for free. All you do is mail the books you don't want to other people and order the books you want to read from the books listed on the websites.
Do you have stacks of DVDs lying around that you no longer watch? Are they on the bookshelves with the rows of books you've already read but don't want to just throw away?
We love books but our book collection required bookshelves which required wall space and that means more square footage, which meant a larger house. That larger house required larger payments for mortgage and taxes.
Unless you HAVE to have everything new and must see the latest and greatest, you can go to Amazon.com and purchase a used movie, CD, or book and enjoy it for much less than buying new or paying admission charges.
I stumbled onto a link on a website where you can get books for almost free. We have been listing books of ours that we want to get rid off and getting other books we do want.
I am a book and reading enthusiast. My goal in life is to have a large library of books at my disposal. I can't afford list price on most anything so I have found several ways to get great books. The first and most obvious is check them out at the library.
Buying Bargain Books tip. I always look at the bargain tables at the major book chains, like Barnes and Noble, for deals on books for presents - especially when they are marked down to less than $5. . .
