How to Purchase Books on a Budget

….Just Be Careful Not To Hoard Too Many

Half Priced Books, Dallas Texas

One of my biggest memories growing up in Columbus, Ohio was my mom’s prowess as a clothing shopper. I particularly recall a discount store called Schottenstein where she would sift for hours looking for deals while my brother and I would sit patiently passing away the time

Looking back at this period of my life, it has now become apparent that I inherited a similar shopping gene trait. Yet, unlike my mom who was enamored with building her fashion collection, my raison d'être lies in the world of books. 

In part, my bibliophilic proclivities were likely sparked by my mom who was a reading specialist for 25 years in the Columbus, Ohio Public School system. And Dad, who was university administrator and voracious reader, would never be caught without a book nearby. 

Those of us who imbibe books like cold water on a sizzling hot day know that our reading stack can quickly get a bit unwieldy if we’re not paying attention.

And then there’s the cost.   

Purchasing books, particularly when you are on a budget can be challenging.   The good news is that there are several cost-effective strategies that can help you indulge your reading habit without breaking the bank. 

Libraries: Duh. Borrowing books from your local library is the most budget-friendly option. You can access a wide range of titles for free. Many libraries also offer digital lending services for ebooks and audiobooks. There also may be Free Library boxes scattered throughout your local area. 

Great Books, Great Minds contributing writer Marc Friedman recently wrote a stellar piece about his local library experiences that’s well worth the read.  

Secondhand Bookstores:  Used bookstores, thrift shops, and other secondhand locals are often great places to find deals on pre-owned book gems. In these settings you can search for books in all genres and conditions, opening up a cornucopia of opportunities to find something you're interested in.

E-Books: What’s awesome about digital books is that they’re frequently less expensive than physical copies. That being said, many of us in a perfect world would still prefer the tactile sensation of flipping through a hardback or paperback book. 

Yes, there’s Amazon Kindle where you can purchase digital books to your hearts delight without worry about the clutter of our physical book friends. My favorite digital book source though is Scribd where for $11.99 you can download an unlimited number of digital books, including the audio versions. 

Book Swaps: Join a book exchange or swap group in your community or online. This allows you to trade books you've read for new ones without spending money.

Subscription Services: Subscribe to book subscription services like Kindle Unlimited or Audible, which offer access to a vast library of ebooks and audiobooks for a monthly fee.

Online Retailer: There are many online retailers that sell used books, such as AbeBooks, ThriftBooks, Better World Books, and Biblio. These retailers often have even better prices than used bookstores, and they offer a wide selection of books to choose from. 

Discount Storefront Retailer: My runaway favorite here is Half Priced Books which has 120 store locations in 19 states. I just about lost my wits about me amid a sea of book deals during a visit to their Dallas flagship location late last year.  

Discount Curation Services: There are book deal curators like BookBub and Bookperk that send you email alerts whenever a digital book goes on sale for $3.99 or less. But you gotta hop on these promotions quickly as they often end within 24-48 hours. 

Note: Be forewarned that if you happen to be a digital book lover, these emails can send you spiraling into an addictive state as you will literally be tempted to purchase a new book on a daily basis. Or maybe that’s just me.  

Special Sales and Promotions: Keep an eye on special book sales, especially during events like Black Friday or holiday seasons. It’s during these times that retailers often offer deep discounts on popular titles.

Book Clubs: You can always start an in-person or online book club where you can share books and engage in lively discussions. An up and coming online site for this is Literati.com. I joined during the pandemic and will probably rejoin after a very positive experience with them. What’s cool is that each month as a part of a small membership fee they send you a monthly curated book tied to the digital book clubs that you elected to join. Even cooler, the online discussion groups are facilitated with folks the likes of business model Richard Branson and NBA basketball superstar Steph Curry. 

And if you are looking to start your very own online book club, then I recommend BookClubs.com. They make it so ridiculously easy to set one up.

Book Fair: These book lover gatherings are a great place to find discounted books. They are often held at schools, libraries, and community centers. My all-time favorite spot for these is The Hermitage Bookshop in Denver’s Cherry Creek North District. Known over the years for their attention getting sidewalk sale deals, they now have First Friday gatherings where people gather over wine and food delectables to peruse books, often at a discount.  

Garage and Estate Sales: These one-off events are another great place to find cheap books. They are great sports to discover books in good condition for just a few dollars. This is why these sales are popular havens for collectors looking for deals on books that have collectable status. 

Freecycle: I’m not very familiar with Freecycle as I’ve never used them. But I do know they have high repute with book lovers who are seeking free books and other unwanted items in their local area. In short, Freecycle is a website where people can give away unwanted items, including books. You can find free books in your local area by searching the site.  

One last piece of advice to prevent life from becoming overrun with books. To strike a balance, consider implementing a "one in, one out" rule, where you donate or sell a book for every new one you acquire. Failure to heed this can lead to a nasty case of a disease called “Tsundoku” which I wrote about in a “Great Books, Great Minds” piece back in January of 2021. 

In conclusion, be sure to thoughtfully manage your book collection ensuring that you actually read what you own. Here it’s important to prioritize the books you genuinely want to read, rather than buying books impulsively. Through careful budgeting and thoughtful book choices, you can make your reading hobby enjoyable and sustainable without overspending.

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Diamond-Michael

Independent Journalist and Global Book Ambassador