Most hobbies can either be crazy expensive or quite frugal. It all depends on how you do things.
I rediscovered my love of reading last year and was happy to discover that there are many ways to save money on books or read great books for free. so I want to break down some easy ways to read a lot without spending a lot.
You are reading: Cheapest way to read books
First, I want to mention that I do 95% of my reading with eBooks on my kindle paperwhite. i love this thing and i prefer to read on it instead of physical books. You can read my full Kindle Paperwhite review here.
You can also read e-books with the kindle app or other reading apps on your phone, which can be very convenient because you always have your phone with you. however, it can strain your eyes because the phones are backlit.
the library
alright, let’s start here to cover the basics.
When I find a book I’d like to read, my first step is always to see if my library has the ebook I can rent.
If you only rent physical books from your library, you’re missing out! It seems that every library now offers access to e-books that you can rent online and send electronically to your phone or e-reader. this is usually through the overdrive or libby apps. check your library’s website or ask a librarian next time you’re there if they offer this and how you can log in.
See Also: Best American Revolution Books – Five Books Expert Recommendations
The wonderful part about renting e-books is that it’s impossible to rack up late fees. when the rental period ends, the book magically returns to the library and you lose access to it.
buy e-books
When I can’t get something I’d like to read from the library for free, I go to amazon to check the price. It’s usually cheaper to buy the e-book than the physical book, so be sure to check the price of both.
For some books, I’d rather have the physical copy even if it costs a bit more (if I know, I’ll want to refer to it often or share it with family), so I’m pondering which is the best option.
turn on unlimited
if you find you’re buying a lot of books, you should definitely check out kindle unlimited!
is a monthly subscription through amazon that allows you to read as many books as you want. You get access to over 1 million ebooks as well as thousands of audiobooks. you can also read current popular magazines every month.
Best of all, there’s a free trial so you can try it out and see if it’s worth it for you. start a trial of 30 kindle unlimited here.
bookbub.com
I’m new to this website (great recommendation from a reader!) and it’s great! bookbub.com helps you find great deals on ebooks, often even free ebooks!
See Also: Margaret Truman – Book Series In Order
When you create your account, you will be asked about your favorite genres and authors. then you’ll get handpicked book recommendations for free or discounted eBooks.
You can follow your favorite authors and see the books they recommend, as well as get updates when they have a new release or when one of their books is on sale.
Like I said, I haven’t used this site for a long time, but I already love it. It’s easy to use and I’m excited to see what deals it brings me!
I trade with family and friends
The best way to find great books is to get recommendations from family and friends, right?
Last summer I discovered the maisie dobbs series (one of my all-time favorites!) and shared it with my mom. she got hooked and ended up buying a set of all the books on ebay… which I then borrowed 🙂 don’t worry, I share books with her too!
Sharing books is free and fun. Plus, it can be a great way to have new things to talk about with your loved ones.
second hand stores
Books are usually pretty cheap at thrift stores! if you’re looking for a book that was a best seller, your chances of finding it are pretty good.
I got my copy of The Total Money Makeover for $1 at a thrift store. I’ve also found thrift stores to be a good source for cookbooks. be sure to browse the book section the next time you’re at your local thrift store.
I love that reading can be such a frugal hobby! With all the book sources listed in this post, I don’t spend much on books and still can read as much as I want!
See Also: Here Are All The Black Book Locations In Skyrim – eXputer.com
don’t miss these related posts:
- how to find time to read more
- my honest kindle paperwhite review
- my 2018 reading list (everything I read in 2018)