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!
By Deeli 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. The rest I have been giving away as none of my family has any interest is science fiction or fantasy. So if you have some books that you really enjoy, pack them away and dig them out in 4 or 5 years and read them again. You will certainly find something new in them each time you read them. Now some are just fluff but others that I categorize as 'hard science' fiction, are really interesting.
Does anyone out there know of a website that carries really cheap used books? I'm also not too particular about what shape the books are in, as long as they're not missing any pages. Preferably one that has reasonable shipping rate.
Amazon.com
Half.com
eBay.com
Or Swaptree.com if you're willing to swap and all you have to do is pay shipping which is about $2.50 & you can even print the shipping label on your own computer.
Two great resources for used books are paperbackswap.com and abebooks.com
Try CheapestBookPrice.com.
You can search by book title, author, or ISBN. It will list all the places that have a particular book for sale.
Does your library sell books or have a book sale once a year? I buy recent paperbacks for $.50 each - no shipping. I also buy paperbacks at yard sales.
I use bookmooch.com. You list books you want to give away and get points for the books you list. Then you use your points to "mooch" books from other people.
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.
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.
I am an avid reader, and would haunt book stores and buy minimum 3 or 4 books a month. 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.
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.