With the rise of TikTok, a new era of readers has come. Books and social media allow us to travel the globe and visit new worlds, all from the comfort of our coziest chair, so the pairing is a natural one. But there’s a cost that comes with rising interest in reading and new commitments to fandoms. Books can be expensive, and your reading habit can get costly fast. Whether you’re looking for a friend or to add to your own library, keep reading for six tips on how to be a bookworm on a budget.
Get a library card
One of the easiest ways to save money on books is to visit your local library! Library cards are free, and you can check out multiple books at a time, allowing you to experiment with titles you might not normally pick up without the extra cost. But the library benefits don’t end at the door—your library card can get you access to a digital catalog as well. With the Plus, the app is compatible with eReaders like your Kindle, making checking out books even easier.
Organize a book swap
Physical books are fantastic, but they also take up a lot of space—especially if you’re not planning to reread them. A good way to lighten your load and potentially find new books is to organize a neighborhood book swap. Reach out to your neighbors or post in your local neighborhood group about organizing a time to come together. Then, hit your bookshelves and pull out any of the titles you didn’t enjoy, won’t read again, or that your kids may not be interested in anymore. Book swaps are a great way to clear up space while also finding new titles you may have been looking for. This is also particularly helpful for families with children, as they can pass on books their kids might’ve outgrown while picking up ones about their new interests.
Skip the big retailers
Sometimes you encounter a book that you just have to own. In that case, before hitting the big box retailers, check out your local secondhand bookstores. You’ll often find the titles you’re looking for at lower prices, and it can be a fun addition to find notes in the margins from past readers. Some secondhand bookstores also offer trade-in programs, allowing you to free up shelf space for some new-to-you titles. Another great option is to check out your warehouse club during the holiday season. While most people associate warehouses with bulk buys, you can also snag some great deals on books for the whole family—no bulk purchase necessary.
Little Free Libraries
A walk through your local neighborhood may also be a surprise way for you to score some exciting new books. Little Free Libraries are free book-sharing boxes where anyone may take a book or share a book. Functioning on the honor system, they don’t require you to exchange a book to pick one up, though it’s considered best practice to return the book to that free library or another in the area, and add to it when you can. Little Free Libraries are also a great way to share some of your books that you no longer have room for. There are more than 200,000 registered Little Free Libraries around the world—you can find your nearest one using the mobile app and web map.
Check out a (book) festival
Another great way to save money on books is to check out your local book festivals. Last month, I went to my first—but their nineteenth—Decatur Book Festival. It was a fantastic community event packed with vendors and local authors. In addition to scoring some great titles from the local bookstores, I was also able to get some free works from newer authors looking to gain awareness.
Atlanta is also home to a variety of other book festivals, including MCJCCA’s Book Festival and the National Book Club Conference. Plus, Agnes Scott College’s Annual Writers’ Festival in the spring is the oldest continuous literary event in Georgia.
Redeem your rewards
While some people prefer casual readership, some people like to dive into a fandom dedicated to authors and the worlds they’ve created. If you’re ready to go all in but don’t want to exhaust your resources, consider redeeming your credit card rewards. You may have the option of getting reduced travel, hotel costs, or even early access to tickets for some of your bucket list literary events, like cons or meet-and-greets. Are you a more casual reader? No worries—redeem those rewards for gift cards or cash back to spend on more (basically free!) books. Win-win!
Key takeaways:
- Get great (and free!) access with a library card.
- Skip the big-box stores and check secondhand stores or warehouse clubs.
- Redeem your credit card rewards for gift cards or cash back to spend on books.
Reading is not only a fantastic form of entertainment, but it’s also a good way to get your mind—and eyes—off your screen. Whether you’re a new reader or a long-time bibliophile, we hope these tips help you grow your library without shrinking your wallet. Got a favorite book series or author? Shout them out in the comments below!
