Money for the Rest of Us

This post is a continuation of Money for the Rest of Us’ “Free Stuff Week” posts. The previous posts have been about: how to find free samples, how to find free online classes, and how to find free movie screening passes.

I love reading. During the school year I have less time to spend reading for pleasure, but I still try to read a few books a month. Unfortunately, if you buy new books, they aren’t cheap. This post includes some ways to get books for free (or nearly free).

One of the newest and best ways to get books is through Paperbackswap.com. Trent over at The Simple Dollar recently wrote a great post about it so I will refer you to that post for greater detail. But, the basics are as follows (from paperbackswap’s “How Does it Work“):

1. List at least 9 or more books in the system to become an active member and receive 3 free credits to get you started trading. List as many books as possible to be more successful in trading.
2. Browse our online list of books posted by club members, and use your credits to order books.
3. Selected books are delivered right to your mailbox, for free!
4. When other members order books that you’ve listed, you mail them from your mailbox and you pay the postage (usually $1.59).
5. You get one credit (good for one book) for every book you mail when it is received by the club member who requested it.
6. List as many books as you like. The more books you mail to other members, the more credits you’ll receive.

Another good place to get books on the cheap is from your local used book store. Washington D.C. has one of the best used bookstores I’ve ever been to. Books for America is actually a non-profit bookstore. Donated books are sold for $3 or $4 and because the store is so small they only carry popular books. Anyhow, find a good local used bookstore for cheaper books.

Another great way to get books for cheap/free is to start a book exchange. This can be done both in your office and with your friends. In my office we have a bookshelf where people bring in the books they have already read. We also have one in the laundry room of our apartment building. Several of my out-of-town friends and I send books back and forth utilizing the cheap rates of US Media Mail (for books, cds, dvds, and more.) Borrowing books from friends is a great way to go, just be sure to return them.

Finally, get books from your library. Maybe it’s just me but I feel that people are going to their libraries less and less these days. Libraries are amazing places. There is no need to spend any money on books (even shipping) when you can get books from your library for free!