Book Swap: Staying Current Doesn't Mean Spending A Fortune

I absolutely love to read. I don't, however, love the prices of the best-selling novels. Trying to choke down the prices at large chain bookstores is just too much to bear in this economy. Here are some alternatives to paying big bucks for good lit, all while staying current.

Get Creative With Your Book Club
In my book club, we establish our book list for the year in June and begin our meetings in September. We do this for two reasons: one, people read more in the summer and two, if we set up the book list that far in advance, we have time to get creative with how we get our books.

One idea for saving money on books is for each person in the book club to buy one copy of a book (12 months, 12 members, 12 books) and then rotate the books around until everyone has read them. This takes some organization and structure, but it is doable. Another idea is to put all of your books on the wait list at your local library and read them as they come in. Our local library charges fifty cents for holding a new book for you. Not bad when you compare that to the charge of buying a book. A third alternative is to advertise on your social media websites. You would be surprised how many responses you will get to a post that says, "Hey Locals: Does anyone have a copy of the book __________ that I could borrow?" Finally, try book-swapping. On sites like Goodreads.com you trade books with other readers; you just pay the shipping.

The Future Of E-Books
As an English teacher, I may have been one of the last remaining hold outs against ebooks. However, once I gave in and tried it, I was hooked. Buying ebooks costs less than actual paper books. Couple that with online discounts, and you can save a bundle.  Also, many libraries are now loaning ebooks. If you are into the classics, or your book club throws in a classic once and a while to make y'all feel "scholarly," keep in mind that most classics are available online for free due to copyright expirations.

The Gift Of A Good Read
Another money saver is allowing others to buy books for you. In lieu of gifts, ask for books or gift cards to bookstores. You can share your wish lists of books on your blogs or social media sites for people to peruse during birthday and holiday seasons. Another fun idea is hosting a book swap. If your friends or family members are avid readers like you, make your next gathering a book-trading event. Rummage through your collections and bring books that you are willing to trade or loan. Everyone can set up a table of their favorite literature and then guests walk around and pick out what they want to read. You can always add stipulations to the party rules such as, books must be current, or books much be enjoyable reads that are recommended, etc.

By adding a little time, energy, and research into how you obtain your books, you can become not only rich in mind but also rich in wallet. Read on and save on, my literary super-savers!

Installing a Gift Shelf: Saving Money on Gift Giving

If you are anything like me, you are constantly running to the store before a child's birthday party and paying more than you had planned. By the time you add up the cost of the gift (which has to be the latest craze, of course), the card, the gift bag...and multiply that by the number of friends your children have...these parties can become a money pain.

One idea to help with these costs is to install a gift shelf. We keep our gift shelf in the basement, and we stock it with "standards": gifts for toddlers, gifts for kids (boys and girls), gifts for adults, and cards and gift bags for all occasions. All of the gifts for children are popular, but not a fad. If you buy trendy items, chances are they will go out of style before they are needed. All gifts should be bought during off seasons, when on sale, or on clearance. That way, when a party rolls around, your child goes downstairs, picks out a gift that is age appropriate and fits the child having the party, and off you go.

For adult gifts, we have found that keeping the standards of gift cards and wine are the best bet. So if it's a housewarming, going away, or birthday celebration, you will have something appropriate. Gift cards can be earned or purchased for a discount through credit card points, websites such as Swagbucks, and through deals offered by websites such as Groupon or Living Social. Wine can be purchased by the case for a cheaper amount than buying by the bottle, and many liquor stores will allow you to "mix and match" when putting together your case. Cards, gift bags, and tissue paper can be found in bulk at card outlets, and often on clearance at the end of a season. 

The gift shelf will not only save you money when shopping for others, but will also save you gas money by reducing how often you run out to the store; a definite plus in our economy today. The only challenges are keeping the kids (and you!) out of the gift shelf, and staying organized. Nothing is a bigger money drain than finding a box full of outdated toys and 25 "happy retirement!" cards years after you set up your shelf! Good luck, happy shopping, and happy saving!