I LOVE books. I prefer to have a physical book over a digital version, and probably always will. That said, I'm not above checking out a digital book to see if I wish to purchase a hard copy later. Amazon's feature of having a look inside is quite often sufficient to convince me one way or another about a purchase.
It saddens me tremendously to see a place like Borders go down the tubes. It's been a pleasant pastime for many years to gather a stack of books and magazines to peruse over coffee while making decisions.
Hello Sarah love the article about ways to save, when to be frugal etc. You are so right I only wish that I had this information years ago and had actually taken the time to think about savings.
I would like to add the one item that is becoming a real epidemic and is like a wild competition with the younger parents. "Kids birthdays". What in the world is going on? The money that people are spending on others to have fun for a number of hours could be better used on a "meaningful family outing", college anything that will last and mean more to the kids than this lavish craziness that is getting out of control. Even the grand-parents have bought into the buy now and forget about the future. Recently my daughter cleaned out a closet as her children are growing and they now need full size bed units. In doing the changes in bed sizes she realized that she needed to make room. She had two bureaus and wanted to cut it down to one giving the room more space. She first had to clean out the closet so that hanging items that are to be used could fit. I can not tell you how much money was sitting on hangers from at least two years that had never been worn because they had been forgotten. This is a clear and present message that we are using "quantity instead of quality as a measurement of worth". I think she was amazed and also saw a little light, she actually told me this in shock. We are making good of the items as we are going to a consignment shop and swapping out for winter cloths that the kids need for the winter, we have cut down pants to shorts and sleeves off for the summer to really get some use out of the items. I would like to suggest that grand-parents, god parents and friends should consider starting a savings devise for the kids. I buy savings bonds for all holidays and a small items that I know they would have bought anyway, say McDonalds coupons or a day at the snow park for the family to enjoy and remember. It's okay to have plenty and enjoy it while you can, but remember that it's okay to protect the future of your living as well. I hope that you can find a way to get this information to young families and perhaps put a spin in it to have fun with savings. I did penny stocks with my nephews and nieces when they were little and when they became teenagers school made them aware of the value and how to use them to make more money. I still hear about this from them. You would have thought I gave them a million dollars.
I like paper back books and I like to get mine on line or a bookstore. To me I like paper backs better than e-books because I don't have to worry about my e-reader getting damaged while I'm on the go and paper back books don't take up that much space in my bag Also paper back books are easier to re-sell where many e-books can't be resold once bought only traded
I don't buy books any more if I don't have to, I live a block from the public library which has almost everything that I need. If they don't have it, our larger country library has newer titles.
I always buy hardcopy books, and almost exclusively online.
Digital is a dealbreaker for me, so it is immensely annoying when books I would like to read are only published digitally.
Online bookstores are very much cheaper than bricks and mortar, and their selection is a lot larger. And I admit, I haver a ownership issue with books, so I seldom use the library these days - considering the number of late fees I paid when I was younger, I am not sure this isn't the more frugal option anyway:-)
I much prefer hard-copy books to e-books. With that said, my strategy is varied. Books that seem interesting I'll rent at the library, while books that have really captured my interest I'll buy online or, if I have a gift card, at the bookstore. I have pretty specific tastes, and Amazon offers much better selection than my local Barnes & Noble.
I just received this card in the mail. I had not idea as to how this company received my information. I am on my way to to becoming free of debt. Thus, I do not not need or desire such a card. I feel violated to have received an actual card asking for activation as if I had applied. I will never activate or think about activating this card. The deception in which financial institutions practice should be illegal.
Although I love "real" books - I simply cannot afford them. I download some books to a Nook I received as a gift and borrow 5-6 books from the library per trip.
I used to accumulate books at an amazing rate, but after several moves I decided that dragging them around was just too much trouble. I now use the library more often than not. I live in a college town that does interlibrary loan with other universities in the state so I can get most anything. I still buy books on occasion IF they only cost a quarter at a garage sale or thrift store. Most books that I buy get put on my PaperBackSwap account right after they are finished so that I no longer have an accumulation problem. Books that I really like and want to keep on my shelves I mostly get through PBS as well. Contrary to their name, PaperBackSwap also has many "like new" hardcover books.
My book-buying philosophy in a nut-shell:
1. Never buy fiction unless it's designed to teach a point (i.e. Andy Andrews, etc)
2. Almost never buy E-books unless it is very compelling and there is no print alternative (many ebooks are free and there are good sites that make them available by genre)
3. Non-fiction: hardback or paperback, but always with highlighting, marking, and marginal note-taking in mind (can't do that on kindle or ebooks)
4. Always buy new books online unless there is a compelling reason to have it immediately
5. Scoure used book shops, thrift shops, and yard sales for good bargains and rare finds!
I used to be an avid reader and buyer of books. At one point my home had several thousand hard cover books and hundreds of paperbacks: Many bookcases filled with books, every flat surface had piles of books, books piled on the floor in precarious stacks, books in boxes, bags and bins in my basement and in my garage. And yes, I'd read every one of them often twice. I bought books online (Amazon, Chapters, and BookCloseouts.com as well as eBay), I bought books from yard sales, used book shops, local book shops, big box book shops and Walmart.
I had to give up the books when I moved from a medium sized home (with garage) to a tiny apartment. During the downsizing and decluttering I sold or donated all but about 20 books.
Now I only buy digital books on Amazon Kindle and if there's a book I want that's not available for Kindle I either find it at the library or move on to another book. The interesting thing is that I'm finding I've bought MORE annually with the Kindle books than I ever did with the physical books because I never have to worry about clutter and running out of space!
I buy books multiple ways. Sometimes I buy them at the bookstore, but sometimes through Amazon or another book seller. Sometimes I buy them at garage sales, too.
I usually buy my books from Amazon via the Kindle. They alwayas have such a great selection of free books and ocassionally I give in and buy an electronic book that I really want to read. I feel better doing this than buying 'paper books' - I believe it makes an impact on the environment.
I stopped buying books AT ALL a while back. There are so many books that I already own that I haven't looked at (let alone read), and pretty much anything else I want I can get at the local library.
Our M.O. is test drive the books with the library, then order from half.com through ebates. I can't find a cheaper way than that - excited to see what everyone else has to say. :)
I 'liked' WiseBread on facebook.
I always look at the library first, then I buy wherever they are cheapest! Amazon, used book stores, Kindle edition...
Buying books quandary:
I LOVE books. I prefer to have a physical book over a digital version, and probably always will. That said, I'm not above checking out a digital book to see if I wish to purchase a hard copy later. Amazon's feature of having a look inside is quite often sufficient to convince me one way or another about a purchase.
It saddens me tremendously to see a place like Borders go down the tubes. It's been a pleasant pastime for many years to gather a stack of books and magazines to peruse over coffee while making decisions.
Thanks for this article! :)
Barbara
Hello Sarah love the article about ways to save, when to be frugal etc. You are so right I only wish that I had this information years ago and had actually taken the time to think about savings.
I would like to add the one item that is becoming a real epidemic and is like a wild competition with the younger parents. "Kids birthdays". What in the world is going on? The money that people are spending on others to have fun for a number of hours could be better used on a "meaningful family outing", college anything that will last and mean more to the kids than this lavish craziness that is getting out of control. Even the grand-parents have bought into the buy now and forget about the future. Recently my daughter cleaned out a closet as her children are growing and they now need full size bed units. In doing the changes in bed sizes she realized that she needed to make room. She had two bureaus and wanted to cut it down to one giving the room more space. She first had to clean out the closet so that hanging items that are to be used could fit. I can not tell you how much money was sitting on hangers from at least two years that had never been worn because they had been forgotten. This is a clear and present message that we are using "quantity instead of quality as a measurement of worth". I think she was amazed and also saw a little light, she actually told me this in shock. We are making good of the items as we are going to a consignment shop and swapping out for winter cloths that the kids need for the winter, we have cut down pants to shorts and sleeves off for the summer to really get some use out of the items. I would like to suggest that grand-parents, god parents and friends should consider starting a savings devise for the kids. I buy savings bonds for all holidays and a small items that I know they would have bought anyway, say McDonalds coupons or a day at the snow park for the family to enjoy and remember. It's okay to have plenty and enjoy it while you can, but remember that it's okay to protect the future of your living as well. I hope that you can find a way to get this information to young families and perhaps put a spin in it to have fun with savings. I did penny stocks with my nephews and nieces when they were little and when they became teenagers school made them aware of the value and how to use them to make more money. I still hear about this from them. You would have thought I gave them a million dollars.
"Liked" you on Facebook :)
I don't buy new books, I borrow from family and friends.
I like paper back books and I like to get mine on line or a bookstore. To me I like paper backs better than e-books because I don't have to worry about my e-reader getting damaged while I'm on the go and paper back books don't take up that much space in my bag Also paper back books are easier to re-sell where many e-books can't be resold once bought only traded
I don't buy books any more if I don't have to, I live a block from the public library which has almost everything that I need. If they don't have it, our larger country library has newer titles.
I always buy hardcopy books, and almost exclusively online.
Digital is a dealbreaker for me, so it is immensely annoying when books I would like to read are only published digitally.
Online bookstores are very much cheaper than bricks and mortar, and their selection is a lot larger. And I admit, I haver a ownership issue with books, so I seldom use the library these days - considering the number of late fees I paid when I was younger, I am not sure this isn't the more frugal option anyway:-)
I use the local library, and PaperBackSwap.com
I much prefer hard-copy books to e-books. With that said, my strategy is varied. Books that seem interesting I'll rent at the library, while books that have really captured my interest I'll buy online or, if I have a gift card, at the bookstore. I have pretty specific tastes, and Amazon offers much better selection than my local Barnes & Noble.
I just received this card in the mail. I had not idea as to how this company received my information. I am on my way to to becoming free of debt. Thus, I do not not need or desire such a card. I feel violated to have received an actual card asking for activation as if I had applied. I will never activate or think about activating this card. The deception in which financial institutions practice should be illegal.
Although I love "real" books - I simply cannot afford them. I download some books to a Nook I received as a gift and borrow 5-6 books from the library per trip.
I mostly buy books at thrift stores and yard sales. I'd love to go the library more often but most of the year they're only open while I'm at work.
I used to accumulate books at an amazing rate, but after several moves I decided that dragging them around was just too much trouble. I now use the library more often than not. I live in a college town that does interlibrary loan with other universities in the state so I can get most anything. I still buy books on occasion IF they only cost a quarter at a garage sale or thrift store. Most books that I buy get put on my PaperBackSwap account right after they are finished so that I no longer have an accumulation problem. Books that I really like and want to keep on my shelves I mostly get through PBS as well. Contrary to their name, PaperBackSwap also has many "like new" hardcover books.
My book-buying philosophy in a nut-shell:
1. Never buy fiction unless it's designed to teach a point (i.e. Andy Andrews, etc)
2. Almost never buy E-books unless it is very compelling and there is no print alternative (many ebooks are free and there are good sites that make them available by genre)
3. Non-fiction: hardback or paperback, but always with highlighting, marking, and marginal note-taking in mind (can't do that on kindle or ebooks)
4. Always buy new books online unless there is a compelling reason to have it immediately
5. Scoure used book shops, thrift shops, and yard sales for good bargains and rare finds!
I used to be an avid reader and buyer of books. At one point my home had several thousand hard cover books and hundreds of paperbacks: Many bookcases filled with books, every flat surface had piles of books, books piled on the floor in precarious stacks, books in boxes, bags and bins in my basement and in my garage. And yes, I'd read every one of them often twice. I bought books online (Amazon, Chapters, and BookCloseouts.com as well as eBay), I bought books from yard sales, used book shops, local book shops, big box book shops and Walmart.
I had to give up the books when I moved from a medium sized home (with garage) to a tiny apartment. During the downsizing and decluttering I sold or donated all but about 20 books.
Now I only buy digital books on Amazon Kindle and if there's a book I want that's not available for Kindle I either find it at the library or move on to another book. The interesting thing is that I'm finding I've bought MORE annually with the Kindle books than I ever did with the physical books because I never have to worry about clutter and running out of space!
I buy books multiple ways. Sometimes I buy them at the bookstore, but sometimes through Amazon or another book seller. Sometimes I buy them at garage sales, too.
I used to buy through a book club but their books are expensive! I now buy through Amazon and also use Kindle on my Ipod and love it!!
I usually buy my books from Amazon via the Kindle. They alwayas have such a great selection of free books and ocassionally I give in and buy an electronic book that I really want to read. I feel better doing this than buying 'paper books' - I believe it makes an impact on the environment.
I tweeted my answer here: http://twitter.com/darastar/status/95831192330444800
I stopped buying books AT ALL a while back. There are so many books that I already own that I haven't looked at (let alone read), and pretty much anything else I want I can get at the local library.
I download most fiction or use library. If I really want the hardback edition I order online or wait to find used.
"Like" you on FaceBook!
Our M.O. is test drive the books with the library, then order from half.com through ebates. I can't find a cheaper way than that - excited to see what everyone else has to say. :)