Millennial Money: A Reader’s Guide to Saving Money

I think we all know that I love reading. I have a lot of books, and I read an average of 2-3 books per week.

With that being said, reading can be an expensive habit. However, it doesn’t need to be. There are so many different resources that I have found that you can use to get major discounts on your books. Today, I am sharing them with you so you can learn my methods of madness and save some money — without sacrificing the quality or quantity of books that you read:

• Use the library: The library is a great resource for a number of reasons. With your library card, you can access an unlimited number of books for free. And, if your local library does not have the book you want, you can request it through interlibrary loan and have it shipped to your local library. However, in the current pandemic, the libraries are still closed. But, many apps such as Libby and Overdrive offer e-books and audiobooks for you to check out. I love using Libby versus Audible because I can access audiobooks without the $15 a month price tag.
• Become a Book of the Month Member: I love Book of the Month and I have been a member for almost two years. It’s $14.99 a month, and for that price, you can get one hardcover book. Normally those cost at least $20 — even if you get it from Target. What is also really cool is their add-on feature. For the price of $10, you can add up to two more books to your box — so if you can’t decide which book you want, or want another book from another month, you can do so as well. Finally, what I also love about Book of the Month is that there is so much variety. You can discover so many books that are not even released yet, and you can venture out of your comfort zone.
• Ebooks: I have a Kindle and a Nook (accidentally). Ebooks as a whole are a lot less expensive. Typically, they are about 40 percent off of the regular list price, and if you subscribe to sites like BookBub, you can get emails daily of ebook deals. I have a large ebook library, but that’s because I paid less than $3 for some of the books in my collection. The initial price of one can be super expensive, but it definitely saves you both money and space in the long run.
• Local Used Bookstores: I love going to my local bookstore for books, because you can find so many goodies for less. I love going there to find a backlist title, since many of the books they offer are a little older. Furthermore, most of the books are at least 50 percent off, and if you trade in your books, you can actually get a few extra dollars off as well. Another great resource is the library booksales/stores as well, as funds tend to go to your local library, and the books are cheaper than $5.
• Book Outlet: Last but not least, Book Outlet is something that every book lover should check out. I love their selection of recent reads, which is something that I often struggle with other sites. And, they often have coupon codes as well, which only adds to the savings.