FRUGAL WAYS TO FIND YOUR NEXT READ

READING IS A GREAT FRUGAL ACTIVITY

Reading is one of my favorite things to do for fun, and it doesn’t cost me anything. It is true that reading can be expensive if you are purchasing a lot of books on a frequent basis. However, with technology, it is so easy to get books for free without even needing the time to venture out to the library.

LIBRARY BOOKS

My favorite way to get books for free is by using the Libby library app. Through the app you can access both audiobooks and regular digital books that can be read in the app itself or by using the kind app. I realize most of you that like to read are already aware of using the Libby app (or Overdrive app which is, or already has been discontinued). But, I always feel the need to share because I have still occasionally come across people who have no idea about using the apps to get access to library books. You do need to have a library card in order to access the book through the app, but it only takes one visit to get that set up! In order to access more books you can often get a library card from neighboring counties.

Where I live the county next to us has an agreement with our library that we can get a free library card from the other county library too. In the Libby app, you can add multiple library cards which give you access to more books. Depending on where you live, it’s possible that your library might not offer this service or may have a very limited selection of books. If you search online there are other libraries across the county that will allow non-residents to pay an annual fee to join their library. If you are currently using something like amazon prime, it may be more cost-effective to pay the fee to join a library as a non-resident.

PATIENCE IS OFTEN REQUIRED TO SAVE MONEY

Often when using the library to borrow books that are currently in high demand, you will often have to wait for them to be available. So, you do have to have some patience if you want to be able to get them for free. But, I have never had trouble finding plenty of other things to read or listen to while I am waiting for those more popular titles. Plus, when it does become available it makes it more exciting to get it! The only challenge I have had with popular books is with kindle type books (rather than audiobooks) in being able to finish reading them before the 14-day library.

At least with my library if there are people waiting (or a certain number of people waiting), it will not allow you to renew the book when the 14 days is up.  You have to put it on hold again. I have read some books in pieces this way, but it’s not ideal. Then I sometimes feel under pressure to read the book in time, and it takes some of the enjoyment away!

So, currently, I am sticking to audiobooks which I never have trouble finishing in two weeks, and then less popular titles for the kindle type books. The less popular kindle type books I can keep renewing until I am finished reading. For more popular kindle type books that prefer not to try to read through the library app, I now have a new way of getting them by earning Amazon No Rush Digital Credits. I’ll get into that shortly.

AMAZON FIRST READS

I recently learned about two ways to get kindle books for free through amazon. Well, technically they are not free because you need to have an amazon prime membership. But, if you do already have that, there are two ways I have been getting books for free. The first one is by joining “first reads” on amazon.  There is no cost, joining just means you will get an email each month letting you know what books you can choose from to pick for free for the month. The books become yours, so you can read them whenever you get around to them. Don’t forget, you don’t need to have a kindle to read kindle books, you can download the kindle app to read them.

So, if you join first reads and are an amazon prime member you get to pick from a handful of books to get one for free. This month you got to pick two for free. I haven’t read them yet, because I have still been reading a library book that I keep renewing over and over again.  It’s not a super popular title right now, so I have been able to take the time to read it and keep renewing it when 14 days pass. Once I finish my library book, I’m excited to start reading some of the books I’ve gotten for free. I had fun picking out which two I would pick also.  I read reviews on amazon and on Good Reads and felt like I made good selections!

AMAZON NO RUSH CREDITS

Another way that I am pretty much obsessed with getting free books now is by using Amazon’s No Rush Shipping Credits. In the past, I had often seen the No Rush Shipping option offered on amazon when purchasing something, but for some reason I always ignored it. It never occurred to me that those credits could be used to purchase kindle books and rent or buy movies. They don’t expire for several months.  So, they can be saved up to make purchases. So, now whenever I purchase something on amazon I always consider whether or not I really need it right away, or if I can wait a little longer.

I have found that often the no-rush shipping arrives only a few days later. It does also give you an estimated arrival date, just like it does for regular prime shipping, so you can make a decision if you have that amount of time to wait or not. For example, it might say prime shipping will arrive Jan 14th, but no rush shipping will arrive Jan 18th.

GET THE CREDITS WHEN YOU CAN!

Not all items offer digital credits.  But, those that do have various ranges on the credits. The lowest I have seen is $1 and the highest I have received is $4. Yesterday I ordered new dog beds and there was a $1.50 digital credit offer for each bed. I didn’t need the beds immediately because we were just replacing the ones they currently had, so I chose no-rush shipping and will get another $3 to put toward a book purchase. Every time there is a book that I want to read in digital format, rather than audio, that is very popular and will be difficult to read in the loan time frame from the library I add it to my amazon “books I want to read” list.

As I accumulate credits I purchase the books with them. I have already been able to purchase 5 books that were on my list. And we also used the credits to rent a Christmas movie for free during the holidays that one of my daughters wanted us to watch. Also, when you purchase a book, even with credits, you accumulate points that you can get more credits towards the book in the future. Each time you hit 300 points, you get another $3. So, I find it fun and it’s a great way for me to get books that I really want to read but don’t want to have to keep borrowing from the library with gaps in between reading due to long hold times.

FINDING TIME TO READ

I often hear people say they just don’t have time to read. I used to say it myself. For the longest time, I didn’t read anymore because I thought I was just too busy for it. In 2020, I decided I really wanted to get back into reading.  I set a goal for myself to read 20 books, which at the time seemed like a huge amount of books since I had not been reading at all. I set up the goal in Good Reads. This is a great app for reading reviews about books, setting goals, and tracking my reading.

Another reason I like to track my books in there is that sometimes I do forget if I have already read a particular book, so I can just look up the book and see if I have it marked as read. In 2020 I ended up reading 40 books, exceeding my goal by 20 books! Each year I increased my goal a little bit.

READING GOALS

In 2022, I had a goal of reading 50 books and ended up reading 73. I don’t intend to keep increasing my goal each year. It’s not really about the number of books I am reading. For me, I like to see that I was able to read that many books without it really seeming like I put too much time into it. I really love to read, so setting a goal, helps me make sure that I am putting time into it. Seeing the number of books I have read each year helps me realize that I do have time to read.

A large portion of the books that I read were audiobooks. And yes, I do still count them as reading.  I enjoy the stories or info shared in books, and while I do like to sit and read, my time for that is much more limited than the time I have to listen to an audiobook while driving, cooking, cleaning, putting away laundry to whatever! I often read on my phone or iPad, which do sync up where I left off. So, I can read anywhere I am when I might end up with a few minutes to spare.  This might be waiting in line for gas, sitting in the doctor’s office waiting room, or eating my lunch at work.  I always find a little bit of time.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO DNF!

Let’s talk about DNFing.  DNF means did not finish. Depending on your personality once you get into a book it can be difficult to not finish it even if you are not enjoying it. I often struggle with this because I keep thinking what if something is just about to happen and I’m going to miss it by giving up on the book? This is especially difficult for me when the book had amazing reviews. I feel like maybe I just need to hang in there a little bit longer. But, the reality is that there are so many books out there that we will really enjoy.

Our time is limited and if we really value it, we don’t want to waste it on something we do not enjoy when we could be using it on something we love. So, if you are not enjoying a book, be brave and DNF it. Find something that you really love instead.

WHAT TO READ NEXT?

If you are anything like me, you might find that half of the fun about reading is figuring out what to put on your list of books you want to read! There are so many great places to find ideas for great books. One of my favorite ways to find new books is by listening to the podcast “What Should I Read Next?” hosted by Ann Bogel. I just find her show so fun and relaxing to listen to and I often get so many ideas about books I would love to read.

I am also in a Facebook book club that I really love and that is really active. Being in the Facebook book club is another way I have found so many books by learning about titles from readers that liked other books similar to those that I have enjoyed. What I also like about the Facebook book club is that it can feel good to see someone share their unpopular opinion on a book that you might feel the same way about. Like when you just can’t get into a book that it seems everyone else in the world is loving!

Thanks so much for checking in! If you would like to hear the podcast version of this topic check out Lola’s Frugal Life Podcast! Also, be sure to check out my other blog posts on this site!

I would love to have you join my mailing list! Sign up here:

Email address:

Leave this field empty if you’re human: