How to find cheap books in a world of rising book prices
There's no doubt about it, book prices, along with everything else, seem to be increasing. While books have never been extraordinarily expensive, the costs of buying books can quickly add up. This is especially the case if you're an avid reader, or if you're a student who needs to buy textbooks. Fortunately there are several steps you can take to take advantage of lower book prices.
Shop and compare. There are many different book retailers around these days. Many of them will have an online presence where you can search for the book you want. In addition, there are many price compare websites that will tell you where you can buy your book for the lowest price. By shopping around with different companies, you'll be able to make some significant savings in the long run.
Sign up for discounts. Many book shops have newsletters they send through the post or via e-mail. These newsletters often have special offers, such as thirty per cent off the price of a book, or buy one get one free. Sign up for the newsletters for the shops where you regularly shop. There's no reason to pay full price if you have the opportunity to get a significant discount.
Shop second hand. There are many second hand bookstores around. In fact, they seem to be increasing as people tighten their belts and try to rein in their spending. Many second hand bookstores are well stocked, and often sell fairly new books. This is a very good option if you're looking to buy textbooks, which can be vary expensive brand new. Bear in mind that textbooks only change a small amount between different printings, so using a slightly older edition won't affect you too much.
Shop the discount tables. You may notice that your local bookstore has a bargain table with very cheap books on it. These books are usually paperback books. The reason that they are discounted so heavily is that they are considered returned. Because they haven't sold, the bookseller will sell them at a reduced price, and will get a kickback from the publisher. This is not so great for the publisher, but it's great for the reader. You'll be able to find new and popular books at a reduced cost by shopping around at these tables.
Use the library. One place where book prices are completely negligible is the library. Most places will have a library of some sort, even if it's a mobile library. Sign up for a library account, and make the most of it. You'll certainly find that you're saving on book prices when you're borrowing for free. Take care to return your books on time to avoid incurring any overdue fees.
Another way to keep book prices down is to be patient. Don't buy a hardcover version of a book. Wait for the trade paperback, or the mass market paperback edition. These are always much cheaper than the hardcover. They're also a lot lighter and easier to carry around. You may have to wait an extra month or two, but your wallet will definitely thank you for it.
There's no doubt about it, book prices, along with everything else, seem to be increasing. While books have never been extraordinarily expensive, the costs of buying books can quickly add up. This is especially the case if you're an avid reader, or if you're a student who needs to buy textbooks. Fortunately there are several steps you can take to take advantage of lower book prices.
Shop and compare. There are many different book retailers around these days. Many of them will have an online presence where you can search for the book you want. In addition, there are many price compare websites that will tell you where you can buy your book for the lowest price. By shopping around with different companies, you'll be able to make some significant savings in the long run.
Sign up for discounts. Many book shops have newsletters they send through the post or via e-mail. These newsletters often have special offers, such as thirty per cent off the price of a book, or buy one get one free. Sign up for the newsletters for the shops where you regularly shop. There's no reason to pay full price if you have the opportunity to get a significant discount.
Shop second hand. There are many second hand bookstores around. In fact, they seem to be increasing as people tighten their belts and try to rein in their spending. Many second hand bookstores are well stocked, and often sell fairly new books. This is a very good option if you're looking to buy textbooks, which can be vary expensive brand new. Bear in mind that textbooks only change a small amount between different printings, so using a slightly older edition won't affect you too much.
Shop the discount tables. You may notice that your local bookstore has a bargain table with very cheap books on it. These books are usually paperback books. The reason that they are discounted so heavily is that they are considered returned. Because they haven't sold, the bookseller will sell them at a reduced price, and will get a kickback from the publisher. This is not so great for the publisher, but it's great for the reader. You'll be able to find new and popular books at a reduced cost by shopping around at these tables.
Use the library. One place where book prices are completely negligible is the library. Most places will have a library of some sort, even if it's a mobile library. Sign up for a library account, and make the most of it. You'll certainly find that you're saving on book prices when you're borrowing for free. Take care to return your books on time to avoid incurring any overdue fees.
Another way to keep book prices down is to be patient. Don't buy a hardcover version of a book. Wait for the trade paperback, or the mass market paperback edition. These are always much cheaper than the hardcover. They're also a lot lighter and easier to carry around. You may have to wait an extra month or two, but your wallet will definitely thank you for it.