Hey guys, today I’m coming at you with a new How To post! I haven’t written one of these posts since late last year so I think another one is definitely in order. Today, I’ll be giving you guys some pointers on How To: Read on A Budget! I’m definitely not a pro, but today I’ll be sharing some of my bookish wallet wisdom with you all!
You can read my latest How To posts where I talked about How To: Get The Most Out of Your Audible Purchase & How To: Plan For A Readathon!
Let me know what you would like me to talk about next!
SOME QUICK ADVICE
Firstly, if you’re looking at trying to save some money, and saving your wallet some pain. You should look at getting a library card. I know that not everyone is fond of libraries, but I’m going, to be honest here, I think that’s dumb. You can have access to Overdrive of Libby if you’re fond of ebooks or audiobooks. Or, you can borrow a whole month’s worth of books for free physically. And, personally, I think it’s totally worth it.
But, if you’re not fond of borrowing your books, you should subscribe to online bookstores like Bookdepository or Wordery. And you should also subscribe to your local bookstores like Dymocks, QBD or Barnes and Noble. This way, you will know whenever they’re planning on having a sale. Personally, I prefer to only buy books if they’re on sale, not because I don’t want to support the author or because I don’t care enough about the book, but because I’m not a millionaire and this is the only way I can manage to purchase books.
There are also other options like buying used books on Depop or #Booksfortrade (Twitter). You also might be able to find a Book Swap in your local shopping centre or something along those lines.
A STEP BY STEP
Go through your bookshelves and access which books you do an don’t want, do a little unhaul. This way, you’ll be much more excited about the books you haven’t read on your shelves. I find this is a really great way to make it so you aren’t focusing on the new books coming in, but more so on the books you already have.
If you work on your shelves and the books you already own, then you also won’t feel too bad when you eventually attain some new books.
Next up, you should stop going to bookstores. I know, I know, I’m a heathen etc etc. We all love going to bookstores but, let’s be real, they can be too tempting at times. Just walking past a bookstores makes my wallet twitch so why tempt fate?
Don’t put yourself on a book buying ban, but do try to give yourself a book buying limit. Give yourself a money limit per month, or a particular number of books you’ll allow yourself to buy each month. I recommend a money limit, but you do you.
I mentioned this before, but I’ll mention it again. For this step, I recommend going to the library. I don’t know why you’re on a budget and either way it’s none of my buisness. But, a library is a great place to use free wifi, heating/air-con and a great place to have free access to materials like free books, DVDs or magazines etc.
On this note, there are also amazing resources such as free classics in the public domain.
My last step is just to mind your spending. It’s super plain and painfully obvious, but I think it’s the best advice I can give. You should avoid any crazy spending. Try your hardest to avoid using your own money, use gift cards or money you are gifted on a birthday or Christmas etc. Avoid buying books full prince and instead wait a couple months after release or pre-order, I find that a book usually increases in price during the month of release. Or, just make a wishlist and send it to your friends and family when you know you have a birthday coming up.
HOW DO YOU READ ON A BUDGET?
DID I MISS ANY CRUCIAL ADVICE?
HAVE HAVE 
allonsythornraxx 
I love libraries and almost never buy books, especially from book stores! Why spend money on a book you’ll only read once when you can get it for free!!
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Haha, I totally relate t that – I try to only buy books if I can’t get it in any form at the library or if I’ve read it before and I’m pretty positive I will re-read it.
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Great post and advice! The closest Barnes & Noble for me is 45 mins so I rarely go. I do a lot of online book shopping and I try to save my gift cards that I receive at Christmas to buy those books. Otherwise, I buy most of my books on bargain for less than $5/a book.
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Thank you! Haha, yes I feel like shopping this way is also a great way to exercise some self-control.
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i mean i know i’m always commenting this on your blog, but i love this type of post. (& the repetition is your fault, really, for being so consistently entertaining and talented.)
i love these tips! unhauling especially is a good one – whenever i’m feeling meh about the books i own, going through them is a great way to get excited again!
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Ahh thank you so much, Emma! 😳😳
I’m so glad you enjoy these types f posts and that this was helpful! I know, I never thought that unhauling would be a solution, but it is actually a great motivator???
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Libraries are amazing ❤ ❤ ❤ I get like 99% of my books there and I have no regrets
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Yes, libraries are how I read 90% of the books I read!
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The library is the only reason I can read so many books! It’s an amazing magical place! I didn’t even know there were people who didn’t like libraries 🤷♀️
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I feel the same way! If it wasn’t for the library I wouldn’t be able to read the majority of books that I do! Haha, I know! There are people who don’t like them and it really baffles me, I guess it must be nice to have that level of privilege.
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I need to start doing this because I have spending so irresponsibly on books and I have a limited space in my dorm room 😂. Great post!
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Haha, I know that feel! I just try to buy at thrift stores & only in sales. Look for 2 for 1 deals (and others like that) and Bookdepository sales online, they’re really helpful!
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Great Post! Something that has helped me recently to be more mindful of my spending habits is tracking them in my new bullet journal 🙂 I write down how many books I buy each month and having that in front of me really helps to not go overboard!
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Thank you! 💖 I am not big into bullet journalling but I can totally understand how that would help! I am posting a massive 2018 haul at the end of the year, so adding the books I get each month to that actually helps me much in the same way, it has really shown me where and when I spend the most money throughout the year.
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I think it helps to just write the books down somewhere, be it on a piece of paper or on a word document 🙂 Oh that’s a great way to do it too! 🙂
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