My Life Rhapsody

Books, Books, Books

We LOVE books at our house. We don't own a TV and books are a favorite past-time for us, young and old alike. DD especially devours books now that she is reading.

How to find good books at a good price? Here's what has worked for us. 

1. Freecycle is the place to start. When looking for some early readers for DD, I put out a "wanted" email on freecycle. Within a few days, I had one lady giving me a box of educational books and materials. I also had a teacher friend see the freecycle post and offer to do some looking at her school for some early reader books. And of course, the best part is that anything on freecycle is FREE.

2. Paper Back Swap is the next best thing. I am new to this site and am still learning the ropes. Basically, you get books (new or gently used) for only the cost of shipping. You post books you no longer want and others can swap with you. Shipping is usually $1-3 per book, so this still ends up being a good deal.

3. Christian Book Distributors (CBD) is a Christian website with a lot of books. Of course there is also Amazon where you can buy either new or used books. And Ebay is a good option too, especially if you can buy a "lot" of similar books, which can save a bundle on shipping.

4. We also have a local bookstore called Bargain Books where books are always 30-70% off the retail price. A few times a year they have even deeper discounts on brand new books. They also have a used book section and a $1 BOOK section. Finding exactly what you are looking for may be a stretch, but if you are flexible (like I am, as I look for any early reader kind of book) you can find something that will suit you.

5. Another online option for those homeschoolers out there is Library and Educational Services. This is a site that is only for use by libraries, schools, homeschools, etc., not for for-profit agencies to use. They have wonderful sales and discounts on very popular items, like Adventures in Odyssey CDs and lots of books. Everything they offer is Christian, wholesome and family-friendly.

6. Last year I hosted an Usborne book show. Usborne books can be pricey, but if you host a show you can get some major deals. I was able to get something like $300 worth of products for $50. The hostess deals vary and additional incentives depend on the sales from your show, but it is an idea worth considering. I felt like the quality of Usborne books is excellent. And books are something I can "endorse" by hosting a show. I am not into make up or much else that I would really want to get behind and host a show for... but books I can do. And I did. My Usborne show was a great experience.

7. Ask for specific book titles for birthday and Christmas gifts. In my opinion, a book is much more valuable than a toy. I try to give book suggestions to grandmas and other family members when they want to buy something for my kids.

Those are some of the ways of obtaining books that have worked for us.