Books are so expensive

@rosebug23 (1906)
Australia
June 10, 2008 5:33pm CST
I love to read but i am finding the cost of books is limiting the amount i read. I look in second hand book stores but find it hard to find books i am interested in, i seem to be reading books that i don't really enjoy just to have something to read.The library is too far for me to travel to and the mobile library comes on a day that i just don't have the time to get to so i am finding it very hard to get books that i enjoy at a cost i can afford.I can read a book in a day or 2 to 3 days depending on the size of the book and the subject. My friends and neighbours all read so we swap books constantly but they are having the same problem as me.Do you have the same problem as my friends and myself.
6 responses
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
10 Jun 08
Books can be very expensive. Our library has a book sale every half a year or so where you can get books like good novels and stuff for a dollar or even less. That's when I stock up. You might want to inquire with the library in your area. People come with big crates and fill them with books. It may be worth the trip for you. You can also try garage sales.
@rosebug23 (1906)
• Australia
10 Jun 08
I have never thought of the library selling their books that is really intersting i will give them a call thanks
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
10 Jun 08
They want to be up-to-date with their books and sell off some of their old stock. They don't have infinite space and this is a way to make space for new stuff.
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
10 Jun 08
Oh rosebug you should have come to melbourne, over the weekend there were I think three places throwing out books for 3 for $10...you could have bought a car load....
@rosebug23 (1906)
• Australia
10 Jun 08
lilaclady i have seen these sales here as well but they are usually romance novels that i am not really into but it is great for all those who enjoy them.
@gabs8513 (48687)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 08
Hi Rose I actually get my Books of Ebay now as they are so cheap and the Books I like are on Ebay, so I get them with my Earnings from my Paypal, I love to read to I wonder how much it would cost for me to send them to you when I have read them, shame you are not in this Country I could have sent you them on, then again it depends what you like to read lol
@oldboy46 (2129)
• Australia
7 Jan 09
The cost of books can be prohibitive we find too. There is no second hand book shop near us but when we have ventured into one during visits to larger towns, we have found the cost way out or proportion to the actual value. Once we were going to take some of our books to one of these second hand book places and exchange them for some others. We did expect that we would not be able to get the same number of books back, i.e. it would not be a 1 for 1 exchange but were horrified to find that they were basically only prepared to let us have 1 book for every 4 we traded in. All these books we took in were in good condition and in fact most had only been read maybe twice so looked brand new. But we were not prepared for that sort of exchange so we took the books with us and left. When we got back home the next day, my partner went to one of the local Op Shops. They had some books there that we liked and when she told them what had happened at the Book Exchange, they offered to help. We gave them the books we had so they could be sold and ever since that time they make sure they have a wide variety of books available. Some are donated locally but often they take the ones they get in and trade them with their other branches of Op Shops. Now we seldom buy any books unless it is from the Op Shop and find they give excellent value plus when we have read the books, we return them and buy some new ones. Just a little recycling in our own way. They do have a huge variety of books available and fairly inexpensive as well. Depending on which Op Shop and which books, the prices range between 10 cents - $3 is the most we have paid for any book. One of the Op Shops always has those Readers’ Digest books and they cost between 20 cents and $1. Personally I think that is what you should try rosebug, the Op Shops. Checking out and buying from the Op Shops serves a dual purpose in that you get books for cheap and if you return them to the Op Shop they can then resell the books and made some more $.
@kerriannc (4279)
• Jamaica
10 Jun 08
Yes I realize that the cost of books are far out of my reach too. Last week I was going for an interview/exam and stop at a lady who I used to buy books for and the cost I hear makes me move on. There are books club here on the net. I start being on the net since last month. I love to read but MYLOT has taken up my time because I am here straight through the day. Maybe you can try the net clubs.
@rosebug23 (1906)
• Australia
10 Jun 08
Another great tip to look up on the internet i will give them all a try later today Thanks
@thaMARKER (2503)
• Philippines
11 Jun 08
I'm a fan of books as well. I like fiction and magazines (fashion, computer, housekeeping, and others) but even if they're second hand they're still expensive for me. hehehe.. to think i'll be reading them (most likely) once. When i was still studying, what i do is just borrow from our library. Now that i'm a graduate, i only borrow from friends.