Saving money

@Anne18 (11029)
November 27, 2009 12:04pm CST
Here are two ways that I am going to be saving money for next year, and thought I would share them with you all, perhaps we could brainstorm and come up with some more good ideas. 1) I'm quite a reader and buy lots of books to read, I only normally buy the cheap books at £1.99 from cheap shops, but I can read two books a week sometimes. I added it up and £1.99 x 52 weeks of the year is £103.48p. I don't tend to keep many of the books as I have no room to store lots of books unless they are really special. So this way of saving money is so common sense, I'm going to TRY very hard to go to the library and borrow ALL the books that I will read next year. Our library will be pleased as they are always asking for more people to take books out of the library. Bad thing about myself borrowing books from the library is I very often tend to forget to take the books back on the due date or before the due date, hence I don't use the library that often. BUT I am going to write the due date on a nice BIG piece of paper and pin it on the pinboard so I can always see it! Will it work?? Hope so. Another good thing about our lirary is that they have a big letterbox and if the library is closed you can post the books through the letterbox, doesn't count if it is on the due date as they only empty it in the mornings.
3 people like this
20 responses
@wallacb3 (88)
• United States
28 Nov 09
Your idea is great, ... but was there supposed to be a second? You mentioned two ways.... I love to read also, when I can find the time. Currently I've been speeding through new parenting books with my newborn. Normally I devour anything I can find. Another good idea is to swap books with friends. Just make sure to return them, lol. You could also always try to sell your books online.
@Anne18 (11029)
28 Nov 09
The second one wouldn't fit in the space so I did another disussion for it titled saving money part 2, hope you can find it
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
27 Nov 09
I just downloaded the new Amazon web-based Kindle for free and tried some of the free books to read online. It is a bit easier than Project Gutenberg, but truly there are a lot of places online to read books for free. Of course I am talking more about classic works of literature than the latest novel on some best-seller list. But there are millions of wonderful classics that most people have not yet read. What is your second way?
@Anne18 (11029)
24 Dec 12
I have just got a kindle and have some very good free books on it, happy readings. looking forward ot reading 52 books next year 2013
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
30 Nov 09
I use a big calendar that hangs above my computer for anything and everything that needs to be remembered. Always post the times too. You could try using this idea instead of a big piece of paper that might get invertently tossed out. We have used bookstores in our area. You might also check their prices in comparison to retail. Using the library is an excellent idea.
• China
30 Nov 09
A good idea! You set the example for all of us, thank you very much!
• Philippines
28 Nov 09
Saving is really hard especially if you're a single mom like me. I shoulder all the expenses (no choice) and budgeting is very difficult. I believe in savings, so what i do is to forgo some unnecessary expenses like eating out always, and buying things i don't really need. I also see to it that i am able to put some coins in my piggy bank everyday. I also allot a specific amount for daily allowance of my daughter and me. Whatever amount left from the allowance i keep it as savings.
@puccagirl (7294)
• Israel
17 Oct 10
Using a library is a wonderful idea indeed. I have also been trying to read more free e-books lately, which is also completely free. The only downside is that it is not quite the same thing to read in front of the computer as it is to read a real book, but you get used to it!
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
28 Nov 09
or you could see if there is a site for book trading in your area. One I have used in the past www.bookmooch.com I love reading too.
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
28 Nov 09
That's an awesome way to save money, really. And in fact, only buy the book which you really want to keep. There are just lots of books in the library that I wish I could read as well; bestsellers aplenty. Pinning the due-date on the board is a good thing so that you'll not be paying the library fines. Awesome..
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
28 Nov 09
The library is a great way to get to read a lot of quality books for free. I am kind of bad about getting them back on time too but I think the memo will help you. I haven't been in a while but now that you've started this discussion, I'll have to go back..lol..The library in my town also has a section in which you can check out movies. It is great way to save money.
• United States
28 Nov 09
I have 2 daughters that are very big readers as well and collect books like crazy. However they do not buy very many most they get at the local clothes closet or from friends which make them free. You can always pass books between other readers as yourself and save as well. Another idea is to buy what ones you want from Amazon for mere pennies and them resell them on the same thing. Another idea is join the free-cycle in your area on yahoo and give them away and ask for more in return. Also could order some from www.dollertree.com. I figure you are big on personal products such as shampoo and other things in that nature. I would recommend clipping coupons and looking for a sale and stocking up for a year or a few months at a time. I buy in bulk and save a lot. same can be done for almost everything in your life now days. I buy my laundry soap in bulk and save big time. there are these little things that don't sound like much but in the end are big savers. You can also buy bulk in foods like flour, sugar, meal, coffee, cooking oils, and things like this that is basics and can help save a lot more then you might think of at this moment. I buy 25-50 pounds of sugar every month along with flour, oils and beans. These are also things that do not go bad. Without electric like so many were last winter with ice storms and such we all need to think a head for these year.
@sunnycool (12714)
• India
28 Nov 09
I dont know if there are any shops which provide books on rent.At our place we can rent books (initially we pay full cost of the book) and then return back so you would get an 60-70% back of the cost of the book. If at all you have this kind of rule in any of your stores this works real good coz you get to read your fav books and get 70% of the money you paid.so its real profit gud day.
@shuila (15)
• China
28 Nov 09
To download e-books be a good idea.E-books are resources,inexhaustible
• Philippines
28 Nov 09
yeah saving money is very important. for things not necessary, it is best to forego buying. i also like books, and like you i usually by it at the books for sale. i have a good collection of books - but those books only that i like. especially the inspiration books. but for reference materials i just borrow from the library or on the net. so in a way i saved.
@fugems (8)
• United States
28 Nov 09
I also have a good way to save money ,that's buying items from china ,from webside . fugems.com you can also have a try
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
27 Nov 09
i do lots of things to save money such as go to the library each week and get dvds, books and all srots of things. we get a print out from the library of the books that we have taken out and put it on the fridge and since we go every week, we take the list and make sure we have all the books to take it.
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
27 Nov 09
Using the library is a good way to save money. You can also get DVD's at most libraries, and our library has recently started having video games to lend out. You can also sell the books that you have on line and make a little money for yourself. It is a good idea to write down the due dates on a large peice of paper. We usually go to the library on the same day every week, so that way I know on Tuesday I will likely have something to take back and I make Tuesday library day. I also check on line because our library has a web site where you can check your account, so every Tuesday before we go I check to make sure I have everything that is due ready to bring in. That way I don't get fined.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
27 Nov 09
Would it be more beneficial to just go to the library or maybe limit your book grabbing as well as resale said books online or to another book store? Maybe even reselling them to the cheap book store you go to. I would think that reselling them would be more beneficial where you think you'll get more then you paid for for them. Of course the older they are the less expensive they are, so that doesn't always work.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
27 Nov 09
This is an excellent idea - you just have to remind yourself to go and change the books. Or perhaps if you have not finished then you could phone them and renew? I do not buy new books. I bought three for the equivalent of one pound at lunchtime today from the Cancer Society.. Unless the book is a keeper then I give them back tot he Society so that they can sell again.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
27 Nov 09
Checking out books from the library is a great way to save money. The problem that I have with being able to do it is that it's nearly impossible to make it to the local library when they are open because I always have at least two children with me and they don't know how to behave at the library. Otherwise, I think I would check out books from the library. One the other hand, though I do have a tendency to reread all of the books that I buy so I don't purchase nearly as many books in a year as you do.
@madteaparty (2748)
• Japan
28 Nov 09
If your note to remind yourself to give back the book doesn't work, you can set an alarm in your phone for the due date, or if you keep an agenda, write it down there too :). You can find another ways to save money, like changing to cheaper brands in the supermarket when you buy food, or buying the packs of 2 or more items that are cheaper than buying just one. Also if you eat outside home, instead of going to a restaurant you can bring already prepared food at home, like a sandwich or a salad. Hope your saving works!