Anyway, reading can get to be a spendy hobby. Yes, libraries are filled with books, but if you're reading a particular series or looking for a specific book or books by a specific author, it can be tricky to find everything you want to read.
I also pick up books at yard sales and the Goodwill store occasionally. But again, when you're looking for specific books, it can be tough finding them all.
Oh and another source of cheap reading has been through my Kindle. The Kindle wasn't cheap for the start-up costs, but I've gotten tons of free books during Amazon's many promotional offers, which I occasionally post here.
So I started swapping books online through two different book swapping sites. They are PaperBackSwap and BookMooch. I've had much better luck on BookMooch though.
How do book swap sites work?
Well, you sign up for a free account and then list the books (paperback or hardback, doesn't matter) that you have to get rid of. When someone requests one of your books, you mail it to them... it usually costs about $2.50 for a paperback. Then you get a credit to pick a book from someone else and they mail it to you!
It's all super easy and is obviously much cheaper than buying books new. And usually even cheaper then buying them used from other websites.
You can even make a wishlist for books that you'd like, but no one has to offer at the moment. Then when a book on your wishlist becomes available, they'll send you a quick email to let you know. I love that feature and have scooped up several harder to find books that way!
Sign-Up Bonuses!
When you sign up with PaperBackSwap, they will give you a welcome gift of two free credits once you list ten books you want to swap. So two free books of your choice just for listing yours! Oh, and if you sign up using my referral link, I'll get a free book credit once you post your first ten books.
When you sign up for BookMooch, you'll receive 1/10th of a point for each book you list. So for every ten books you list, you'll receive one free credit for a book. That continues for as long as you're a member so that's a pretty good deal!
Either one you choose, it's sure to save you a ton of cash if you've been buying books new. Also, it's a great source to not only unload a bunch of old books, but also a great way to find books you've been looking for!
