Are you looking to pick up reading but have a tight budget? Reading as your new, low-cost hobby is very easy to obtain. Reading also has a lot of health benefits! It is a great way to relax and de-stress, improve your concentration, memory, vocabulary, and learn new things. There are so many resources to help you read more either for free or at a low cost.
There are many ways to read that fit within a budget. Here are a few:
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Local Libraries: Most communities offer free or cheap library cards to their citizens to be able to check out books from their catalogs. Is your library missing a book you would like to read? Ask your local librarian how you can request books to add to their catalogs.
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Libby: Libby is a free option that allows you to borrow books from your local library. You can access Libby through your web browser or on your mobile device. You simply input your library card information for your specific library and rent out all the books you want for free! Libby offers audio & ebook options.
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Google Books & Apple Books: These services allow you to search for and read books online. You can also download books to read offline. Check your phone or tablets app store for these options.
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Amazon Kindle: Amazon Kindle is a service that allows you to read books online. You can also download books to read offline. A Kindle device is not required to read these books either. Kindle offers options to read their books on your phone, tablet, or computer.
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Kindle Unlimited: Amazon offers a monthly subscription to read hundreds of books for free through their Kindle app. The $10 monthly subscription offers books throughout all genres for free with no return date or late fees. You can borrow up to 20 books to read at one time and take as long as you need. Amazon is always offering free trials to test this subscription out for a limited time to see if you like it!
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YouTube & Spotify: YouTube & Spotify have a large library of audiobooks that you can listen to for free. You can find audiobooks from a variety of sources, including publishers, authors, and volunteers. Spotify does offer over 300k books for purchase on their app as well.
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Audible: Audible offers over thousands of audiobooks through their app. They do offer several different subscription types with different benefits and perks. Once the book is selected, it is yours to keep it forever. Check your phone or tablets app store for this application.
If you would like to collect physical books but not pay retail prices, below are some options to save money on your favorite books:
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Pangobooks: This free app allows you to shop for free books from people all over the country at discount prices! Shipping is almost always under $5, and you can find practically brand new books cheaper than retailers. This app also allows you to sell your own books you no longer need or want. Pangobooks charges a small fee when your book is sold but books are free to list, and the app takes care of the shipping label for you. Just drop off your packaged books at your local post office and receive your payment directly in the app to use for more purchases or transfer to your bank account to use for other needs. I have found so many cheap books I have wanted to add to my collection through this app. Sellers provide a lot of photos to ensure a quality product!
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Used Book Stores: Local used bookstores are great options for cheap physical books. Half Price Books is a popular option for selling your books in person and shopping for gently used books as well. They will price out your books for you in the store and give you either store credit or cash for your items. Your local library may also offer used book sales throughout the year. These are great opportunities for cheap used books!
These are just one of the many places to get free books. With a little bit of research, you can find plenty of books to keep you entertained for free. Enjoying your favorite book doesn’t have to break the bank or your budget. Happy reading!
