Saving Money at the Library via Shutterstock
I’m a library nerd: I love books, but I don’t love paying for them. For the holidays, I bought my brother-in-law a gift card to a book store so he could download eBooks, which he apparently spends a lot of money on. I asked my sister if he ever considered downloading them from the library. They didn’t even know that was an option! Did you?
Here are 21 25 ways the public library can save you money.
- DVDs – Current and classic. Even new releases. Why pay for Netflix, Redbox or Hulu?
- CDs – Bring them home and copy them. Just got Lorde’s CD from the library – free trumps buying from Amazon or the used CD store.
- Textbooks – These can cost a small fortune! I got through college borrowing textbooks from the library.
- Ebooks – Even small libraries have a selection of free eBooks for your Kindle and other devices.
- Newest book releases – Place a hold and have it delivered right to your library. Okay, so you won’t get it the day it comes out, but if you’re like me, you probably won’t get to read it the second you want to, anyway.
- See what the book is like before buying it. Some books you want to own, but it’s hard to tell from a brief description or a cover if it’s exactly what you’re looking for. And if you’re ordering online, you’re not likely to get more than before committing to buy. When redecorating my son’s room, I ordered a stack of DIY room makeover books from the library with no financial obligation. Only one was really right for me. That one I then ordered from Amazon Used books.
- Preschool Story Time – Those baby gym classes cost you enough already. Why not take the toddlers to the free story times at the library as well?
- Book Sales – Most libraries have big used book sales a couple of times a year. When my kids were little, this was a great way to pick out picture books and early readers for them to grow into.
- Family Shows – Our library has had quite a few of these. They’ve had magicians, bubble shows and puppet shows. Always free. And the kids love them.
- My friend Colleen, a Bargain Hunter Extraordinaire, offers the next group of tips – “Our library loans out chess sets…”
- …Volleyball sets…
- …jigsaw puzzles…
- …as well as framed lithographs you can borrow for two month stints…
- …free passes to city cultural attractions…
- …lecture series…
- …a garden club group…
- …speakers…
- …authors…
- …free movie nights with ‘new to DVD’ selections…
- …and newspapers from which you can read the weekly ads.”
- And, of course, there’s always the free internet!
- Di says: Some libraries now have Freegal, free music/songs to download. You’ll have to check your library to see if they have it available.
- Di says: Our local library has a huge Christmas party for patrons, its a way of saying thank you for the year.
- Di says her library also has: a Genealogy dept.
- Di says: Even if your library doesn’t have a particular book, some libraries can do an interlibrary loan for you (you may have a small fee to do this, ours charges $1) Its always nice to read a best seller, and knowing you didn’t have to put $$$ to do so. Enjoy our library, and please be nice to your staff.
How much money do you stand to save? One reader estimated that her public library has already saved her a quarter of a million dollars! Think how much closer she is to retiring because of that money she’s saved!?! It’s mind boggling.
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price.
I can download free audio books on my ipod. I favor short stories.
I can’t believe you would encourage taking CDs from the library and copying them. I’m pretty sure this is illegal (even if not often prosecuted) and I doubt you’d be happy if someone took info from your blog and copied it without compensation.
Nadya, you are so right! Thanks for pointing this out. I can’t believe I didn’t even think of copying CDs as being illegal — I was just trying to be frugal! That being said, I feel no guilt burning copies of those Justin Bieber CDs for my kids; I don’t want to be putting anymore $$$ in his pocket! But seriously, I’m not trying to be smug, I just didn’t even think of it as stealing. Which brings up an ethical question for BargainBabers out there — is it okay to copy CDs just because you CAN?
Some libraries now have Freegal, free music/songs to download. You’ll have to check your library to see if they have it available. Our local library has a huge Christmas party for patrons, its a way of saying thank you for the year. Also a Genealogy dept. Even if your library doesn’t have a particular book, some libraries can do an interlibrary loan for you (you may have a small fee to do this, ours charges $1) Its always nice to read a best seller, and knowing you didn’t have to put $$$ to do so. Enjoy our library, and please be nice to your staff.
@Di Wow, what a library you have at your disposal! I’ve never heard of a public library throwing parties, let alone one with a genealogy department. Very cool! I’m going to add your ideas to our growing list!