How to Buy Cheap Books

Do you love to read, but lack the budget to buy a lot of new ones? Walking into a large bookstore, it can seem like all the new and exciting books you want to read are just too expensive for you to own. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to acquire inexpensive books, whether online, through e-readers, or just in your local neighborhood.

EditSteps

EditSearching Online Sites

1. Use online bookstores to find books available at low prices. One of the most convenient ways to buy cheap books is to do so through online bookstores. Sites like Amazon.com and Abebooks.com offer used editions of many books at what are usually competitive prices. Check for used books on these and other sites to find the best deals.^[1]
   
   • Other online bookstores that sell books for cheap prices include Powell’s Books, Better World Books, and Alibris.^[2]
   • If you’re buying a textbook for a college course, you may be able to find an older edition of the book online for a relatively cheap price. Ask your professor if the older edition will cover the necessary material for the course.
   • You can also find a lot of cheap books for sale on eBay. Although some books, especially rare books, have to be bid on, many listings include a “Buy It Now” option that allows you to purchase a book immediately instead of participating in an online auction.
2. Compare book prices with online comparison engines. In addition to making cheap books available, there are several websites that also enable you to compare book prices offered by different online bookstores as you’re shopping. Use these engines to determine the absolute best deal on a book you’re trying to buy.^[3]
   
   • Both Bing Shopping and Google Books allow you to compare book prices across multiple online bookstores with just the book title or ISBN.
   • If you’re shopping for a college textbook, WeCompareBooks is your best bet; the site specializes in comparing textbook prices.
3. Peruse sites that focus on selling secondhand books. Although online bookstores like Amazon may offer used books for sale, there are some sites that ONLY sell secondhand books, which means nearly all of their books are relatively cheap.
   
   • Thriftbooks.com and bookdepository.com are two of the more popular sites specializing in secondhand books at cheap prices.^[4]
   • Daedalusbooks.com offers relatively new books that went unsold and are thus sold by the publisher at a dramatically reduced price.^[5]
4. Search Craigslist or Facebook for cheap books being sold locally. Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist both enable you to search for cheap books sold by private individuals in your area. Consider this option if you don’t mind buying books from strangers in person.^[6]
   
   • Note that you’ll probably have to travel to the seller’s home in order to buy the book.

EditGetting Cheap Ebooks

1. Invest in an e-reader or a device that you can read ebooks on. Although you may have to shell out some money upfront for an e-reader, it’ll be worth it in the long run when you’re saving money buying and renting ebooks. For maximum cost effectiveness, invest in a device that does more than just store ebooks.^[7]
   
   • For example, while dedicated e-readers (e.g., the Kindle) can only be used to read ebooks, devices like computers, tablets, and smartphones, can also be used to read books electronically in addition to their numerous other functions.
   • Dedicated e-readers range in price from $50 to $200. If you decide to go this route, go for a cheaper model to maximize your savings.
2. Download free book-reading apps. Once you’ve acquired your e-reading device, download one or several of the various free book-reading apps available. Some of the most popular apps include the Kindle app, the Nook app, and Overdrive.^[8]
   
   • Note that some of these apps, such as the Nook app, are free to download but require a paid subscription or require that you pay for ebooks before downloading them.
   • If you’re reading ebooks on a computer, make sure your computer is able to open and read PDF documents, as many ebooks are made available this way. You may have to download Adobe Acrobat in order to be able to read PDFs.
3. Search for cheap ebooks online. Once you’re ready to start downloading ebooks, search for cheap ones on online bookstores to start buying and downloading them. Look for books on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com to maximize your options.^[9]
   
   • If you opted to invest in a Kindle, you might consider using the BookLending program offered by Amazon, in which you make your library of ebooks available for others to use and in exchange you’re able to access other people’s ebooks for free.
   • Instead of buying ebooks one at a time, consider paying for a monthly subscription service, such as Questia, that offers unlimited ebook downloads for a flat fee every month.^[10]

EditBuying Books Secondhand

1. Visit used bookstores and book depositories. Although brick-and-mortar bookstores don’t usually have as wide a selection as online retailers, their prices tend to be much more competitive. Visit a secondhand bookstore or depository in your area for the quickest and possibly cheapest means of buying a used book.^[11]
   
   • To find secondhand bookstores nearby, do an online search for your town or area and add “used books.”
   • If you want to make sure a bookstore has the specific book you want to buy before visiting, use BookFinder.com to check that book’s availability in your area.
2. Look for used and donated books on sale at thrift stores. Places like Goodwill and the Salvation Army collect unwanted items that people donate, including books, and sell them at a significantly reduced price. Consider perusing the offerings at donation-based thrift stores in your area to find used books at bargain prices.^[12]
   
   • Although prices vary from store to store, paperback books are typically sold for $1 and hardcover books often go for $2.
   • Note that, while prices at thrift stores are extremely competitive, their selection is highly limited, since they rely on donated items to stock their stores.
3. Go to nearby yard sales and look for books on sale. Often the absolute best prices you’ll find on used books will be at yard sales, since the people selling the books are probably desperate to get rid of them. Look for yard sales going on near you and check to see if they have cheap books for sale.^[13]
   
   • You’ll have to be comfortable traveling to another person’s home to take advantage of yard sale prices. Although yard sales typically aren’t dangerous, use your best judgment when traveling to one.
   • If you buy a lot of books at once, try haggling with the seller for a discount. They may be so happy that you’re buying multiple books that they’ll knock a few dollars off the total.
4. Check out book sales at your local library. Public libraries will often hold book sales with old, unpopular, or outdated books as a way to raise funds. Keep an eye out for announcements from your library about upcoming book sales and be sure to take a look at what they’re selling.^[14]
   
   • Books at library sales are usually very cheap; hardcover books may go for $1-$2, while paperbacks are often priced at $0.50.
   • Buying books from library book sales is not only a good way to buy books cheaply; it also gives you the opportunity to support your local library!

EditTips

• Holding a book swap is a good way to come into possession of new books at little cost to you. Although you won’t “buy” any books per se, participating in a book swap allows you to get rid of some of your old books and swap them for your friends’ used books.

EditSources and Citations

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