Books on a Budget

Don’t buy me flowers, chocolate, or jewelry. Just take me to Barnes & Noble or hand me an Amazon gift card. Sound familiar?

If you’re like me, you may have a serious condition that requires regular infusions of reading. The only problem is that books are not always cheap. So how do we keep up with our reading habits without breaking the bank?

Here are some ways I’ve been able to consume large amounts of words without going bankrupt. As always, use discernment when stocking up on your book supplements.

Tim Challies’ Kindle Deals
You can sign up (for free) to receive his daily email, which includes Kindle book deals (both Christian and general market). His newsletter also includes links to various blogs that may be of interest to Christians—because we also need to keep up with micro-doses of reading encouragement.

BookBub
With BookBub, you can choose your preferred genres and receive a daily email featuring ebooks on sale in those categories. It’s an easy way to discover discounted books without doing the searching yourself.

Libby
If you have a library card, Libby is an excellent way to stay nourished with books. You can borrow ebooks and audiobooks for free through the app and read/listen directly on your device.

Spotify Premium
Spotify Premium now includes a selection of audiobooks. It’s a great way to squeeze in an extra reading workout session without adding another subscription.

Kindle Unlimited
Instead of subscribing every month, keep a running list of books available on Kindle Unlimited. Then, when you’re ready, subscribe for one month. You can cancel immediately so it doesn’t auto-renew, and focus on reading only from your curated list during that time.

Amazon Prime Digital Credits
If you use Amazon Prime, you can sometimes choose slower shipping in exchange for digital credits—which can then be used toward Kindle books. It’s a simple way to turn patience into reading material.

Start a Library at Your Church
Church libraries can be an amazing resource, especially when they’re built intentionally. Consider donating books or organizing a small lending library so your community can share good reads.

Book Swaps with Friends
Get together with a few friends, decide on books you all want to read, and each buy one. Then trade them around. It’s an easy way to multiply your reading list without multiplying your spending. 

With a little creativity, a few subscriptions, and some strategic borrowing, you can keep your book habit well-fed without financial regret. 

Happy reading!
​
See also: Avoiding Readers Remorse
                When Stories Don’t Match Real Life