Disclosure: Post contains my referral link. Opinions shared are mine.

Reading new releases can be exciting…and expensive. It’s fun to talk about the hottest book that’s fresh on the shelves.  These books also cost in the double digits, often even for digital copies.  To make the most of your book budget,  don’t forget about backlist books!  These beloved “oldies” are constantly brought to the big screen or become TV series inspiration.  You can often find gently-used copies of these books at about 25% – 50% of their new-release selling price.  It’s far less than buying a brand-new copy at the bookstore!  You don’t even have to order from a traditional bookseller like Amazon or Book Depository.

Need a few examples of the types of books I’m talking about?

• The Handmaid’s Tale
• Sharp Objects
• If I Stay
• The Help
• The Fault in Our Stars
• Ready Player One

Convinced that you need to pay some attention to previously published books?  Here’s how you can score!

Check social media

Bloggers and other bookish people are always posting books for sale.  These things stack up, and we have to make room for MORE! A common hashtag is #booksforsale. If you have books of your own and want to swap, you can try #booksfortrade.  Some people are pickier about the trades, though, so if you don’t have a lot of “hot” titles or special editions, you might strike out. 

Expect to pay about $5 per paperback, plus shipping.  Sometimes you can get shipping thrown in, especially if you purchase multiple books.  Keep in mind that it’s a HUGE no-no for bloggers to sell ARC (advanced copies, uncorrected proofs) books, so watch out for that.  They can trade/swap those books, or give them away, though.

Look for local book sales

I absolutely loooooooove going to book sales.  Browsing the tables and sifting through my favorite genres, looking for something that catches my eye…it’s so much fun.  I often purchase books at yard sales, too.  The problem with this strategy is that you’re very limited to what’s available at the moment.  If you’re just hoping to find a good book, this is a great option for you!

Expect to pay about $1-$3 at yard sales or book sales.  Rarely, I can find books for 50 cents.

Related post: How to shop at a book sale

The problem with these two strategies — you can’t really go in with a specific book and guarantee you’ll find it.  So, if you’re looking for a copy of To Kill A Mockingbird because it’s on your daughter’s required reading list for freshman year (YES, happened to me), you might be better off looking somewhere else.

Paperbackswap

I’ve been a member of Paperbackswap since 2008.  During that time, I’ve saved a bunch of cash and found dozens of books from my wishlist.  It’s fun to see all the places where a book has been!

 It’s so simple to use this program.  You start by listing your own books.  When another member requests your book, you ship it directly to them.  I use media mail which costs around $2.50 – $3 per book.  You can print a shipping label through Paperbackswap.  The fee is 55-cents, but then you get INSTANT CREDIT for the swap.  So, basically, you pay around $3.50 for a credit to get a book you want.  You can also print a media-mail shipping label at home through Paypal for free, but your credit appears after the book is received by the PBS member.  I’ve done it both ways; lately, I’ve been using PBS shipping.

You can also list specific request conditions — such as “books from a non-smoking home” or “no library discards.”

If you like for your series covers to match, this is a great way to complete your collection of books! 

Once the swap credit hits your account, you can request a book from another member.   I have a wishlist set up to alert me when a book I want is available.  It’s fun to get those notifications, and you’d be surprised how often popular books are posted.  I add new release books to my wishlist, too, as soon as I think I want to read one.  PBS holds my spot in line.

PBS used to be completely free for all members, but now they offer different membership levels with various benefits for each level.  Click here to get $3 off the standard membership, or you can choose one of the other options.  I use the free A-La-Carte option and have been very happy with it.

So forget paying $15+ for books!  You can easily score books from your backlist at a fraction of the retail price.

What book would you request?

Brady Bunch giveaway bonus words

Feb. 1 Lovely lady
Feb. 2 three lovely girls
Feb. 3 hair of gold
Feb. 4 youngest one in curls
Feb. 5 a man named Brady
Feb. 6 busy with three boys
Feb. 7 all alone
Feb. 8 the lady met this fellow
Feb. 9 much more than a hunch
Feb. 10 this group
Feb. 11 must somehow form
Feb. 12 a family
Feb. 13 that’s the way we all became
Feb. 14 the Brady Bunch