Guide to Affordable Reading and Listening

Carlos's Podcast

Buying Used Physical Books Online at Ronoski.

This is often the most convenient way to get cheap physical books delivered right to your door.

• ThriftBooks: A massive online seller of used books with a great reputation. They have a loyalty program and offer free shipping on orders over a certain amount (usually $15 in the U.S.). The condition of the books is clearly labeled.
• AbeBooks: A huge marketplace that connects you with thousands of independent booksellers from around the world. You can find everything here from recent bestsellers to rare, out-of-print editions. Pay attention to the seller's location and shipping costs.
• Better World Books: An excellent choice if you want your purchase to do some good. They donate a book for every book purchased and fund literacy programs. They also offer free shipping worldwide.
• Amazon Marketplace: Don't just look at the "new" price on Amazon. Always check the "Used & New from" link to see offers from third-party sellers. You can often find "like new" copies for a fraction of the price.
• eBay: A great place to find specific editions or to buy books in "lots" or bundles, which can be extremely cost-effective if you're interested in a full series.

Finding Cheap or Free Ebooks

If you have a Kindle, Kobo, or just a phone or tablet, you can access a virtually endless library of cheap and free books.

• Your Library (via Libby/OverDrive): This is the best method. Connect your local library card to an app like Libby or OverDrive and you can borrow ebooks and audiobooks for free, just like you would with a physical book.
• Project Gutenberg: An online library of over 70,000 free ebooks whose U.S. copyright has expired. This is the ultimate resource for classic literature from authors like Jane Austen, Mark Twain, and Charles Dickens.
• BookBub: A free service that sends you a daily email with a curated list of limited-time deals on ebooks from all major retailers (Amazon, Apple, Google). You can find popular bestsellers for just a few dollars.
• Amazon Kindle Deals: The Kindle Store has a "Daily Deals" section with heavily discounted ebooks. Amazon also offers thousands of classic titles for free in their store.
• Everand (formerly Scribd): A subscription service (often called the "Netflix for books") that gives you unlimited access to a massive library of ebooks and audiobooks for a flat monthly fee.

Finding Cheap or Free Audiobooks

Audiobooks can be expensive, but there are fantastic ways to listen on a budget.

• Libby / OverDrive: As mentioned above, this is the #1 way to listen to audiobooks for free. All you need is a library card.
• LibriVox: The audiobook equivalent of Project Gutenberg. Volunteers from around the world record public domain books and release them for free. The quality can vary, but it's a wonderful resource for classics.
• Chirp: An audiobook service that focuses on daily and weekly deals. There is no subscription; you just buy the audiobooks you want at a heavy discount and they are yours to keep forever.
• Audible Promotions: While a subscription service, Audible often has sales and promotions. You also get a free book when you sign up for a trial, and the "Plus Catalog" offers thousands of free titles for members.

In-Person Bargain Hunting

If you enjoy the thrill of the hunt, nothing beats finding a treasure in person.

• Your Local Library: The original and still the best. Borrowing books is completely free and supports a vital community institution.
• Library Book Sales: Libraries periodically sell off older or donated books for incredibly low prices (often a dollar or less). This is a fantastic way to build a personal librar