Today I’ll tell you how I save a little money while keeping up with my reading:
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I check whether an ebook version is available from one of the various sources: eMule, 4shared, and others. I also look for audiobooks. With MP3 players becoming more popular and affordable, they have become a great option, as well as giving your eyes a rest. :)
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If the book I want is about finance or management, I check whether there is a copy at the Financial Library. They provide an outstanding service to the Brazilian public. You can now rent books that cost over R$100 for R$15 and keep one at home for two months to read. The book is delivered by mail, along with a postage-paid envelope to ensure its return. All you have to do is read it and drop it off at the nearest post office within two months. When I signed up last year, there was a membership fee of R$25 plus R$15 for the book, making the first rental R$40 in total. Starting with the second book, I would only have to spend R$15. A great service! I even sent them a written note of congratulations, saying how surprised I was by the team’s quality and competence. I recommend it!
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If I cannot find the book at the Financial Library, I stop for a moment and think about whether it is essential. If it really is indispensable, I buy it at a bookstore.
I know some people are averse to reading on a computer. But what I can say is that with LCD monitors becoming more affordable, reading has become much more comfortable than it was on older CRTs. I also use a technique quite often: setting the background to black and the text to white. The light that causes eye strain is then limited to the letters on the screen, which makes reading more comfortable for me. But it varies from person to person.
I am not advocating abandoning paper, since it is still the most comfortable medium for reading. I am just sharing a few tips to save money and avoid buying a book that is not important enough to read a second time. Renting a book or using an ebook can serve as a test drive; if the book is extremely important, you can finally buy a copy for your personal library.
Another personal reason I read on a computer is my allergy. I can only read new or nearly new books. Books from secondhand shops—which are another great way to find books cheaply—with yellowed pages trigger an allergic reaction. But, as I said, everyone is different, so do not stop buying books from secondhand shops. A good option is the Estante Virtual site, which brings together the collections of 775 secondhand bookstores and booksellers in 154 Brazilian cities.
After these tips, whether online or not, don’t stop reading good books!