When money’s tight, hobbies are often one of the first luxuries we cut.
Gone are the balls of wool you buy on a whim and make endless scarves with. Goodbye, Netflix and Disney+ subscriptions. Seeya, days spent at the pub.
Farewell, lunchtime trips to Waterstones. I hardly knew thee.
Because, in case you hadn’t noticed (God knows how), books are expensive. Especially when you read as many as I do (a lot).
But in times of hardship, it’s more important than ever to rely on the things that make us feel like us. Hobbies not only benefit our mental health and help alleviate stress, but they give us an outlet, separate from the constant of day-to-day life, or the anxieties brought on by work.
Basically, I’m using this blog post as a way of justifying reading through seemingly never-ending, once-in-a-lifetime historical events. And now you can, too!
How to read on a budget
Buy books from charity shops
Oxfam book shops are a safe haven, just like your average high street Waterstones store. Secondhand stores can be hit and miss sometimes but, other times, they’re an absolute goldmine. I’ve come away from an Oxfam store with a 60-year-old anthology of Emily Dickinson poems before.
This is perfect for: physical book lovers, who don’t want to compromise on the feeling of having a book in their hands.
Use your local library (in-person, or virtually)
Libraries have suffered greatly in recent years with a lack of use, leading to large swathes of closures across the UK. So, getting a library card and using your local library for books is a great way to benefit your community while getting your literary fix.
Registering for access to your local library is usually free, with fees for overdue books etc. For those who want to flick a page physically, request books from your library in person and return them as you would normally.
For eBook readers, many libraries also use a Digital Lending Library. My local library, for example, allows you to access eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines for free using my library login. Not only is this a perfect, accessible option for those who cannot always make their way to a library in person, but it widens access to books much further than traditional library use.
Don’t forget that authors are also paid if you take their books out via the library.
This is perfect for: people who want to benefit their community.
eBooks
For those who aren’t physical copy purists: if you’re able to afford a budget e-reader or tablet (I use a Samsung one I got in an Amazon Lightning Deal), then eBooks will be cost-effective in the long run.
For Amazon customers, keep an eye on Kindle Daily Deals (99p bestselling books!).
You can also sign up to BookBub, which not only gives you curated eBook recommendations, but lets you know what offers are available, too.
This is perfect for: re-readers, who want to own their books (albeit digitally).
Swap books with family and friends
If you and the people around you have similar tastes in books, you can trade books once you’ve finished with them.
Whenever I visit family, I usually have a book or two in my bag that I’m giving to my auntie, sister, or cousins. Not only does it save a bit of money, it means that you have more people to discuss those books with.
For those who are a bit more precious about their books, keep in mind that you’re risking their spines and pages here. It’s a sacrifice, but one that most are willing to make.
This is perfect for: the family book club (though don’t share any spicy romances with your grandparents).
Help each other out
Know some readers who are struggling? Reach out, talk to them, offer them book exchanges, ask for their Kindle’s email address so you can send them a book (yes, you can do that), or just complain together about how utterly unfair it is that we need to regulate what we do for our own happiness.
