Does buying financial books make sense?

[AmbitiousSaver]

Although we don't live in a small town... the library is on the other end of the city and very out of the way. It costs about $60 to fill up the van... so to go to the library and back would use up 1/4 of a tank. So $15-30 (the van can go about 260-300 miles under city driving and I'd have to make 2 trips... one to get the book and one to return it)... by that time I think I might be better off buying the book. I work from home so once the summer starts and I don't need to take the kids to school... aside from grocery shopping... I don't have to leave the house if I don't want to.

Does it ever make sense to buy the books instead of going to the library? The rising gas prices have really altered my sense of how much it costs just to GO somewhere.

Does anybody know if there are any financial books sold in eBook format?

[sweeps]

Does your library have a bookmobile? My library allows you to reserve a book over the internet or phone and the bookmobile will bring it to your area. Ours stops just a few blocks away from our house.

It doesn't make much sense to drive to the library 2 times at a cost of $30 just to borrow a book.

[poundwise]

Another option: I've had a great deal of success buying used books online. It helps to buy a few at once, to save on shipping costs.

Besides the library, or a book swap program (see links below), buying used is the next best option and sometimes helps you acquire a title that you can't find otherwise.


Links
============

Book swap sites:

- PaperBackSwap

- Swaptree

- BookMooch


Used book sites:

- AbeBooks

- alibris

- half.com books

[LuxLiving]

Are you ever in that portion of your town doing other errands? What if you put yourself on a self-made schedule - go grocery shopping/errands in that area on a regular day each week and pick up and return books on the same day as the grocery/errands & the library are near each other. Just do the library first. Would something like that work?

[AmbitiousSaver]

Thanks for the suggestions... I went online to see if they have a book mobile and not only found out that they do, but they also have several smaller libraries in our zip code! I didn't even realize the city had more than just the one main library.

Lux, we very rarely go out in that direction. Right now the only time I go out that way is to take the dog to the vet... but they are building a PetsMart here so pretty soon I'll be taking the dog to the local one here.

[Aleta]

Our library has just started mailing the book to you for a couple of dollars I think. You request the book and they send it to you. You are right, the gas isn't worth it. Check to see if they offer this.

[maat55]

I'm really having good luck finding the books I want at goodwill.

[scfr]

Originally Posted by AmbitiousSaver

Thanks for the suggestions... I went online to see if they have a book mobile and not only found out that they do, but they also have several smaller libraries in our zip code! I didn't even realize the city had more than just the one main library.

.

That's great!

You may want to check and see if you can order books from other branches and have them delivered to your nearest branch for pickup.

Where I used to live, my local library was quite small, but I could order books on-line from the entire county system, and they would send me an Email when the books were ready to be picked up.

Thanks to the internet, using the library to get books has become much more efficient.

[zetta]

Our library has started offering downloadable audiobooks! I haven't checked out the selection yet, but it's a cool idea.

Also, can you reserve books online or by calling the library? That way, the one you want to read will be there when you go to pick it up.

[Aleta]

I also have a mini library within 2 miles of my house and I just have any books sent to there after ordering them online.

I'll have to check out the audio books on line

[disneysteve]

I would go for the used books online. The good thing about used books is number one they are cheap and number two when you are done reading them you can often resell them for the same price that you paid.

[maat55]

I'm building a library of cheap books just so I can say, I've read everyone of those books. I might be the only one impressed, but thats all that matters.

[Aleta]

I have saved myself money by checking out the books from the library and after reading it deciding if I wanted to add it to my collection. In the past, I have bought books that weren't what I expected. You can also find books in garage sales that are reasonably priced usually about $1.

[Spud]

Here is a free online book:

Serious Money by Richard Ferri