5 Ways to Get Free Books

5 Ways to Get Free Books
To say that I'm a book lover is putting it altogether too mildly...I adore books! (My always overflowing book shelves attest to this fact.) If you're like me, and you love to have a book always at hand to delve in to, then you'll need to find some ways to get free (or very cheap) books.

1. Amazon - If you have any sort of website or blog, then having a few Amazon affiliate links is a great way to earn Amazon gift cards, which you can use to order books for free! I keep track of the books I'd really love to get and then when I have enough gift cards, I order away, with no guilt whatsoever.
2. Secondhand books - You can just go in and buy a book cheap - such as when your favorite secondhand book store has a sale on. Or, to get books for free at secondhand book shops, take your own used books in to get credits which you can then use for the new (to you) books that you really want.
3. Hold a book swap - If your friends and family are fellow book lovers, then have a book swap night. Brew up some tea and coffee, and invite everyone to bring themselves, their books that they'd like to trade in, and a snack to share. It turns a social gathering into something useful - a way for everyone to trade books and get new books to enjoy.
4. eBay - Now, check first to see if you'll earn enough on eBay to get true value out of your old books. Sometimes it makes sense (especially with textbooks - you can earn some good money selling old textbooks), but other times you'll find better ways to get or sell old books. So, you can earn money on your old books, which you can then put towards buying new books!
5. Ask to borrow - If your friend tells you about the amazing book they read, simply ask if you can borrow it to read it, too. But, don't be a book miser - be just as willing to lend out your read books, too, and it'll work for everyone.
6. One extra - keep an eye open for freebies. In the apartment complex where I live, I notice that sometimes people who are moving out will simply leave a small box of books out near the mailboxes, knowing that someone will get use out of them. It's a much better thing to do than throwing good books out, and if you keep your eyes open, you just might score some great new reads without paying a single dime.

Okay book lovers - tell us how YOU manage to score free books in the comments section, below.

Frugal Food - 5 Ways to Get Cheaper Produce

5 Ways to Get Cheaper - Frugal! - Produce

We all know that even on a frugal budget, we still need to eat healthy foods. Of course, that means that we need to include as many fruits and veggies as we possibly can. But, what is a frugalite to do? It seems that fruit and vegetables are becoming more and more expensive all the time (along with...um...everything else!) So, here are five new frugal tips on how to buy fruit and veg for less.

1. Grow it. For some of us, this isn't an option. But, for most of us we can grow at least a few fruits and veggies to supplement our food supplies. I'm a (happy!) apartment dweller, and some years I've had some success with growing veggies in containers. If you have a yard of your own, then a garden is the obvious way to grow your produce. Aim to produce the veggies and fruits that you can easily freeze, can, or otherwise keep on hand for longer.
2. Check for markdowns. Get familiar with when your local supermarket marks down their produce. (This is not the time to be shy, frugalites! Ask the workers in the produce department when the produce gets reduced.) Certain items - like bananas - are marked down often, since they go off quickly. Bananas can easily be frozen in chunks for smoothies. Or, mash those nasty bananas in 1-cup portions in freezer bags and you're prepared at any time to whip up some fresh and yummy banana bread or muffins. Other overripe fruits like pears or peaches can similarly be mashed and are excellent for baking.
3. Get stuff from friends and family. No, I'm not exactly suggesting that you become a big moocher. (hardy har har.) But, when your pals have extras, don't be embarrassed to take it, and gladly. Or, you could do a swap.
4. Farmers markets - sometimes. It just depends on where you live. Sometimes, farmers markets are a fantastic way to save money on your fresh produce. Other times, farmers markets are actually far more expensive than the grocery store. This is where knowing your prices really helps - you'll know quickly if you can find true bargains at local markets.
5. Stock up on sales items. Fresh berries, peaches, and other fruits are great when frozen. Again - these make for quick and handy options for smoothies. (Minus the $5 price tag that most smoothie joints charge!) Ditto for veggies on sale...if the price is fantastic, then stock up and freeze or can those little vitamin-packed babies up! (I'll be totally honest -- I'm not a canner by any means, but even I can freeze with some finesse.)

There you have it! Five ways to inspire you to save on the healthiest ingredients in our diets - fruits and veggies. Have some more ideas? Post a comment!

Dollarama Chronicles: The Good and the Bad

I really enjoy a bit of a jaunt around the local Dollarama. I realize that some people hate dollar stores, feeling an ethical tug due to the ultra low prices and how the products are nearly all produced overseas. I don't buy a ton of stuff at the dollar store, but I have to admit that I do love to buy certain products there, especially at Dollarama. Here are three things I love to buy at Dollarama, and a few things, well, not so much.

Good Things to Buy at the Dollar Store
1. Office supplies. Yes, the quality at certain dollar stores might be dubious at best, but I find that Dollarama really does have a good selection of certain office supplies. I like to buy sticky notes (generic Post Its) there, along with tape, and pens and pencils.
2. Greeting cards. They might not be ultra fancy, but buying greeting cards at the dollar store really makes sense. Instead of the $4 and up you can buy at a greeting card store, you can get a nice card for a buck. I really like it when I can snag a multi-pack of cute Thank You cards (or even blank cards with pretty fronts) for just a dollar. Score!
3. Name brand items. I hate to give away a great secret, but Dollarama here in Canada has recently had some pretty awesome brand name items for $3 or less. Yardley lavender soap from England (and yes, I checked the box and product before buying to make sure they were the real thing - they are) is only $1 a bar! Incredible! They sell for at least $3 in other locations. And, I bought a lovely big container of name brand apricot body wash (I can't remember the name now, and I'm done with the bottle! lol) for $2.50 and it lasted me for absolutely ages. You can sometimes treat yourself with a brand name for way less at a dollar store.

What I'm not so keen to buy at a dollar store
1. Certain food items - for instance, I tried the peppermint tea at Dollarama recently. I was on an uber frugality kick, meaning that I kicked up my natural frugality a few notches and started doing the unit price thing a lot more regularly. But, the peppermint tea was not very refreshing, to say the least. I'll give a pass on Dollarama tea, called 'D Gourmet.' lol I learned a valuable, minty lesson that day. I'll stick to my regular herbal teas, which still only cost around a dime a cup to brew. On the other hand, I love buying a big bag of SmartFood popcorn at Dollarama for only two bucks - it's my favorite snack food by far.
2. Electronics. Now, I'm not electronics or technological whiz. In fact, I often think I'm more like an old lady two and a half times my age! But, I know that little gizmos and gadgets likely aren't such a great idea from the dollar store.
3. Kids toys. Be careful, as certain parts might be a danger to small children in dollar store toys.

The dollar store is a great way to stretch our budgets. What DO you buy at them, and what do you REFUSE to buy there?