5 Places to Buy Cheap Books

One of the hardest things we have to go through as book lovers is how expensive books are to buy! New books are so expensive and the prices just seem to be escalating, some close to $30 just for one book. Even older books in hardback are still not cheap, ranging from $15-$20, especially if they're from popular series or authors. Paperbacks are cheaper but even then, the prices seem to just not be for those of us who want to own the books we love but have a budget. Especially those of who don't want to spent $30+ for just two or three books. 

Nearly all of the books I've been buying lately, however, have been at a greatly discounted price - both old and newer releases. It's one of the most satisfying feelings to be able to own a book and knowing you got a great deal on it so I want to share where I go to buy cheap books. 

Of course, the library is always an amazing option but I did not include that on my list because I want to highlight places where you can go to own books you really want. Also, there are a lot of great discounted book stores that I'm not including simply because they don't exist in my city or anywhere near me. So my list only includes the places I have personal access to.

Half Price Books

Half Price Books is the first place that popped into mind when I thought of "cheap books." It's just what the name says, books at half price or maybe even less than the normal retail price. It's especially great because of how good the books usually are in condition and the fact that they have even newer releases, which is incredible. This price discount also applies to hardbacks! The prices range from $4-$13 usually. Really often, they have clearance events which makes your purchase even cheaper.

Another huge plus is the huge selection they have. Like I said, they even include newer releases, which is rare to find in a lot of places on this list. But another thing you will see common in this list is that usually the option of books you will find will vary wildly depending on the time, day and location you go to. However, for Half Price Books, usually I see a majority of the books I could even think of within a genre. I usually don't have a problem going to whichever Half Price Books and finding what I went there to find.

 Ebay/Amazon

Online shopping is another popular way to get popular and new books for a lot cheaper. The selection they have is great and you can look up nearly any book and it's available. Even brand new ones! Now, personally, I use Ebay much more often than Amazon when it comes to buying individual books. More often than not, I find the same books for a lot cheaper on there - the only thing is that you have to put special attention to the seller to make sure they're credible. The average price of books I buy on Ebay are $4! 

Amazon, however, seems to be really great for box sets! The prices for box sets are nearly the same as in Ebay but they look to be in better condition and still at an incredible deal.  

Goodwill (Any Thrift Shop)

Now this is the option where I think you will find the cheapest books. However, the selection is definitely minimal. It depends entirely on which location and what time you go. There's hardly hardbacks and not many releases within the last few years, especially YA. But, I have bought incredible series starters, stand-alones and sequels of popular series and authors all for a dollar or less at Goodwill and other thrift shops near me. There are so many different thrift shop companies that all sell books at these great prices. Usually a paperback is .99 cents while a hardback is $1.99. Which are just unbeatable in my opinion. 

There is always the fact that this option will also give you the highest risk of getting your book damaged in some way, be it the cover, the spine, etc. But all the book's I've gotten from a thrift shop, any damage was small enough for it to not be an issue.

Ollie’s

Ollie's books are the most exciting in my opinion! Ollie's is a bargain outlet that has its own book section called Bookland. It has a wider selection than Goodwill does but still I wouldn't say it has any book for which you go in there to look. But! The books it does have are popular, sometimes released within the past three years which is good. That and these books are likely to be hardback. Not only that, these hardbacks are usually at around $5 which is such a discount from the $16+ hardbacks usually are. 

Book Sales/Library Sales

Now this option is great for when you want to buy a lot of books at once. I mean, even if you don't 
the prices are still super great. But the prices are SO great that it's just a better deal to buy a whole bunch of books for the same price it would be for one or two regularly priced books. Book Sales usually have a price range of $2-4 which include both paperback and hardbacks. Half Price books has one twice every year and your local library has their Friends of the Library sales. These sales have such a variety of books not only because of the sizes of the sales but because the books chosen to be in the sales are not picked through, they're chosen randomly so you have a great chance to get any great book. For these sales, you can usually go to find particular books and you have a good chance of finding them for such a low price, specifically if you're looking for backlist books.

Just if you want to have an idea of what these sales are like, you can always look at youtube vlogs and I also have a book haul for the Half Price Book Sale I went to earlier this year. I managed to get more than 20 books for $50. That's the same price I could buy 4 hardbacks at regular price or 5 paperbacks!

What places do you go to buy your books?