The following is a guest post by Jeremy, who writes The Expatriated Consumer, a blog about overcoming financial hardship in today’s crazy consumer culture.
A conversation the other day with a friend has had me thinking. Like much of the rest of America, including myself, he’s up to his armpits in debt. He and his wife recently bought a house, they have piles of student loans to pay, and have all the rest of the trappings of the typical indebted family. Like many of us he lays awake at night lamenting the situation, wondering how he’s going to deal with the job that he’s far from crazy about, regretting that his son has to spend so much time in daycare, wondering why, when he and his wife are making more money than they’ve ever had in their lives, they are still drowning in debt.
We tend to talk at length about our financial woes, and I’ve pointed him in the direction of blogs and books and other sources of information, to try to help him find some guidance. I mentioned that I have been reading quite a bit lately, and was discussing some books that I found intriguing, and he stopped me.
“Let me get this straight, you’re spending money on books to find ways to spend less money!”
“Ah,” I said, “that’s the best part. I’ve become a big fan of libraries!” And while I admitted to having purchased a few books that I’ve been unable to find at one of the local libraries, I stressed that most of them were purchased used from online vendors for a mere fraction of the cost new. Unfortunately, I currently don’t own enough books I’m willing to part with to join Paperbackswap.com or the like. Eventually though.
I simply don’t need to purchase books currently, because the libraries around me have ample material to keep me occupied for a long, long time. I confess to getting a bit giddy with excitement when I go to the library because the selection is astounding. Even my city’s library, that is a mere 7 months old, and occupies only a single room, has piles of great stuff available, with grand plans to expand as time and funding allows.
Don’t like to read? Check out the music section, and be awed by the phenomenal selection and diversity of tunes to be heard for free! Or browse the DVD section and discover an old movie you’ve been meaning to watch, but never seem to think of when you’re at the video store. Or for that matter, maybe pick up a newer movie you’ve been meaning to catch.
My friend and I have had many conversations over the years, discussing our dislike of the consumer mentality that is all around us. His recent comment about buying all the books I’ve been reading really made me take pause, because, until recently, I might have made the same observation. I would have addressed the issue with that same consumer mentality, instead of trying to think of ways I could get what I want without spending my hard earned cabbage. We are products of our upbringing, which is becoming more and more molded by purchasing decisions and marketing.
Whenever you’re confronted with a need, ask yourself how you can fulfill it without digging out your wallet. Need to trim your hedges? How about asking a neighbor if you can borrow the tools? Kids need new cleats for the upcoming soccer season? Organize a swap meet in your community, and trade your child’s old, but still good pair of shoes for another size up. Keep you’re eyes peeled for things you need on freecycle.org in your community. You’d be surprised at what shows up there.
We are constantly encouraged to buy, buy, buy. It’s difficult to separate ourselves from that mentality. With a little perseverance and imagination, we can still get what we need and want, without always running to the store. Try it for yourself and enjoy the freedom!
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:27 am
I love your blog! You have some great suggestions - I had never seen freecycle.org. Thanks for helping us find ways to save money!
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:30 am
Swap meets are very popular in the auto hobby (which I love taking part in). It is easy to exchange rare and hard to find parts for other rare and hard to find parts. A great idea, but hard to get enough people together for.
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:28 am
Isn’t it funny how when you tell people there are books, movies, audiobooks, etc, available at the library, they look at you like you are nuts
It takes a lot more imagination and flexibility to be able to find the free or low cost alternatives to things we’d like to have or use. Some people won’t take the time nor mental energy to do it - it being ‘easier’ they feel to just whip out the ol’ wallet or plastic
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:45 am
YES!!! The library is a great resource for books, movies, magazines, computer use, children and adult programs, craft programs, etc. etc. etc. Your library probably offers some sort of Inter-Library Loan program as well, which is a way to obtain and read a book that your library doesn’t have on the shelf. Your library can “borrow” the book, etc. for you from another library. Sometimes there is a small S&H fee, sometimes not. Check out your libraries website, too. Our libaries’ site has Chilton Online, Tumblebooks, and Ancestory.com and other services - all free for library patrons. Your tax dollars pay for the library - you should use it! (and yes, I am a librarian!)
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:46 am
Great Post. “Whenever you’re confronted with a need, ask yourself how you can fulfill it without digging out your wallet.” We have really adopted this mentality and it has enabled us to save and control spending while being very flexible with our budget.
It’s all those little daily decisions that make the biggest difference.
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:56 am
Thinking about another way to get what you need/want has always been my byword! Currently I get my paperback mysteries and so on from thrift shops and used book stores, etc. (At anywhere from $.25 to $.50 to $.99)- because I always incur library FINES! and I like to have a pile of books available to read at any one time. Then I swap with friends - just gave away a bag of classic Brit mysteries - or I have found another book swap shelf at the local college where I take a class. I brought in a big bag and exchanged them for a few. There used to be one in the club house up at the boat - but they remodeled & did away with it! Shame on them.
But there is a branch library around the corner from a regular appt. - & I have thought into looking in again. Hoorah for libraries!
You can also download books from the internet, put on CDs & read on your laptop. I have cached a few funny old ones I ran into - including the bio of Marie Antoinette’s portrait painter - a Mme. LeBrun. Still, the printed page is easier on the eyes….
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:11 am
@pam …fyi - our local library has free no check out paperbacks…. just tell the librarian I grabbed 6 or so, and then I can bring them back whenever I finish them… or not. No accountability for them at all - they just like the numbers for their books circulating numbers. I like to leave a couple in the car for emergency ’stuck here’ reading also
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:19 am
Wish we had that here in L.A. - we don’t as far as I know….or even in Ventura -
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:20 am
P.S. I would love to have as many ways to circulate free used books as I can. I used to be able to trade them in at a local used book store - but now they are crammed to the gills, and rarely accept books anymore! And no one will even buy them at yard sales, etc. sad to say…
August 24th, 2008 at 1:44 am
The library is definitely a great resource to utilize. I live in a big city, so the main library here has tons of books on every topic, and carries nearly all the semi-popular and popular books.
If you’re looking for information rather than reading material, the Internet is often the primary resource, and the library can provide Internet access as well for those who don’t have home Internet.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:40 am
As a librarian (at a college, although I have also worked in a public library), I would add that many libraries welcome suggestions for book purchases. So if there’s a book they don’t have that you want to read, and you think others will want to read it too, you can suggest the library add it to their collection. Of course, you do then have to wait for the library to review your request, order the book, and process it. But with so many great financial books out there, you can just make a note to check back later.