Book Thrifting: What to Know Before You Go

We all know the rush of hitting a big, bright, bookstore like Barnes and Noble or Books a Million, of seeing the shiny, new, paperbacks in pristine displays, smelling the coffee aroma wafting from the cafe. Today, however, I want to talk about another aspect of book shopping, buying second hand or thrifting. Book thrifting is like a treasure hunt. You walk into a little shop, and books are stacked to your left and right, with tiny aisles of slightly worn paperbacks packed tight into old wooden bookshelves. The smell of old books surround you as you slip down one of the aisles to peruse titles of years past. If this sounds good to you, and you like the idea of saving money and shopping sustainably, read on for some book thrifting tips!

If you are on a budget, be wary of how much the books are

Each store will have different prices, some will be a lot less then popular retailers, which is awesome. A word of caution though, if you are on a budget, it's good to have an objective. For example, you want 4 romance novels to take on your two week vacation. This way you don’t come out with a stack of twenty books because they were all three dollars. Also, since the books are marked down from the original cost, keep an eye out for a pricing guide, and when in doubt ask the store attendant.

Be open minded.

You may not find everything on a specific list, or even a specific book, especially if it’s a new release, but you’ll likely find something worth while if you go in with a general idea of what you want.

It’s also fun to just see what they have

Half the thrill is in the treasure hunt. You might find a memorable book from childhood, or a book that was all the rage last year, but you never got around to reading it. Maybe someone donated some beautiful vintage hardcover books that will match your collection. You never know until you look!

It’s a great thing to do with your bookish friends.

Looking for something to do with your bookish buds? Go to a used book store and

see what everyone finds. This can be great fun, especially if everyone’s tastes are a little different. It’s cool to see what your friends find in their treasure hunt.

It’s a good place to look for reading challenges,

For example, if you want to read 100 books in a year. It definitely drops the cost down if some of the books are thrifted, since you can buy more books for less.

Get crafty with it!

Ever wanted to try book binding? Or maybe you're making a multimedia journal in an old book? Get one from the thrift store. You could find an old pretty book that would suit your art journal perfectly, or practice your book binding on some worn out old paperbacks. Maybe you want to pull pages from a book for your bookstagram flat lays. If it's thrifted, you don’t have to pay for a brand new book to tear the pages out (bonus: if you want to coffee stain pages, buy an old book and save yourself the work.)

Look for home decor.

Want an interesting coffee table book? Maybe you'd like to have a vintage book display or a stack of aesthetic books on your dresser? Try thrifting!

Get new books for cheap

There's no guarantee, but Sometimes there will be newer books, a lot of times they’re on display, possibly in the front of t he store. They may be a little more than the other books, but you’ll likely still get a good discount.

Some shops have an exchange system

There are even some places that accept donations and give you credit toward buying books, so that's even more savings, plus a place to donate your own reads.