Where is the best frugal place to be? The library of course! It’s free. Free? But isn’t a library card always free? I can hear you thinking that as soon as I typed those words. But guess what? First, not all library cards are free. I did some research and in some area’s there is a fee to obtain one. But that is really not the point.
The point is using the library to remain frugal. And since anything and everything that is available at the library is free, and free is the frugal woman’s keyword, then the library is the place to be. Let me show you how you can surpass frugal with your library card.
Books
Starting with the obvious, the library is an amazing place to get books. Books on any topic you can imagine are found within the walls and on the countless rows of shelves in a library. Hidden in the depths of the non-fiction, interspersed throughout the whole section, are books on how to save money on various things, from mortgages, to groceries, to small purchases to car insurance. If you take the time to get to know your library, you will be amazed at what is available. So even if you cannot find a book on being frugal, you can find a book on anything else you might wish to read about, and they are the perfect price….free! You borrow them long enough to read them and bring them back. And the best part is, you can usually get the same book multiple times. You can also have books requested on inter-library loan, which means they will come to you at your library from another.
Magazines
Getting your magazines at the library saves quite a bit of money. And they usually have at least the current years as well as most of the previous years issues. Money saved on subscriptions can go towards something else, and with the exception of the most current issues, you should be able to check out the rest. They also often offer their old magazines for sale for about a dime a piece! Another totally frugal way to get some reading!
Music
Many people forget this untapped resource. You can get or request almost any music CD from any of today’s artists and even some of yesterdays, right within the walls of your library. This is a great way to get some new music to listen to or try out a CD before you spend the money on it.
Movies
Movies are plentiful at the library and they are usually very good about getting the latest and greatest flicks! A quick browse in the DVD or Video section of the library shows a broad selection of documentaries, hot new releases, older top releases and a wide variety of children’s movies, tv shows and the like. And again, all are free. Usually the DVD’s have a check out period of two weeks, and the video’s are renewable.
Internet
I have a friend who has never spent a dime on Internet. She uses the library. She just goes a few times a week, and checks her email, and does any other research she needs to do and she doesn’t pay a dime because she uses free email, etc.
Beyond these very basic items found at any library, you also have knowledgeable librarians who might be able to better direct you to other resources as well.
Overall, the library is an extremely frugal place to be!