1.  Borrow books from friends. Of course, be willing to let them borrow your books too.

2.  Shop yard sales and thrift stores. Sometimes you can find some great deals in those stores.  Once while shopping at Good Will, I found a bunch of Scholastic books and some curriculum.  It was obvious that a teacher had donated it all.

3.  Shop online. I’m thinking Craigslist, Ebay, and Amazon.  Of course, there are other sites.

4.  Visit the library. The library may not have every book you ever wanted, but the computer database they have allows you to search other libraries in the area.  If another local branch has the book they can put it on hold for you.

5.  Try a book swap. A local business that I used to frequent had a small book exchange inside.  You could swap books without any money spend or commitment.  If nothing like this is around in your area, perhaps you could organize something at your home with friends or for the public at a community center.

6.  Shop at book exchange stores. These are stores that sale mostly used books.  You can buy, sell, or trade.

7.  Order in bulk. If you’re part of a book club, see if you club can order in bulk.  Sometimes you can save 50% or more on your books this way.

8.  Be realistic about what you purchase. How many times have you bought a book and then never read it?  I know I’ve done this a few times.  Be realistic and save money.

9.  Shop at warehouse stores. Stores such as Sam’s Club, BJs, and Costco can offer great savings on books because they buy such a large quantity.

10.  Get the download. Many books are available online for download as a much lower price.  The downfall is there is no hard copy, but some people like that option.

What ways do you save money on books?

image nkzs at sxc.hu

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

• A Promise to Believe In by Tracie Peterson
• Riven by Jerry B. Jenkins
• Cry in the Night by Colleen Coble
• By Reason of Insanity by Randy Singer
• A Widow’s Hope by Mary Ellis

Visit the Lifeway website to view all today’s $5 deals and to get a printable coupon for 25% off a regularly priced

These Bibles are 50% off through 6/6/09:

• Personal Size Giant Print Reference Bible, NKJV
• The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NKJV
• The NIV Adventure Bible
• The Maxwell Leadership Bible: Revised and Updated, NKJV
• The Maxwell Leadership Bible, NKJV
• The MacArthur Study Bible, NASB

This week only through 5/23/09, Lifeway has a 50% off sale on these Bibles:

• Archaeological Study Bible, NIV
• NIV Study Bible
• Quest Study Bible, NIV
• Compact Teen Study Bible, NIV
• Personal Size Parallel Study Bible, NIV/ The Message Paraphrase
• NIV Audio Bible, Dramatized

Other sales:

• 50% off Stanley the Stinkbug Goes to Camp DVD

If you need a gift for someone, this would be a great time to start shopping.  Enjoy the savings.

image from lifeway

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

We’ve had some beautiful weather lately and the yard sales are starting.  I love the thrill of a bargain and finding great stuff for a great price.

Saturday we were on our way out of town and I spotted a yard sale.  Trust me, it wasn’t because of their signs.  Anyway, they had books, toys, children’s clothes, and more.

I was able to get Alligator girl four pairs for $1 each and she needed the pants.  I also picked up a Mrs. Spider’s Sunny Patch cd for $1, a Dora dvd for $2, some magnetic alphabet letters for $.50, and a few other things that I can’t remember right now.

I also spotted a box of books geared for preschool though second grade.  There were many early reader books in there and most of them were by Scholastic.  I asked how much the books were and they said $.50 each, which was a good price.  After looking in the box and seeing that I would like to have a majority of the books, I asked how much for the whole box.  I bought all of the books for $5.  When I returned home, I saw what a bargain I received.  There were over 70 books in the box and several of them hadn’t been read yet.  That means I paid less than $.10 each for the books.

Hooray for saving money!  Have you found any yard sales?

image is mine

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

50% off these books and Bibles:

• John MacArthur:  3 Books in 1
• NLT Study Bible
• ESV Study Bible

$5 CDs

• O Holy Night, Sara Groves
• Arriving, Chris Tomlin – This cd is awesome!!!!
• Rejoice, Sawyer Brown
• All I Really Want for Christmas, Steven Curtis Chapman
• Do You See What I See?, Todd Agnew

Lifeway also has a printable 25% off coupon. 

Christmas will be here before we know it.  These sales make it a great time to start shopping!

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

I have taken on a new writing project. You can also find me at One Book Two Book, another b5 Media blog.  I’ll be writing about books, tips for getting your child to read, activities to go along with books, and more.

I hope you’ll drop by One Book Two Book to see what Mary Emma and I are discussing, to add comments to the discussion, ask questions, and to give us inspiration and ideas for future articles.

As always, you can find me at: 
Little Fun; Little Learning
Thrifty Mommy
A Healthy Balance
One Book Two Book

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

$5 Deals:

• Believe Journal
• Trust Journal
• NCV Checkbook Bible – regularly $29.99, sale good on this March 24-April 5
• books – Covenant Child, Fire Dancer, The Dead Won’t Dance, Plague Maker
• Gigi Pop-up Purse
• cds – Group 1 Crew, Come Undone, DecembeRadio, Unveil by Jeff Deyo, Let Love Win, Every Reason Why

$10 Deals:

• Laugh, Love, Live canvas print
• compact Bible
• God Bless Our Home tile
• NIV Trimline Bible
• Sports Devotional Bible
• Quickverse Bible Suite

There are many more deals to see.  Check them out at the Lifeway website.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Here are her favorite books:

God gave us you by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin, Jr

Picture me Cute as Can Bee by Jennifer Thompson

One of my favorite blogs is Revka’s Little Fun; Little Learning. She too loves to read with her kids and has some other recommendations. Take some time to scoot around and find just what you are looking for. I did.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Gingerbread Stars

Ingredients:

1. 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2. 1/2 tsp. baking soda
3. 1/2 tsp. mixed spices – nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon
4. 1 tsp. powdered ginger
5. 1/4 cup seedless raisins
6. 1/4 cup or 4 Tbsp. butter
7. 1/2 cup, packed full, dark brown sugar
8. 2 Tbsp. dark molasses (dark treacle)
9. 1 egg, well beaten

Also needed:

1. baking sheet lightly buttered and dusted with flour
2. 2 6-inch star shapes, buttered and floured or 1 8-inch sandwich cake pan

Says Mary Poppins “If you don’t have star-shaped tins, use a round one, eight inches in diameter, and then you will have ‘full moon,’.”

Directions

1. Heat the over to 350 degrees F.
2. Sift into a mixing bowl the flour, soda, spices, and ginger. Stir in the raisins.
3. Melt the butter and sugar together in a small saucepan over low heat. Remove from the stove and allow to cool a little.
4. Add the molasses and then stir with the beaten egg into the spiced flour and mix well with a large wooden spoon.
5. Divide the batter equally between the two star shapes or fill the sandwich cake tin.
6. Bake the stars for 30 minutes and the cake tin for 40 minutes in the middle of the oven.
7. Turn out on a wire rack to cool.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

The problem is that most moms put their family’s needs in front of their own.  We get so busy giving and doing that we never seem to have time to rest or receive.  We think we can do it all and have it all.  Then perhaps we believe that if we don’t do it, then it won’t get done.  (I know I’m guilty of that one.)  No wonder we are running on empty!

While there is nothing wrong with taking care of others, it is important to remember that we must also take care of ourselves, or other areas of our life will suffer.  Author, speaker, actress, mom, and wife Lisa Welchel has written a book with advice to show moms how to find time in their day to nourish body, soul, and spirit.

Check out Lisa’s book, Taking Care of the Me in Mommy:  Becoming a Better Mom – Spirit, Body, and Soul.

(This is the same Lisa Welchel from Facts of Life.  Yes, I grew up in the 80’s.)

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Right now they are running a special. All Brainy Baby single VHS tapes are only $4.95 each.  There is also a store locator on their site, in case you would like to go see their stuff in person.   If you like Baby Einstein, then you’ll probably really enjoy Brainy Baby. 

Post from: Thrifty Mommy