Exchange of Knowledge...

Good Monday to everyone! I just got back from a trip to Houston, TX with three of my good buddies, Gary, Scott and Jamie. We take a trip every year to see a new baseball stadium. The great thing about trips is I get the chance to get caught up on my reading. I thrive on gaining new knowledge and ideas from others. I then take those ideas and apply them in my business and personal life. I just stumbled in to a new idea.

One of the things I noticed this trip was how airport "convenience" stores are offering 50% back on any book you bring them after you have read it. Not a bad way to get some cash back on a book you finished or didn't like. It is a way to cut your losses if the book was a real stinker. Well, that is not a realistic option for those who do not travel often, but I found an interesting article about an online book exchange. I plan on using this to my advantage.

I read a ton of books, not all of which I like. So, I will use this as a way to save money on my monthly budget for reading material. Below is the article I read...

It's Good to Know: Online Book Exchanges
By Suzanne Richardson
My friend LP frequently buys a paperback novel to read on the airplane or at the beach, then trashes it when he's done. To him, these books are travel candy, and not worth keeping. But there are better ways to "dispose of" your used paperbacks.
For one thing, you can donate them - to your local library, thrift store, or nursing home, for example. You can also take advantage of online book exchanges.
Paper Back Swap (paperbackswap.com) is a free online service that allows you to exchange your paperback books for someone else's. Too get started, you list nine of the books you want to trade on the site. You get three "credits," good for one book each, just for becoming a member. Once registered, you can browse a list of the books other members are putting up for adoption. Pick one, and its owner will mail it to you.
You get more credits when you mail your books to other members. When another member "orders" one of your books, you print off a book wrapper (sent to you via e-mail), add a few stamps to your package, and send it on its way.
Frugal Reader (frugalreader.com), a similar service, gives you two credits for nine initial listings. Services like these provide you with an ongoing supply of stuff to read ... just for the price of postage.

This post is a tad bit different from what I usually write and thought it would be interesting. If any of you take advantage of this service be sure to share your thoughts. I will let you know mine as well. Until next time...