Everyone mistakes my sister and me for twins.
Some people even think were the same person.
(I havetonsof stories.)
Chris Zuppa/The Penny Hoarder
But unlike everyone else, she and I see plenty of differences.One major difference is our reading habits.
In one of our many discussions aboute-books versus print books, I realized something.
We always look at e-books from a convenience perspective, but what about a cost perspective?
Are print books really cheaper than e-books?
For renting e-books, I looked into Overdrive, Project Gutenberg and Hoopla.
No Interest Til Almost 2027?
I also looked into my local librarys selection.
I have to admit, I was pretty surprised.
E-Books Have Price Consistency
Heres where things get interesting.
E-book prices are more stable than print books.
Print Book Prices Vary
Print-books prices are far more erratic.
None of the print-book sellers that I consulted matched prices on a single title.
And the difference in costs fluctuated by as much $5 in some cases.
But of the three titles that print books won, the prices were significantly cheaper than their digital counterparts.
These cuts give new releases their competitive prices across e-book sellers.
Take Educated: A Memoir, for example.
The same applies to books in the public domain.
Beware Extra Print Book Costs
Used print-book prices can be deceiving (online at least).
At first, they may seem significantly cheaper than both new print books and e-books.
But tack on shipping costs, andused books can cost as much or more than their new counterparts.
This isnt always true, though, so dont rule out used books altogether.
Dont Forget Your Library
Libraries are overlooked too often nowadays.
But Im not talking about going to the actual library building.
Chances are,your local library system offers resourceslike Hoopla, Project Gutenberg and Overdrive.
So if you dont have a library card already, get one!
Disclaimer: Like thrift stores, these online discount sections take some time and sweat to search through.
The rewards are totally worth it, though.
But whatyoucan do isdetermine which route suits your reading preferences best.
And those really old books in the public domain will do the same.
If youre looking for anything in between, print books are the way to go.
Whether online or in-store, it’s possible for you to find incredible deals on secondhand and discount books.
E-books are more convenient, but with a little effort, print books can make your wallet smile.
If youre an all-around bookworm who enjoys old, new and in-between books, use both methods.
Invest in an e-reader or e-reader apps and start enjoying the best of both worlds (and deals).
The choice is yours.
Which route will you take?
(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)
You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…
