How To: Buy eBooks on a Budget

Today's How To is books on a budget.  It's extremely easy!  Here are a few tips that will help you save money on ebooks.  These are also the various things I do to get all of my free ebooks!

1. Subscribe to Pixel-Of-Ink! POI offers a free subscription email that will send you daily free ebooks.  Amazon and Barnes & Noble offer free ebooks daily as well.  They are found on their websites here and here. The lists change every week, so check back often.  Another great way to save money on ebooks is to check with your local library.
2. Library lending!! Kindle Library Lending has begun in some states (finally! yay!).  To see if your library has ebooks for your eReader, check their websites.  Many of the libraries are advertising the ebooks right on their homepages.
3. Kindle Lending and Nook Friends!! Borrow books from your Nook and Kindle friends.  Even if you don't have similar reading habits, ask if they have anything in a particular genre that you might like.  You'd be surprised how many people are willing to share their ebooks!
4. Shop your own collection.  If you're like me, then you have over 250 books (and counting) in your collection (at least 90% of those were free).  Go through your collection.  Re-read books you liked or don't remember very well.  Have a favorite series? Re-read it!
5. Ebook swapping with friends! Similar to sharing, but a little different concept.  Next time you finish an ebook, suggest swapping it with the last ebook your friend has read.  This is a great way to break into new genres or try out ebooks you wouldn't normally buy.
6. Check other sites that offer free ebooks.  There are thousands of sites that offer them.  THOUSANDS!!  Just be careful when searching for them.  I only use the ones Amazon has approved.  The list from Amazon can be used for Nook and Sony eReaders as well.  Beware of the wireless/download prices.  You don't want to have to pay for the ebook to be delivered to your device, that's defeating the purpose.  Also, check the ebook format.  You don't want to *purchase* an ebook that won't work with your device.  Just check with your eReader's carrier (B&N or Amazon or Sony) to see what ebook formats are supported.
7. Check out the monthly deals! Amazon offers 100 books every month for less than $3.99.  Just check here every 3-4 weeks. These deals only last through one month.  The list does include newer ebooks too, not just the classics or "doesn't sell well" ebooks.  On occasion you will see a repeat from previous months.  This is a great way to get your hands on ebooks at really low prices!
8. Check out the daily deal! Pixel-of-Ink will often include links to the Amazon daily deal in the daily emails.  The deal only lasts 24 hours so check everyday!  They include fiction and non-fiction in this deal. 
9. Browse University library ebook collections!  Many Universities and public libraries offer ebooks, but Adelaide University (in Australia!!) offers thousands for free that you can download and keep!! It's happy dance time... again!  Go here to check out Adelaid's collection.  They are ePub format so *most* eReaders can handle them (Nook, Kindle, Sony...) OR you can just read them right off the web!  No downloading necessary, you just read it right there on the site.  OR you could (if you realllyyyy wanted to) print off the books.  So if you don't want to download it... you can just print it!!  Really awesome if you don't have an eReader but have the apps for PC or MAC.
10. Kindle Owner's Lending Library.  This program allows you to get one free Kindle ebook a month, and most of them are current best sellers!  You can keep the ebook for as long as you want to read it and can return it whenever you are done.  Unfortunately, this is only available for Amazon Prime members, not Amazon Mom or Amazon Student prime members.  You also have to have a Kindle device not the app.
11. Goodreads.com A site somewhat like Netflix. You rate books you have read, find books you want to read, and have a status update of what you are currently reading. The site will give you book recommendations based on your reading history. Rate and review books and ebooks you have read to get more recommendations.

Pass on the word so others can take advantage of these offers/tips too! Have any other helpful money saving tips or websites?  Have a question?  Leave me a comment! I'd be happy to add any new suggestions to this list. Happy Saving!

What is in a name?

I was challenged!

So TinyDreamer was watching a YouTube vlog and this guy was talking about being a "book worm".  The super old name for people who read too much.  Then he asked... what do you call people who read a ton of book but on Kindle or an eReader? He suggested E-Worm or E-Nerd.  But those are boring names! I've just been calling myself a Kindle Nerd of Addict... but those names are pretty boring too.  And for those people who have a Nook or Sony eReader, those names wouldn't really work.

So.. what do you think we should be called?  I'm not too proud to admit that I am a library, Kindle, book, ebook... nerd! It's time to wear the old thinking cap! Don't forget to blow off the dust. heh.

So far all I've got is e-book worm or e-book fiend.  haha.. I'm challenging all of you to come up with a name.  Write your suggestions in the comments.  If I get enough, I'll hold a mini poll/contest on here to see which on is the most liked!

Happy Thinking!

How to: Pick Out an eReader

So you finally decided you wanted an eReader huh? There are tons of options out there.. Which one is best for you can be a scary thing to figure out (que scary music).  I'm officially freaked out.  Don't listen to that music too much.. it's creepy!

Have no fear!  Super eReader is here to save the day!! (Yeah.. I know it's lame...) Here are a few tips and questions to ask and things to consider when deciding.  This is for any brand of eReader.  Whether you are looking for your first eReader or looking to get a *new* one.... this will help!

1.  What do you want your eReader to do? Go online, just read books, read books to you (audio books and spoken menus), play MP3s, be in color...
2.  Price - how much do you want to spend (please don't go buying a super cheap no-name brand ereader.. they really aren't worth the money.)
3.  How big do you want your eReader to be? Weight, screen size....it makes a huge difference
4.  Touch screen or non-touch screen?
5.  Kindle, Nook or Sony? If you don't have a preference (yet) read reviews on the product
6.  What do you want to use your eReader for? School, work, personal use (or all three!)?
7.  Why do you want an eReader?
8.  Make a list of the qualities that are most important to you.  1 = most important 10 (or more) = least important
9.  Buy online or in stores? Factor in shipping for price if you decide to purchase online (online will have better deals and packages)
10.  Color or Grayscale? Do you want a color screen or is black and white/grayscale okay?
11.  WiFi or 3G? If you don't have your own wireless or access to wireless at least once or twice a week, get 3G.
12.  Tablet or eReader only? Refer back to question 1 - what do you want your eReader to do?
13.  Accessories? You'll want a case and light (if not back-lit)... factor into price but shop around offline as well as online for the best prices
14.  What is the purpose of getting an eReader? Pleasure, work, school, internet, computer replacement...
15.  Battery life and storage - how many books do you want to store? how long of a battery life do you want?

I highly recommend filling out these questions or just mentally asking yourself.  I really hope this helps you decide what type of eReader is best for you!  If you have any other questions to add to this list, because I know I've forgotten something, let me know!  Happy Shopping!

Quick Tip!

Today's Quick Tip is deciding on when to read another book.  Scenario: You just finished a book.  It was amazing (or terrible...)!!  Give yourself time to bask in the glory (or dread) of the this book.  Wait at least one full day before starting another book.  Waiting will let the story sink in and really end.  If you jump into another book too soon, you'll find yourself thinking more about the last book and less about the new book, missing important details or mixing up the two books.  Nobody wants that!  If the last book made you mad or ended terribly or just won't get out of your mind... read something completely different from it (if possible).  For example, when you finish a particularly creepy book go read a romance or comedy novel to help push out the creepiness.  Happy Waiting and eventually Reading!

**Time between novels will vary.  I don't always wait a full day between books (sometimes it's only an hour), but sometimes I find myself waiting as long as a week between.**