I recently begin packing things in preparation for an upcoming move. As I lifted numerous very heavy boxes full of books, it occurred to me that our family’s move to e-readers and e-books in recent years had definitely been the right thing to do.

Our family’s e-reader of choice is the Amazon Kindle. Since buying our first Kindle about three years ago (we now have two as well as three iPhones with Kindle apps), almost all of our book purchases have been in the form downloaded e-books rather than physical books bought at Barnes and Noble.[phpzon keywords="kindle fire" num="2" country="US" searchindex="KindleStore" trackingid="sagetips-20" sort="none" minprice="100" templatename="columns" columns="2"]

Here are some specific ways that I believe the Kindle saves money and, easily, pays for itself:

  1. Storage Costs – Whether you store your books on bookshelves, in boxes in the basement or attic, or some other way, there is a definite cost involved. Even if you think you have lots of “free” storage space available where you live, next time you find yourself maneuvering heavy boxes full of books to clean or to look for something, consider the “costs” (your time and effort) involved. If you’re paying to rent a storage shed, ask how much of the space is required because of old books…books that you’ll very likely never re-read. On the kindle, book storage is digital, free and unlimited.
  2. Book Previews – One of the nice features of the Kindle is the ability to download free “previews” of books you are considering purchasing. Usually, these previews are the first several chapters of the book. You can read these chapters on your schedule and then decide whether it is a book you want to purchase and finish. This is very helpful in avoiding mistake purchases – i.e. buying a book that you end up not reading, but never get around to returning. It is true you can preview physical books at the bookstore or library before buying, but the Kindle lets you do it on your schedule.
  3. Free Books – There are several sites available that offer free e-books for the Kindle (our favorite is ManyBooks.net). Mostly these are classics and out-of-copyright titles. The Kindle together with ManyBooks.net can be a big cost-saver for high school and college students.
  4. Book Costs- If you must buy a book, the Kindle version will always be substantially cheaper than a new, printed version. Most Kindle Books are priced at either $9.99 or $14.99, depending on popularity. A recent bestseller selling for $17.88 + shipping costs, costs $14.99 in the Kindle version:
    kindle books are cheaper

    The Kindle version of this bestseller is about 13% less expensive.

The Kindle and e-books are not right for everyone. A lot of people have emotional attachment to the look and feel of holding a “real” book in their hands. But from a purely objective standpoint, the many financial an practical advantages of the Kindle are impossible to ignore. We suspect that as people age and get backaches from moving boxes of books, more will come to appreciate the many advantages of the Kindle.

Filed under: Kindle

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