If you're a frugal shopper, you sometimes learn that you can buy items in the oddest places. Better yet, sometimes they're cheaper there! Here is a list of things I've found, and those locations (some of them strange!) where they are often cheaper to buy.
Trash Bags (Drawstring Kitchen Style)
Home Depot 150 bags for $12.97 = 9 cents a bag
Walmart 120 bags $15.88 = 13 cents a bag
Cosco 200 bags $26.00 = 13 cents a bag
(currently in progress. If you have your own cheap surprises, let me know!)
Beyond the Book Pages
Shared post from my book blog:
While I love books of all genres, styles and lengths, there is a certain form of book that can quickly rise to the top of my 'favorite' list. This book isn't a casual relationship: I don't put it down, walk away, and never look back. This is a book that makes me a fan, and oftentimes, this is a book that is more than what's on the pages. Whether it features an interactive website I can find bonus content on, a scavenger hunt, or later turns into a movie, my favorite books transform themselves, and take on their own life.
While I love books of all genres, styles and lengths, there is a certain form of book that can quickly rise to the top of my 'favorite' list. This book isn't a casual relationship: I don't put it down, walk away, and never look back. This is a book that makes me a fan, and oftentimes, this is a book that is more than what's on the pages. Whether it features an interactive website I can find bonus content on, a scavenger hunt, or later turns into a movie, my favorite books transform themselves, and take on their own life.
Some might say these books use transmedia storytelling to accomplish their goals. Basically, the story is told in more than one format. Video game, website, book, artwork; transmedia storytelling gets to me as a reader because it allows me to become part of things. Harry Potter did this with Pottermore, The Lunar Chronicles have begun to do this with their marketing campaign. Piece by piece, they build communities where readers can engage in the stories they've come to love.
With the rapid rise of the e-book industry, I feel storytelling looses some of this magic. Books come out so rapidly, stay in our computer screens, and struggle to break free of those confines. While I love Indie works, and I read my fair share of e-books, I think this is a challenge authors need to address. A book can't always just be a book. To thrive in today's market, it needs to be more.
Fans embrace whatever outlets are given to them. If I find a good book, I can review it, I can talk about it, but sometimes, that is the end of our relationship. To truly engage in a book, bring my friends, and share it together is the next step up. Not every book can capture this sort of magic, or bring itself to life. But those that do earn my respect. Art, online content, interaction: however you choose to break the dimensions of a story doesn't matter. Just let it live a little beyond the book pages.
Bargain Shelf Book Reviews
As an author, free books are somewhat of an intimidating topic. Whether it's an ARC, a beta read, or a Kindle deal, I find myself torn when I know I'm not supporting the writer. With beta read and ARCs, I at least feel like my feedback is the return for the free book; while I am not giving monetary support to the author, advice, suggestions, and a second pair of eyes is my half of the exchange. But what about bargain books, second hand, and other freebees? Is it possible to be frugal while supporting my industry? I think the concept of free and bargain books is something all authors have to consider from one time to another.
I would be lying if I said the idea of millions of sales is appealing when you're a writer. Making an honestly living off a book is a prize few of us attain. But it's hard to compete for sales when you're surrounded by hundreds of 'freebees'. Each book I download on a free run is adding to the strength of that competition. It seems tough to compete with 'free'.
On the other hand, it's hard to justify spending hundreds of dollars on books I may never read again. It's hard to give emerging writers a shot when you have money in the equation. Even 99 cent books add up over time, and it takes a decent salary to support a hungry reading habit.
In the end, I just become more selective about which books I buy. I pick up my normal freebees, support authors with my reviews and feedback, but when a book truly dazzles me, that's when I make the effort to purchase. I found one of my favorite authors through a second hand store, and now each book I buy from her comes from my dedicated reading budget. While I can't support everyone, I feel it's important to do what I can for the authors who have the most impact on me.
While I don't feel there is a 'right' answer on this topic, that is at least my take on it. Here's a little info-graphic to leave you with.
I would be lying if I said the idea of millions of sales is appealing when you're a writer. Making an honestly living off a book is a prize few of us attain. But it's hard to compete for sales when you're surrounded by hundreds of 'freebees'. Each book I download on a free run is adding to the strength of that competition. It seems tough to compete with 'free'.
On the other hand, it's hard to justify spending hundreds of dollars on books I may never read again. It's hard to give emerging writers a shot when you have money in the equation. Even 99 cent books add up over time, and it takes a decent salary to support a hungry reading habit.
In the end, I just become more selective about which books I buy. I pick up my normal freebees, support authors with my reviews and feedback, but when a book truly dazzles me, that's when I make the effort to purchase. I found one of my favorite authors through a second hand store, and now each book I buy from her comes from my dedicated reading budget. While I can't support everyone, I feel it's important to do what I can for the authors who have the most impact on me.
While I don't feel there is a 'right' answer on this topic, that is at least my take on it. Here's a little info-graphic to leave you with.
A Cold Cup of Tea: Reviewing Past the Problems
Recently I've started doing more book reviews, and one of the most difficult things to deal with is picking up a book that just isn't 'your cup of tea'. As a reader, the usual instinct is to put it down and start something else, but as a reviewer, you want to give an honest opinion of the whole story, which can mean continuing even after a story lost you. The best way I found to do this was actually a rather simple concept: identify the problem, and go on.
Let me explain a little. Things will bug us as readers (a book talks too much in asides, the narrator thinks they're funny when they're not, there is too much profanity, or the prose is flawed). A reviewer has to find those things and isolate them. So you don't like the prose style. Set it aside and look at everything BUT that. Does the story line transition well? Are the characters dimensional? Is the editing okay? Each time you find a problem, isolate it and move on. The more of these stumbling blocks I find, the lower my review may be. But at least I can look at the story as a whole, and be honest why it doesn't work for me. That way, no book is punished because one thing bugged me.
Bonus Paragraph: What do I Review On?
When I review, I try to look at some key elements of a novel: readability, transitions, prose, characters, and plot. These are my big players whether I like or dislike a book. If a book has editing problems, word choice or organization issues, that's a mark down for me. If a book has awkward transitions from one scene to another, or one paragraph to another, that is another bad mark. If the prose is flat, and the story isn't written well, a mark. And if either the characters or the plot fall flat and aren't shaped well, a mark. World-building can fall into readability, which I also consider believability. In many ways, this helps me decide between a 1 and a 5 star book. A truly bad book would be missing all of these, and my favorite books execute them well.
Let me explain a little. Things will bug us as readers (a book talks too much in asides, the narrator thinks they're funny when they're not, there is too much profanity, or the prose is flawed). A reviewer has to find those things and isolate them. So you don't like the prose style. Set it aside and look at everything BUT that. Does the story line transition well? Are the characters dimensional? Is the editing okay? Each time you find a problem, isolate it and move on. The more of these stumbling blocks I find, the lower my review may be. But at least I can look at the story as a whole, and be honest why it doesn't work for me. That way, no book is punished because one thing bugged me.
Bonus Paragraph: What do I Review On?
When I review, I try to look at some key elements of a novel: readability, transitions, prose, characters, and plot. These are my big players whether I like or dislike a book. If a book has editing problems, word choice or organization issues, that's a mark down for me. If a book has awkward transitions from one scene to another, or one paragraph to another, that is another bad mark. If the prose is flat, and the story isn't written well, a mark. And if either the characters or the plot fall flat and aren't shaped well, a mark. World-building can fall into readability, which I also consider believability. In many ways, this helps me decide between a 1 and a 5 star book. A truly bad book would be missing all of these, and my favorite books execute them well.
