Buckle up, readers, this is going to be a long post.
How Being Too Cheap To Buy Books Changed My Life...by Dicey
Remember when CC charges didn't post right away? If you bought something on a Thursday or Friday it might not hit your CC bill until Monday, Tuesday or even longer. Damned if I almost always had the book finished before it even hit my bill. Simply put, I no longer wanted to let my book habit derail my FIRE plans. Yup, I was mustachian while MMM was still in college. Maybe even high school or even younger, gasp!
My work involved travel and I had lots of friends all over the country, but very few nearby. I wanted to make more local friends. I hated going to the grocery store and not seeing a soul that I knew.
I decided to start volunteering at the Friends of the Library Book Sales. After all, if you love books, you are my friend, even if we haven't met yet. Once a quarter, on the first day of set-up, I'd help out for a few hours. Every book was $1.00 and it was quite a treasure hunt. The Friends also had an ongoing passive Book Sale in the Library Lobby. I started volunteering to be a daily sorter. I was still traveling a LOT for work, so I signed up for the fifth Monday of the month. In a typical year, there are five of them. I also made myself the "whenever" sorter. I'd go in and fill the shelves whenever I felt like it. Believe me, nobody minded the extra shelving, and damn, I always found great stuff. I still call it the most expensive volunteer job I've ever had, because I find something to buy every visit.
Back to the quarterly book sales: At the end of each sale, there's a Bag Sale, where $5.00 fills a Trader Joe's paper bag. Better still, anyone who helps with Sale Takedown can have anything they want free!!!
Eventually, someone noticed my efforts and I was invited to join the Friends Board. I've been the VP for six or seven years and have implemented a number of things that have helped boost our revenue. Then I was asked to join the Library Foundation, which is an umbrella group that supports both libraries in my city. Two library boards! Oh, my!
As a result, I've been invited to get involved in a number of other community-based events. I co-chair an annual Service Day, and I am the Hospitality Chair for a Women's Art League.
Last week, I had two lunch dates and a coffee date with people who are friends I've made through various community involvement. (Don't worry, I don't do this often, I'm FIRE, cook most meals at home and I can afford it.) Weird side note: I am on a first-name basis with the entire current City Council and a number of past officials (Whaaaa? How did that happen?), primarily because I have volunteered on several campaigns. Boy, have I learned a lot about how local government works.
Today my family and I attended a free concert in the park. I ran into dozens of people I know, all as a result of these volunteer activities. I gotta say, it was good mustachian fun.
And of course, I have more books than I will ever have time to read. I've not been assessed a library fine in years, and I haven't paid more than $1.00 for a book in over a decade.
Another benefit: $1.00 presents. Yup. I watch all year long for books, movies and music that will make great gifts. My family knows they're getting used books, but I get such great stuff, no one cares or complains.
It's unlikely that there's a library on the planet that can't use a little volunteer assistance. Check it out, it could enrich your life in ways you would never imagine and you certainly won't regret it.
Think of it: Great books, tiny prices, no library fines and potential new friends. What's not to love?
P.S. I only use an e-reader when I'm on vacation. I know the "turn off the wi-fi so the book doesn't get returned" trick is real. Better still, it doesn't keep the next person in line from getting a chance to read the book. I'm not sure exactly how it works, but I have had more than one library manager tell me it's not a problem.
Okay, I'm bushed. I hope this inspires one or more new library volunteers.
One final thought: Of course I donate the books back when I'm finished with them, for which I keep accurate records. We itemize, so I can write them off on our taxes.