Save Money for Your Trips

...Swap Your Travel Books   

I've written before about swapping travel books using a site called Swaptree.com.  But a few months ago I found another book swapping site that has quickly become my favorite -- PaperBackSwap.com. 

PaperBackSwap.com is the nation's largest book club, with more than 2 million books available on their site.  With that many books, your chances of finding what you want are very good. 

The club is free, all you do is list the books you want to trade by their ISBN number or title and author.  When another member wants one of your books, you'll receive an email message.  Then you just wrap the book, pop it in a mailbox, and when it's received you'll earn a credit for a book.

Co-founders and avid readers Richard Pickering and Robert Swarthout developed the online book club to allow readers from the US to trade books for free (sorry guys, if you live in another country -- the club is only available to residents of the US and US territories at this time).  The club has grown phenomenally and now more than 35,000 books are swapped each week.

What I like about the club is that in addition to being able to recycle used books for just a couple of dollars postage, you can communicate with other members who have interests in common. 

"The best part about our club is our members," says Swarthout.  "What started as a trading system has turned into a social community of readers that share so much more than books.   Our members transcend miles and become best friends through club communications, discussion forums and coffee-time chat rooms."

It's true.  Some examples:  A girl who sent me an archaeology book gave me tips for the course I was taking.  Another woman who requested a book from me asked if I was related to her friend.  Conversations with other members are easy to start, and fun.

So, if you're trying to save money for a trip, and you've got some guidebooks from your last trip that you won't be using anymore, why not swap them for free?  It's easy!

PaperBackSwap.com also has two sister sites:  SwapaCD.com and SwapaDVD.com. 

Photos courtesy of PaperBackSwap.com.