What if I told you, you had $100s of extra dollars in your wallet?! Would you run to try to find it? Odds are good if you have a library card, you might be able to cut out unnecessary spending galore. Your local library is more than a treasure trove of books. It presents opportunities for entertainment, work, education, art, and more! If you haven’t visited the library lately (or don’t know what’s available to you fully from yours), here’s what you need to know.
Free Audiobooks
Forget a pricey subscription to an audiobook service. Your local library likely allows you to check out books on CD. But did you know most libraries also have apps that allow you to check out audiobooks on your phone? My two favorite apps to use on a regular basis are OverDrive and hoopla. Both have simple interfaces and allow multiple borrows per month. Some libraries also offer TumbleBookTumbleBook which offers audiobooks for kids and teens. RBDigital and Axis360 are other platforms that allow you to download and stream audiobooks from your phone, tablet, or laptop.
Many libraries offer multiple platforms. So if you run out of borrows or can’t find a particular title, you may be able to find it through another service, too. A subscription like Audible comes in at $14.95/month which means you could save $179.40 over a year by using your library card instead.
Free TV and Movie Streaming
Likewise, you can stream your favorite TV shows and movies through library apps, too. Platforms like hoopla, Kanopy, and AcornTV through RBDigital also allow you to view many of your TV favorites and even recent movies are available to stream. Some of these platforms even feature their own original content.
Most online entertainment streaming services range from $5.99 per month to $12.99 per month. That means you’ll pay anywhere from $71 to $155 per year on what you could get for free.
Free Magazines
Again, you can of course check out and browse magazines at your local library. But of course, you guessed it, you can also eliminate subscriptions by using your library’s interface for magazine subscriptions. Flipster & RBDigital both offer magazines through certain libraries. Check your library for potential apps.
Single copies of magazines can be up to $5, while the average subscription price is $1.65/month. This could cost you anywhere from $60 to around $20 per year.
Free Online Courses
Do you know Lynda? Many libraries offer access to Lynda – an online learning platform recently rebranded as LinkedIn Learning. You can take 1000s of classes on everything from photography to screenwriting to app development to music lessons and more! FOR FREE.
I’ll be honest that I didn’t even know that my own library offered this and now I’m chomping at the bit to get started on some courses. Access to courses like this can cost $100s of dollars. A subscription to LinkedIn Learning out of pocket is either $29.99/month ($359/year) or $239 for an annual fee.
Free Workspace
Need to get some serious work done? Head to the library with your laptop and find a study room. I wrote both of my books at our local library. Many libraries offer high speed wifi and quiet working spaces. I loved the ability to have a room with few distracting details where I could focus my thinking.
Your library might also offer services like Wireless Printing (there may be a charge for this though) or assistive technology. You may also be able to select and reserve a room online for your local library.
Free Maker Space
Our local library just opened a free Maker Studio. It is AMAZING. You can get crafty. Or you can create a podcast with high tech equipment. You can scan photos, use sewing machines, and much more. More and more libraries are adding spaces like these for their patrons. Check to see if your local library has something similar.
Free Programs
I seriously just jumped on to the closest library to my house’s website and found out they are giving out free flu shots during the month of October. I signed up for a book box subscription from another nearby library. There are free classes for kids and even learning times for preschoolers. You can attend free workshops to sharpen your job skills or go to a job fair. Your local library lives to serve you!
It’s difficult to put a price tag on programs like these. And the best way to know what’s going on is to visit your individual branch and look for flyers or chat with a librarian.
Library Rewards
One last note, be sure to join Library Rewards if your library participates. You can get freebies and rewards for using the library. How amazing is that?!
Everyone knows that you can check out books from the local library for free. That’s an amateur’s game. Take your money saving skills to the next level by heading to your library’s website today and rediscover what’s available to you. Some simple research might save you $100s of dollars!
Our new book Your Money, Your Marriage is now available! Be sure to check out videos on managing money together on Facebook.
My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out The Debt Free Devotional
This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal, learn about a way to save, or maybe even something for free, I may end up making a small commission. All prices are subject to change.
