As someone who loves reading but doesn’t love spending a fortune on books, I finally decided to try buying second-hand. I had always been hesitant—would the books be in good condition? Would it be worth the savings? After my first experience, I can confidently say that second-hand books are a game-changer. Here’s how it went!

Why I Decided to Buy Used Books

Books, especially textbooks, can be ridiculously expensive. Every semester, I would spend hundreds of dollars on books I would only use for a few months. This time, I wanted to see if I could cut costs by buying second-hand. Not only was it cheaper, but it also felt more sustainable—why buy new when perfectly good used copies are available?

Where I Found the Best Deals

There are plenty of places to buy second-hand books, but these were my top choices:

• Online bookstores – Websites like AbeBooks, ThriftBooks, and eBay had a huge selection of used books at low prices.
• Local second-hand bookstores – I was surprised by how many affordable options I found at small independent shops.
• Campus book exchanges – Other students were selling their old textbooks for a fraction of what I’d pay new.

I compared prices across different platforms and chose the best deals based on the book’s condition and shipping costs.

The Condition of the Books: Better Than Expected

One of my biggest worries was getting a book that was falling apart. But most sellers provided clear descriptions, rating books from "Like New" to "Acceptable." I chose copies in "Very Good" condition, and when they arrived, they were in great shape—just a few highlighted passages and slightly worn covers, nothing that affected readability.

How Much I Saved

Compared to buying new, I saved around 60% on my textbooks and even more on novels. Some books were so cheap that I could buy two used copies for the price of one new one! The savings made it completely worth it.

Would I Buy Second-Hand Again? Absolutely!

This experience changed the way I shop for books. Not only did I save money, but I also felt good about giving books a second life. From now on, second-hand books will be my first choice whenever I need something new to read.

If you’ve never tried  https://booksrun.com/books/buy buying used books, I highly recommend it. Just check the seller’s ratings, read descriptions carefully, and enjoy the savings! Have you ever bought second-hand books? Share your thoughts in the comments!