Books have been in circulation for centuries and the printing press is the reason why books can be printed and sold at a less prohibitive price. However, there are several benefits of buying used books that you should know about.

Sure, the cover is a little banged up, and the pages are starting to yellow. But who cares about looks when you can get an entire library for a couple, of bucks? Used books are valuable in more ways than one, especially if you’re on a budget. How so? Read on and I’ll show you.

Save Money

Buying books secondhand is cheaper than buying new ones, and you can often find great deals on different online selling platforms. If you’re on a budget, buying a used book will be cheaper than purchasing a new one.

You can support the small business

When you buy used books from your local bookstore or library, you’re helping to keep it in business. If the store closes down, it’s unlikely that another one will open up in its place.

You can find rare books

Secondhand book stores often have a selection of rare books that you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. These stores often have local collectors who sell their wares in bulk to them, so there’s a chance you could find something unusual or collectible in a small shop.

Sustainable

They’re eco-friendly. Buying used books reduces the amount of waste produced by printing new copies every time someone wants one especially if they’re just going to sell it again anyway. This means that fewer trees have been cut down and there are fewer harmful chemicals in our environment as well as less carbon dioxide pollution caused by manufacturing processes involved in making new copies of books.

Buying used books does have its benefits. For all the great things about buying new, there are just many things to love about buying used. Used book sales give you the ability to select books that you want, without any of the hassle or cost of purchasing books at full price at big corporations.

Whether the benefits include keeping your budget in check or having an eco-friendly mindset, buying used books is a decision that you can feel good about when you make it. Given the wide availability of online options, and the increasing number of used bookstores, there’s really no excuse that one shouldn’t be able to find the right book at the right price.