Key Points

Avoid the high cost of owning books by enrolling in an online book rental service, referred to as the “Netflix for Books.”

Booksfree.com has an entire inventory of paperback and audio books you can borrow for a monthly fee as low as $10.99, less than the cost of one new book.  Make a list of the books you want and they ship you two at a time.  When you return the books you’ve read or listened to, they automatically ship your next selections (free).

BookSwim is another online book service lending you paperbacks, hard covers and — wait for it — even college textbooks.  They stock all the latest bestsellers and provide free shipping directly to and from your home!  Again, no need to worry about late fees, so read your books for as long as you want.  You may even choose to purchase and keep the books you like.