It almost seems that every time I open the pages of some of my favorite scrapbooking magazines, or visit my favorite scrapbooking spots on the Internet, I am hearing about a new must-have idea book. If I purchased them all, not only could I own my own bookstore but I would never be able to purchase anything else. So how do you know if an idea book is worth it, and how do you get the best deal? Read on.
How do you know it is worth it? You ask. Simple and easy, but very necessary – ask around. See what other scrapbookers think. Ask on message boards or read reviews of the idea book in a variety of locations. This will help you get a good grasp of what most people think. Another good idea is to see if you can get your hands on a copy – that could be at the local library or even perhaps the actual bookstore. Flip through the book and see if the layouts or techniques described capture your attention and leave you wanting to read more. This is a pretty good bet that you might actually use the book enough to purchase it.
So you have decided that the book is definitely worth owning, now how do you go about getting the best deal?
Buy it used, from wherever you can find it for the least amount. Some used bookstores carry them, and it is worth it to check it out. Another option is to purchase it from online sites that have used books for sale by vendors. Just be sure you are dealing with someone who has good feedback or ratings so you don’t wind up purchasing a book and not getting it. Be sure you are covered in the case it would be lost in shipping and watch those shipping and handling charges because often that is where they get you.
If all else fails, take turns with a friend purchasing idea books and share them with each other. My friend and I do that for some of the idea books, and it has worked really well.
Nicole Humphrey writes articles for the Scrapbooking Blog and for the Frugal Blog. She also guest blogs on a variety of topics. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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