Recently, one of my cousins posted an insightful story on Instagram, extolling the virtues of how simply the act of placing books on hold at the library quelled her urge to shop online. Dear friends, I have to admit to you that until I read that post I did not realize that I do the exact same thing. Only I didn’t recognize that was why I was doing it! So much for self-awareness, eh?
But the point remains. The next time you feel the urge to shop, hop over to your local library’s website instead and throw a few items into your Holds section. In fact, go ahead, try it now. I’ll wait.
Feel better?
Now, I’ve always been a library-holds-placer, but since I cut my online (read: Amazon) shopping way back in late January, I’ve found my holds requests blossoming even more. See that the new Rick Steves memoir is out? On the holds list it goes. Want to rewatch the Beatles Anthology DVDs? Holds list. An audiobook of “Outlive”? Hold, please.
At this very moment, I’ve got 11 items on hold. Some are hard-copy books, some audiobooks, some DVDs. Why not have a mix of media to turn to on any given day, I say! Some of these holds will take months to arrive. Some will be here next week. And when I go into the library to retrieve them, best believe I will do a lap around the puzzle exchange shelves, too – I need another puzzle like I need a hole in the head, but if I find the right one, the price is right and I shall take it home. (And I’ll return it when I’m done so the next patron can use it!)
And, yes, one can actually shop the library during one of the annual book sales — which is where the stack of books depicted at the top of this post came from. But for $9 in total, it was a steal — AND it scratched the shopping itch in a very frugal way indeed.
There are just so many ways you can shop the library. Placing online holds definitely scratches the online-shopping itch; picking up free puzzles helps with that on-scene novelty purchase feeling; and just browsing the shelves can be so soothing. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve stood in the cookbook aisle, perusing title after title, many of which I’ve never heard of before – and, yes, almost always checking one or two out to bring home.
So the next time you’re feeling a little bit spendy, let your fingers (or feet!) do the walking over at your local library. Whether browsing online or in person, it’s a guaranteed way to help calm your hankering to shop. And you’ll come away with some new knowledge, too!
:)
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