Avid readers, like myself, find themselves pinching their pennies during this time of economical strife and regularly turn to alternative methods for purchasing books. The library is something that also becomes a frequent stop on the errand route, but what if you could simply receive your books in the mail as if by magic?

I'm sorry to inform you that no magical book mailing system exists, but something close to it does. PaperBackSwap.com is an online hub where users create accounts, list books, mail them and in return are able to select from a library of millions of books to have mailed to them for FREE. You simply pay the cost of shipping the book out to another member to receive credit to choose a book.

Can't find a book you want? There are 'Wish Lists' where people can wait in line for a popular title. I've been a member for over three years now and I can say with certainty that after receiving over 240 books and with a 'wish list' of close to 200, I enjoy using the system.

The system calculates that by not purchasing new books, I've saved over $1000. As a book lover, I also like the idea that a book is finding a new home when I mail one out.

Another cool thing to note, PaperBackSwap.com is not just paperbacks. They carry hardcovers, audio books, textbooks, childrens books and some people even swap special editions!

In addition the site boasts 'To Be Read' lists, recommendations, reviews, a highly interactive discussion board and much more.

Hop on over and sign up, there are no fees to join, other than the fee of sending out your first books. Tell them Kelly sent you. With close to over 2000 member searching and posting online at a time, I'm sure they'll remember me!