I spend a lot of time reading. But with so many good books out there it’s hard to stick to my book budget. I’ve found that my Amazon.com Wish List helps me save money and keep track of all those loads and loads of books I want to read.

Amazon.com Wish Lists is a system where you mark items that you’d like to have. Anyone can have a wish list. Go to Amazon.com. Find an item that interests you. You’ll see the “add to wish list” button below the “add to shopping cart” button. Click on the “add to wish list” button and follow the instructions to get signed up. It’s pretty easy and it’s free.

Keeping Track
When I hear about a great book on NPR or I read a book review I go straight to Amazon.com. I enter the book title and read more about it. I always read the reviews of other customers not just the professional book reviewers. If I’m still interested after reading about the book I’ll add it to my wish list. There’s no more racking my brain thinking, “Now what was the title of that book about the train stuck in the Cascades?” It’s on my wish list.

Saving Money
Here’s the important part – I always print out my wish list and put it in my purse. When I visit the used book store I’m prepared. Having a list of books to look for enables me to make productive use of my time. As a bonus, because I’ve done a little extra research about the books I’m buying I’m happier with my purchases.