Save Money By Using Swap Sites To Get Your Movies, CDs, and Books

Like many, I love to read, listen to music, and watch movies. These loves can be costly. I found a way to cut back on these cost last year. The sites below are sites where members can swap cds, books, and movies with other members and are all free to join.

First lets talk about Paperback Swap. This is my favorite of all since I love to read alot. Paperback Swap is a site that allows its members to post books that they are willing to swap with other members and receive credit when someone request a book from you and mark it received. You can then take that credit and request a book you are interested in. They even give you a free credit when you post 10 books to swap. The only expense is when someone request a book from you, then you will pay the shipping. If you follow the packaging instructions on the site it normally cost $3 or under.

If you like music, join SwapACD. It is a site that follows the same principal as Paperback Swap except when you request a Cd it will cost you 1 credit and 49cents. It is well worth it since you can't buy a CD in a store for 49cents. Like Paperback Swap, you will receive 1 credit for your first 10 CDs that you post.

If watching movies is something you spend money on, try SwapaDVD. It is like Paperback Swap. To request a DVD it only cost 1 credit and they offer you a free credit for the first 10 DVDs you post to swap.

All of these sites have new items posted daily by its members. Each site has a "Wish List" you can create of items that you would like to receive. When an item that you have on that list is posted to swap it will automatically send it out to you if you have a credit available for it. If no credit is available in your account it will send you an email and you will be given a short time to get a credit to use for it. If for some reason you don't get a credit to put toward it, the item will remain on your wish list so that you will be in que for it again. You can, if you choose, purchase credits to add to your account inexpensively.

I have been a member of these for a little less than a year and have nothing but good things to say about them. I have not experienced any issues with any of my request that I have made for items. I would recommend this to anyone looking to save money but still be able to enjoy music, books, and movies. If any of you are already members leave a comment and tell others about your experience with these sites.

(Disclosure: Some links in the post are affiliate links and I will receive a small compensation if you click through to those links. Affiliate links are an easy way for you to support Mommy's Money Cents at no additional cost to yourself.Click Here for more info on my disclosure statement.)

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Save Money By Swapping Books, Cds, & DVDs

If you like to read books, watch movies, or listen to music you are in luck. There is a group of sites that make it possible to swap your books, CDs, and movies with each other. You can belong to them all and save money in the process. I average a savings around $60 a month by using these services.

Paperback Swap is a site where you can swap paperback, hardback, or audio books for free. Paperback Swap works off of “credits”. You can earn one credit by listing your first 10 books (don’t worry if you don’t have 10 to list at first). Other ways to earn credits is when you send out a book to someone and they list it as received or if you refer someone to Paperback Swap. If you don’t want to wait till you earn a credit, you can also get credits by purchasing them through the kiosk (located in the toolbar of the site). Each paperback or hardback book cost 1 credit and audio books cost 2 credits. If you don’t find the book that you are looking for you can create a “Wish List” and when someone list something that is on your list you will get an email letting you know about it.

Like Paperback Swap, Swap A DVD is free to use if you earn credits by posting 10 DVDs, sending books to others and they mark it received, or if you refer someone to the site. You also can purchase credits through the kiosk if you don’t want to wait to earn them. Most DVDs can be ordered for 1 credit. If you don’t find the DVD that you are looking for you can create a “Wish List” and when someone list something that is on your list you will get an email letting you know about it. There is a huge variety of DVDs to choose from.

You earn credits the same way on Swap A CD as you do the others. The only difference in Swap A CD is that when you order a CD it cost 1 credit and 49cents from “Swap A CD Money" account. You can add some money to this account by Paypal.

Shipping for all of these are easy. You can print a mailer package for each book, CD, or DVD that you send out straight from the websites. You as the sender will be responsible for the shipping cost. Shipping normally runs below $3 for each package.

Think of the money that you will save by using these sites. It is definitely worth looking at and joining, since all are free to signup. Click on the banners to go to the site of your choice.

Cherrios Spoonfuls of Stories Gift Set Giveaway & Contest Info

Yesterday I went to my mailbox and was happy to see that I received my Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories Gift Set. The set consist of four stories which include: The Great Dog Wash, Monkey and Me, When Dinosaurs Came With Everything , and Duck for President. My daughter and I sat down and read them together after dinner and she loves them. I now think that I am going to have to read "When Dinosaurs Came With Everything" every night before bed.

(Scroll to bottom of post for Giveaway Info)

Contest Info

Over the past seven years, Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories has given away more than 35 million children's books by distributing them free inside cereal boxes and has donated nearly $3 million to First Book, their non-profit partner, which provides books to children from low-income families.

In addition to encouraging children to read, Cheerios is looking for anyone interested in writing children's books. Now in its third year, the Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories New Author Contest is a way to encourage previously unpublished, up-and-coming children's book authors and to continue to nurture a love of reading. Entries are being accepted March 16 through July 15, 2009 and will be judged on appropriate story and content for children ages 3-8, emotional connection, writing quality, uniqueness, and read-aloud potential. More details on the contest can be found at http://www.spoonfulsofstoriescontest.com/.

Shellie Braeuner, the first year's winner, won for her book "The Great Dog Wash". This nanny from Nashville won a $5,000 cash prize and the opportunity to have her book reviewed by Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing. Simon & Schuster offered Shellie a book deal - and will publish her book, illustrated by Robert Neubecker, in hardcover this summer. In addition, Cheerios will be featuring "The Great Dog Wash" free inside 1.5 million boxes of Cheerios. The book has been specially printed in paperback in both English and Spanish and will be available free inside boxes of Cheerios this spring.

Cheerios is also announcing the winners of the second New Author Contest: Lori Degman, of Vernon Hills, Ill., won the top prize for her story, "1 Zany Zoo." In addition to winning a $5,000 cash prize from Cheerios, Degman earned the opportunity to have her book reviewed by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing. Simon & Schuster has since offered Degman a book deal; her book is expected to be released in 2010, initially in paperback distributed inside Cheerios boxes, and later in hardcover sold in the market.

Cheerios also named two runners-up in the contest: Tameka Fryer Brown, of Charlotte, N.C., for her story "I'm Not Eating That!" and Joan Stradling, of Star Valley, Ariz., for her story, "Who Invites a Pig to Dinner?" Both Brown and Stradling will receive a cash prize of $1,000 from Cheerios.

Giveaway Info

Cherrios and My Blog Spark have given me the opportunity to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a Cherrios Spoonfuls of Stories Gift Set. Read below for rules to enter. Your gift set will include the winning book "The Great Dog Wash" and three other books from the Spoonfuls of Stories Library.

Note: Leave me an email address on all post so that I can contact the winner at end of contest. (Comments with no email address stand the chance of deletion)

1. Leave a comment telling what your favorite children's book is.

For extra entries:
2. Blog about this giveaway with a direct link back to this blog post.
3. Grab my button in the sidebar and leave me the link to your site that you post it on.
4. Follow my blog
5. Subscribe to my blog

6. Tweet about this blog and leave me your Twitter Name in a comment.
7. Stumble this post and leave me your stumble username
8. Digg this post and leave me the username
9. Talk about this on My Space or Facebook and leave me a link

Deadline for entry is at 11:59pm on May 4, 2009

You don't have to have a website or blog to enter this giveaway. Just make sure to leave me an email address to contact you if you are a winner.

Winner will be determined by Random.org and I will post the winner on May 5, 2009.

Good Luck To All!

Barnes & Noble After Holiday Sale

They having a great sale now that is offering 50% or more off select merchandise. Another Great way to start buying the gifts you have to get for special occasions, birthdays, and whatever other reason you will be buying gifts this year. I myself will be picking up a few books from this sale. CLICK HERE to visit the site.

ADDED BONUS:
Get Cash Back on your Hickory Farms Purchases by using BIG CRUMBS. How this works is: Open an account with BIG CRUMBS, Once account is open look in the right hand corner of the screen for the Search Box and enter the retailer that you are wanting and click the option that comes up for retailer and then click search. Once you see your retailer choice click shop now and it will transfer you to the website for the retailer. Keep your big crumbs account screen open while you complete your shopping. You will receive an email in a few days letting you know that your purchase is eligible for cash back from BIG CRUMBS.