Almighty Dad | A stay at home dad blog

I‘ve run into a bit of financial misfortune recently.  We’re in the middle of moving to a cheaper house while still trying to pay for all the things the boys like to do, like gymnastics and their various activities.  It’s expensive to raise kids who are smart and athletic and need social outlets (allow me this time to be a proud dad).   As a result of these money woes I’ve been doing some serious thinking about how to save money on everyday basic needs.  There is, of course, the obvious.  Spending less on food, doing my own housecleaning, and learning to use E-bay for all the stuff I need but want to avoid overpaying for – these are all good ways to save some money.  I’m learning how to be a better penny pincher.

When I was a kid my best friend told me how to avoid late fees at the library.  Take the books, but don’t check them out.  And I never got a late fee.  I don’t do those sorts of things anymore, but I still hate late fees.  Yesterday was Monday (as I’m writing this) which means it was field trip day for us.  My boys chose to go to the World of Wonder Museum.  We drove 25 minutes there just to discover that they are closed for renovation.  That was a real kick in the pants, and left me with a full two hours to fill before lunch.  On the drive back to Boulder I detoured to the Borders book store.  I figured, at the very least, we could sit at the coffee bar and eat a cookie and have some juice (which is a complete rip off so I decided against it).  Instead, I decided to read them a book, a random book – something unexpected.  We walked back to the children’s section, and I picked up the first chapter book I saw.  It was Franny K Stein: Mad Scientist.

The boys sat in the big plush chairs that Borders was so helpful to provide while I began reading.  My big realization for the day was that I can go through a whole kids’ chapter book in about half an hour.  The boys were comfortable in the chairs, and I was happy to read a book that I didn’t pay for.  It seems so simple; take the kids to a book store and read them any book they want, for free.  And it’s better than a library.  Here’s why:

1. Librarians get upset when you start gesticulating to add emphasis while reading out loud.

2. The books are all new and well organized in a consumer friendly, cover-first display.

3. Stores are better lit than Libraries and there are toys for the kids to play with when you’re done reading.

4. Giant chain book stores are in the middle of shopping centers which makes doing other errands during the same time frame easy.

          Some people say,  “That’s blasphemous! Libraries are cultural treasures.”

          “No, that’s capitalism.”

Libraries don’t sell us anything; they are institutions that don’t have an interest in making us happy.  But, book stores go out of their way to make our experience pleasant.  They count on people being so happy that they buy something, and it’s great that people do buy things.  I buy things; I have spent a small fortune at book stores over the years (I own 1350 books).  My point is that kids’ books are short and uncomplicated.  They can be read quickly and enjoyed once.  I’m not buying a 15 dollar book that I can read in half an hour.

I have to admit to feeling a pang of guilt over not supporting the writers who actually write the books.  But, let’s face it, libraries don’t pay authors either.  And, these big books stores, will eventually get my business on something else.  I went into my basement last month and saw all the old children’s books I’ve bought over the last 6 years.  The Dr. Seuss books and many of the other picture books got very good use in their day.  They were good purchases.    Kids’ chapter books, on the other hand, don’t get read more than once, and buying them is a total waste of money unless it is a gift for someone or a very special book.  I think Franny K. Stein is a good book, and I’m sure it will sell copies.  For me, a guy who needs to save some money now, it’s more cost effective to read it in the book store.

In defense of small businesses I will offer this:  I prefer to buy from locally owned shops.  I have learned to love the eclectic nature of Boulder Colorado.  We live very near to Pearl Street, and the downtown area, where most shops are local and where I buy most of the things I need.  The one reason I buy from these shops is that their sales people are ultra professional and friendly.  That is sometimes the drawback of chain stores, and it’s a reason that small stores should never die.  I have had several bad experiences at our local Barnes and Noble, and I have vowed never to go back.  The employees were rude to me more than once, and I’m a fan of capitalism so I took my business across the street to Borders.  I realize it’s a big chain store, but it’s also a chain store that gives me exactly what I want, and that’s the way the cookie crumbles.  Rock on, Free Enterprise!

Related posts:

1. Books I Read to the Boys by Request
2. Books to Read to Boys