Libraries help in times of inflation

The Crawfordsville County Public Library has resources in its collections that provide ideas on how to handle this time of higher inflation – to improve your personal finances, develop thrifty habits, and learn new skills to help you get more of yours being able to save hard earned money and spend it in ways that are important to you and enrich your family life.

Fun and practical personal finance titles in the library’s collections include: “Getting Good With Money: Ten Simple Steps to Getting Financially Healthy” by Tiffany Aliche (332,024 Ali); “You Need a Budget: The Proven System to Break the Paycheck-to-Paycheck Cycle, Free Debt, and Live the Life You Want” by Jesse Mecham (332,024 Mec); “Personal Finance After 50” by Eric Tyson (332,024 Tys); and “The MoneySmart Family System: Teaching Children of All Ages Financial Independence” by Steve and Annette Economides (332.4 Eco).

Thrift can help you find extra money to save, pay off debts, or spend on what is important to you and your family. Thrifty titles include: “Cut Your Grocery Bill In Half With America’s Cheapest Family: Contains So Many Innovative Strategies You Don’t Have To Cut Coupons” by Steve and Annette Economides (640.73 Eco); “I Brake for Yard Sales and Flea Markets, Thrift Shops, Auctions, and the Occasional Dumpster” by Lara Spencer (381,195 Spe); and “The Cheapskate Next Door: the Surprising Secrets of Americans Living Happyly Under their Means” by Jeff Yeager (332,024 Yea).

Learn new skills to improve your life without breaking your budget: “The Useful Book: 201 Life Skills They Used to Teach in Home Ecology and Shop” by Sharon and David Bowers (640 Bow); “The sewing bible for changing clothes: a practical step-by-step guide to changing clothes” by Judith Turner (646.2 Tur); “How to break an egg: 1,453 kitchen tips, food fixes, emergency replacements and practical techniques” (641.5 How); and “The Complete Guide to Upholstery: Filled with Step-by-Step Techniques for Professional Results” by Cherry Dobson (646.2 Dob).

Even though you’re not actually using these books to create a new coffee table, save money at the grocery store, or change your car’s air filter, just borrowing (and returning, of course) an item from the library instead of buying it will save you money – between $ 8 and $ 30 depending on the type of book – which is definitely a frugal habit.

If you prefer DVDs or electronic books, the library has titles on these subjects on DVDs and in e-book format in the Libby and Hoopla apps. The library also purchases print and electronic magazine subscriptions like Family Handyman. These subscriptions, and other streaming subscriptions owned by the library like Kanopy, can help a thrifty family save.

Another resource, The Chilton Library, is a database that provides auto and truck repair and maintenance procedures, a job appraisal tool, and ASE test prep tests for the most popular exams. The website is accessible from the library; For external access, please contact the reference switch at 765-362-2242, ext. 117.

Know your strengths and skills as you learn new skills to save money. Remember, it can cost more to call a plumber or electrician to resolve an emergency resulting from mistakes than simply calling them.

In times of inflation, many people are looking for ways to stretch their money so they can enjoy a nice meal at their favorite restaurant every now and then, buy the new laptop they need, or travel with their family next year. Use your library’s precious collections to do just that.

Theresa Tyner is the director of the Crawfordsville District Public Library.