I commute an hour and a half to work every day. In a car, by myself. If I didn't have audio books, I would feel much more stressed about "wasting" that time every day. So I'm a huge fan of them. If you're not, that's fine, but don't hate. Some of us love them. This post is for the lovers, not the haters!
Audio books can get EXPENSIVE! Without an Audible subscription, they run in the 30's and 40's, and even with it, $17-18 a pop when you go through them as fast as I do is not an option. So I've discovered some ways to get them for free and for cheap.
Audible Daily Deal
I do have an Audible subscription. I did the 2-year plan paid in advance, which yeilds about $10 per book at one per month. This allows me to grab a new release or Audible exclusive that I would have had a hard time finding otherwise. This also entitles me to 2 free books a month from their selection. They usually have 5-6 books to choose from of various genres, and I usually only want one of them. But sometimes there are two I like, and hey, they're free!
Audible also comes with the benefit of a "Daily Deal," which is a book every day that is only $3-5. They change up the genre and sometimes it's the first book in a series to promote sales, but I got Priory of the Orange Tree on a Daily Deal, and it was amazing! To sign up go to your Account Details page on the desktop site and click on Notifications on the left-hand side. Check the box next to Audible Daily Deals, you'll start receiving emails right away.
Chirp is another audio book library, but you don't have to be a member to get their daily deal, because no subscription is required! Their deals can be from $0.99-$5. I subscribe to their notification email to make sure I don't miss a deal.
Hoopla & Libby
Did you know that your local library probably rents digital audiobooks? FOR FREE! All you have to do is download an app (Hoopla or Libby,) enter in your library card number, and then put the books you want on their wait list. When they are available, you can listen on the app, no trip to the library required!
FOR REVIEWERS ONLY
Libro.fm is another audio book subscription service. But they also have a reviewer program for ALC's, advanced listening copies! They have 5-6 a month that you can choose from to listen to and review. If you're a Bookstagrammer or a reviewer, email support@libro.fm to find out more about their ALC program. I am not sure what their follower count requirement is, but I have under 1500 followers and I qualified, so they aren't too stringent!
Audiobx
Audiobx is a Facebook group that I am a member of in which writers can give out free codes to their audio book for review. There are rules involved - you'll have to claim the book that day and only have a certain time to read it before you're required to post a review, so you have to be committed. And you have more direct contact with the writer, so if you are afraid of writing a bad review and having an author actually see it, this may not be for you. But it's a great resource for readers, and writers who want more reviews posted for their books!
So there you go. You don't have to break your budget to make your hands-free time more enjoyable. Go out, grab an audiobook, and share the love!