How To Save Over $200 On Kids Books This Year. If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a parent, it’s this: kids love activity books—but they go through them FAST. Between my 6-year-old’s obsession with mazes and my toddler’s endless scribbles in coloring books, I was easily spending $10–$15 a week on paperback books from Amazon, Target, or the grocery store aisle.
That doesn’t sound like a lot… until I did the math. Over the course of the year? That’s more than $500 just on paperbacks that ended up crumpled, half-used, or lost under the couch.
So this year, I decided to try something different—and honestly, it’s one of the best low-key parenting hacks I’ve found:
Switching to printable, downloadable activity books.
✨ What Are Printable Books?
If you’re not familiar, printable books are digital PDFs that you can download and print at home. They can be anything from:
- Coloring books
- Maze and puzzle books
- Educational worksheets
- Dot-to-dots
- Writing practice sheets
- Holiday-themed activity packs
You can find them on platforms like Etsy, Amazon Digital, Teachers Pay Teachers, or even get some free from blogs and Pinterest. They’re usually between $1–$5, and once you buy them, they’re yours forever.
🧠 Why I Made the Switch
Let me paint the picture. It was a rainy Sunday afternoon. I had two bored kids, one half-finished unicorn coloring book, and zero motivation to drive to the store. I Googled “printable coloring pages,” and within 10 minutes, my daughter was coloring a set of custom fairy tale pages I downloaded from Etsy for $2.50.
That moment changed everything. Here’s why I stuck with it:
1. Massive Cost Savings
I was buying 2–3 activity books a month at $10+ each. Now? I spend about $5–$8 per month total on digital books that I can print again and again.
Total saved this year:
📉 Over $200 — and I’m not exaggerating.
2. Reusability = Game Changer
- If one page gets scribbled into oblivion? I reprint it.
- My kids fight over a page? I print two.
- Want to take activities on a trip? Print a mini version.
I even laminated a few puzzle pages and now they use dry erase markers so we can reuse them weekly.
3. Customizable Fun
You can find themes for literally anything—dinosaurs, mermaids, trucks, the alphabet, holidays, Minecraft, cats doing yoga… you name it. This came in super handy when we did a space-themed birthday party. Instead of buying overpriced themed books, I downloaded a $3 printable pack that had coloring pages, word searches, and printable space stickers.
4. Instant Gratification (Without Leaving the House)
There’s nothing better than hearing “Mom, I’m bored!” and replying, “Give me 5 minutes.” With printable books, I don’t have to wait for shipping or haul the kids to the store. I just download, print, and bam, quiet time.
📥 Where To Find the Best Printable Books
These are my go-to sources:
- Etsy – So many unique options from small creators. Bonus: you’re supporting artists! 🛍️ Shop here
- Amazon Digital – You can find Kindle/PDF versions of popular brands for less. 🛍️ Shop here
- Teachers Pay Teachers – Great for learning activities (math, handwriting, STEM).
- Blogs – Here you will find various downloadable puzzles at affordable prices at 🛍️ Puzzle.EssentialHub.com
- Creative Fabrica – A goldmine for monthly subscription printable content.
🖨️ A Few Printing Tips
I learned a few things along the way:
- Invest in a decent printer with refillable ink (I use Epson EcoTank—it’s been worth every penny).
- Print in black & white unless color is necessary—it saves on ink.
- Keep a binder with plastic sleeves to store favorites.
- Use recycled paper when possible.
- Laminate reusable pages and keep dry erase markers nearby.
💡 Final Thoughts: Why Every Parent Should Try It
Honestly, switching to printable books felt like a small change, but it made a big difference. I saved money, reduced clutter, and had go-to activities ready for rainy days, quiet time, or car trips. It also gave me a bit of control back—no more panic-buying overpriced activity books at checkout stands or chasing sales on Amazon. Plus, my kids love helping pick the themes we download, so it became a fun part of our week.
If you’re tired of spending a fortune on activity books that get destroyed in three days, give printable books a try. You might be surprised by how much you save—and how much your kids love it.
