People are busy these days. While we may still have time to read a good novel on our summer vacation, a lot of us are limited to the two or three minutes we can get in before we fall asleep at night or maybe that quiet time in the bathroom. Magazines are great for people on the go. You can get valuable information in small pieces, they're light and portable, and these days there is a magazine (and sometimes many) for everyone from equestrians to quilters. The problem is that purchasing many magazines can get expensive. But there are ways that you can cut these costs and still get your favorite magazines.

First of all, subscribing alone is usually a great cost savings over buying a magazine on the newsstand every month. Plus, this way it comes straight to your house and you don't have to go to the store to buy it. Subscribing also can give you benefits you won't get from purchasing individual issues. Most magazines have companion websites these days, and subscribers can get access to extra content and archived materials. One time buyers may get limited access for the time period of the issue they purchased, but subscribers will be able to see everything.

When you do subscribe, there are a couple of things that can save you money there, too. Buy in bulk, like you do to get the best price for paper towels or dog food. In other words, if you really like a magazine, pay for two to three years at a time and you will usually pay less than you would if you subscribe a year at a time. Not only is the per year price lower, but you are also protected for a couple of years against the magazine price going up.

Another idea is to see if you are eligible for a professional discount. For example, if you work in the financial field, you may qualify for a discount on personal finance or business magazines. Also, if you have a business that has a waiting room, you can often purchase magazines at a discount for your customers to read while they are waiting, then you can read them on your breaks or take them home at night or when the new issues come in.

Finally, you may be able to get discounts on magazines with credit card points, or on websites selling discount subscriptions. If you take a little time, you can find great reading for a little money.