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I was hanging out at our sister’s place Going Green and I thought Jennifer brought up an interesting point…
She was talking about greening your magazine reading by going to online subscriptions. But she also mentioned how she already had naturally reduced her magazine reading time once she had children.
And for me cutting back on magazines also happened as a byproduct of motherhood because of the lack of “me” time.
But I think an even bigger reason that I’m not reading as many magazines is because now I read blogs instead of magazines. I’d much rather read what a real mom has to say than another rehash of “The 7 Steps to a Better S** Life.” LOL
What about you? Did having kids reduce the number of magazines you read? Does reading blogs replace any of your magazine reading time?
Miranda Kuskie says
I haven’t actually thought about that. It really IS a great point.
My two kids keep me running and I hardly have time to read anything! After awhile, they all seem to say the SAME thing EVERY time anyways! I usually just toss the ones I do get into the recycle bin lately. I suppose I should just cancel the subscriptions and save some trees.
Wendy says
I hate to admit this, but anymore the only mags I read are those my kids get in the mail! lol We read together from things like National Geo for Kids and Ranger Rick. I usually rely on online mags to keep me in the know on anything I’m interested in. 🙂
This blog is awesome and I’m incredibly jealous! lol
stampedwithgrace says
I don’t get any magazines because I feel guilty when they pile up! also homeschooling seven kids and being on the computer I have no time 🙂
but, if you’re going to subscribe to a magazine, do it through eBay, it’s so cheap!!
Bailey's Leaf says
My mom renews Woman’s Day for me for Christmas and my grandmother renews Guideposts for Christmas, as well. If there is a good magazine that I’m interested in that has free samples, I will take advantage of the offer. I do read, then I recycle.
Angie says
I’m a magazine addict, kind of like I am with Reality TV. I still read a lot of magazines, I like being able to take them to read outside or while I’m out and about. I have subs to quite a few and I buy some as well. I prefer to read off line as much as possible.
Tara R says
I actually don’t read ANY magazines anymore… except for the ones in the doctor’s office waiting room. I much prefer to read blogs and books. But yes, I did read them before I had kids!
Leah says
I was just thinking the other day how very little I make time to read magazines anymore! I do read blogs instead and have a few online subscriptions that I read.
I still read lots of books even after becoming a mom, but magazines have definitely taken back seat to the computer. 🙂
Cheri says
One of my friends was commenting on how she didn’t understand how I had time to blog and read other blogs. I rebutted with I didn’t understand how she had so much time to read magazines. I kid you not!! I was so shocked when I saw this post.
Yes, blogging – both writing and reading – has replaced magazine reading as well as other things. In fact, we only have one magazine subscription now and I don’t buy them at the store. I do have an online subscription to one magazine.
Petula says
Being a mom has reduced my reading overall, but I am addicted to reading… magazines, books, whatever I can get my hands on. In the little time I have free I’ll usually pick up something to read. In the bathroom, five minutes while changing my clothes… I get more magazines then ever because of free subscriptions, but I recycle by giving some to friends who I think will be interested and putting them on Freecycle. There’s always someone who uses them for crafts or in the classroom or something. It’s my one frivilous thing, I guess.
Alexandra Hancock says
I read way more blogs than magazines now, but I still like getting my free subscriptions. They are mostly parenting magazines and I save them until I have time to read them. This past Tuesday for Tackle-It Tuesday I went through my magazines and cut out the articles I want to keep as a resource for later. Like recipes and crafts. I also use the pages as wrapping paper for gifts.
Nathalie says
I read more blogs and more magazines. I personally subscribe to fewer print magazines now, especially fewer cooking ones since I don’t have as much time to prepare gourmet feasts and finding a great recipe is just a click away. However, if you throw in the magazines I read with my kids (Ranger Rick, Highlights, National Geographic Kids), all the trial mags I receive in the mail, the free local parenting ones I pick up around town, and all of my husband’s favorites, we’re still swimming in paper. Is there a portable device for reading magazines?
Susan M. Heim says
I subscribe to a ton of magazines, but I skim them much more these days. I have a drawer full that I haven’t gone through and have to weed them out once in a while. I’m a parenting author, so I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of my magazines because 1) I just love paper and 2) they help me with research and writing ideas. But I’m just more picky about what I read. If the article doesn’t grab my attention in the first few paragraphs, I move on to the next one. That’s basically what most people do online, too. I usually keep a magazine in the car to read while I’m waiting to pick up kids. And I always put my magazines in the recycling bin.
Shera says
I need to hop over and read that post, but in answer to your question I have been trying to cancel all physical magazine subscriptions to save on time and waste. I didn’t know that online subscriptions were available though so I simply must look into that :).
Vicki says
I do spend more time reading blogs and less time reading magazines these days, although it hasn’t affected my book reading. I have cut back to just two magazine subscriptions now, and I’m usually 3 or 4 months behind on reading them!
Tracy B says
I don’t think it changed the number of magazines I read, just the style. I try to order them when they are cheaper so I’m paying about a dollar a month or a little less even. I know a good green idea is to share a subscription with a friend or family member. Sometimes I take mine and drop them at the dentist or doctors office, since it seems like some of those places always update and some never do.
melody is slurping life says
Birthing and adopting kids has reduced everything (except love and fun)…they are quite expensive, you know. 🙂 Confession, I LOVE to hang out at the bookstore coffee shop and read magazines. Yep, I do.
RefreshMom says
I definitely read more blogs than magazines these days, but I think in some ways my magazine subscriptions went up once I had kids. There were a lot of free parenting mags offered, so I usually have at least one variety of those coming in. I intentionally subscribe to Real Simple because it’s a fun, quality magazine. I like to have something to throw in my bag to read while I let the kids run around at a park or other kiddie amusement. Those places don’t all have free wireless, so I can’t take my blog reading with me.
Tabitha says
I quit subscribing to magazines because I never got around to reading them. If I’m at home I’d rather read a book or reading blogs. If I’m going to the doctor or taking the kids to sports I’ll take a book.
I also noticed that I scan the magazines instead of reading them so that when I put it down I couldn’t tell you what I had just read. Sad but true.
I like the idea of online magazines. I’ve actually thought about subscribing to one to see if I would actually read it. Although, I doubt it.
Natalie says
Honestly, I’ve never thought about stopping my number of magazines and going online with them. I guess it is more eco-friendly. But honestly, I never have time to read my magazines at home. I read them in the car (while my hubby is driving) or at the gym while on the elliptical machine. So I have no way of being eco-friendly and still reading my magazines.
susieshomemade says
I read mostly blogs now. I still keep my Martha Living but other than that…it’s all blogs, all the time.
Jen says
I love blog reading & prefer real life experiences but I also love when my InStyle & Real Simple arrive. I save them for after the kids are in bed.
Heidi says
I don’t read many magazines now, except for maybe a Men’s Health that belongs to my husband every now and then. 😉 I cut out all my magazine subscriptions when I realized how much paper I was throwing out each month! Now if I can’t read them online, I probably don’t need them and reading blogs takes up my day anyway so there isn’t any time left to sit with a magazine! 🙂
Lani ~ The Wooden Porch says
I hope it’s okay to say this, but I only read magazines while I’m doing my “business” and that hasn’t changed with the number of kids I have.
Linda says
Blog reading takes up a lot of my time, but I still have the same subscriptions I have had for years…and will, due to kids in school and magazine fund-raisers, lol!
I do take the time to read all my magazines (mostly scrapbooking, but a few others), and I end up keeping most (the scrapping and cooking) or freecycling™ the rest (freecycle™ is a great way to get rid of things without cluttering the landfills!). I’ve seen my magazines make the rounds, too! All good stuff!
And I’m a mom to two kids, and I read a lot of library books too….
Forgetfulone says
Since becoming a mom over 12 years ago, my reading time has been severely cut short, but I will stay up late to read a blog or a good book. I guess I’m also interested in different things now than I was then, and the magazine articles do seem to repeat each other. I wish I could say my decision not to renew my magazine subscriptions was due to the environment, but it’s a financial and time-management choice.
Shannon (Muzbee Crazy) says
I subscribe to just one magazine and it’s a parenting one. I find that I hardly ever read them. A new month comes and I still have the previous month sitting there. So I have started taking them to work and putting them in the waiting room.
I’m always on the computer reading blogs. Once this subscription is up I think I’m done with magazines all together.
DJ says
I do read less magazines now, for two reasons:
1. No time and I’m online anyway so I read blogs instead.
2. I rarely find anything new in a mag. that hasn’t been published already the year before or by another magazine.
casual friday everyday says
Who has time for magazine reading when we’re all consumed with blogs? lol
On a serious note, I have a sub to a couple of magazines but that’s it. Books, magazines and blogs are my way of education and entertainment but I have to admit that I read more blogs than anything else.
:–) Nell
Tiff says
Same here. I spend more time reading blogs than reading magazines (unless of course they are sewing magazines)
Iva says
Blog reading has TOTALLY replaced my book and magazine reading (for the most part). I love a good book and a good magazine and my psyche will not accept it in any other form except paper. But blogs – well, I’ve never read a blog in paper form, so I accept a blog in it’s digital format. I love a good blog. And a good book. And a good magazine.
But you know – I think it all boils down to the fact that blogs are typically a quick read (kind of like Reader’s Digest from days gone by). Good and quick…a mom’s two favorite words.
Lisa VT says
I still actually like a good magazine, though I don’t subscribe to many. With a magazine I can easily sit out on the back deck or at the kitchen table with my boys and be a little more interactive than when I’m on my laptop. I can place it down and return to it and not worry about milk getting spilled on the keyboard.
When not with the kiddos though, I do enjoy reading blogs.
Nicole (SAHM Ramblings) says
I’m love getting free stuff and can never resist an opportunity for a free magazine. Even thought I can’t read all that I get, I believe there is at least something useful in every magazine. Plus, I like being able to take one with and read it while on the bike at the gym or while waiting in my car for whatever.
I read more in general now that I read so many blogs, but I also check out my magazines. The main thing I’ve done to be greener is to recycle them. Not to the recycle bin, but rather to the doctor office, to friends but most often to the library cafe where they resell them for a dime each. Tax write-off for me, bargain for the cafe patron, extra funds for the library, and keeping it out of the landfill a little longer. Win-win-win-win.