Call me a bad mum but I get really bored reading Tycho the same old books every night. I find it very difficult to visit a library with a tearaway toddler and an infant. My husband and I have been known to frequent second-hand book stores but we find them to be quite expensive.

To my relief, we recently stumbled onto a solution that helps us maintain our storytime sanity without breaking the bank.

Twice a year Lifeline holds its Bookfest here in Brisbane - two exhibition halls of the convention centre filled with second-hand books. Most are cheap as chips, especially the kids' titles.

Mitch and I found about 20 good-quality books for Tycho for about $20. We took them home, culled the over-read stories and refreshed our shelves with our Bookfest booty. In hindsight, we should have bought more books and given our shelves an even bigger makeover.

Lifeline holds book fairs across Australia at various times of the year. They're a terrific source of children's books at an astonishingly low price. Not only are you helping out a great cause (Lifeline uses the funds it raises for charity work) but you will ensure both you and your child remain enthusiastic about reading.

Cheers

Kate