Getting creative without spending money. Making book covers from wallpaper samples📕

I love reading, but lately, I've been spending less time doing it.
When I think about the reason, it seems the cause is that I find it a hassle to carry books around, so I haven't been able to find time to read at places like cafes.
When I carry books with me, no matter how careful I am, the edges of the front and back covers get damaged inside my bag.
I hated that, so I started taking them out less.

Sometimes I use a cover to mitigate the damage.
For books I intend to carry around from the start, I have the bookstore put a paper cover on them when I buy them.
But when I intend to read at home, I often go without a cover.
To avoid using unnecessary resources and to save the bookstore staff the trouble.
In that case, I'm in trouble if I change my mind and want to take it out with me.
However, sturdy leather or fabric book covers are heavy or bulky, so I'm not keen on them.
I'm being selfish, I know.

Recently, that problem was solved.
In such cases, the best thing for me is to make a cover out of whatever paper I have at home.
It's easy and simple.
It's not even really something you'd call 'making'.

This time, I made a paperback book cover out of wallpaper samples.
I had some beautiful, durable paper left over.
I bought a lot of wallpaper samples when I repapered my room a while ago.
They were mostly white or beige, but I bought some with patterns or nice colors because I wanted to see them.
I think they were about 30 yen each.
Since they are for wallpaper, they even have features like stain resistance, surface reinforcement, and antibacterial properties.
This seems like it will protect my books firmly.
I have high hopes.

Besides the ones made from wallpaper, I also have some made from paper bags.
On the right is the paperback cover made from wallpaper.
On the left is a business book cover made from a Rokkatei paper bag.
You can't deny the paper bag feel, with the creases still visible, but it's sufficient as a cover.
Above all, as a Rokkatei fan, it's simply cute.
It lifts my spirits.

These are trivial efforts.
But they are efforts that solve problems.
It feels good to identify what's holding you back and resolve your own inconveniences and frustrations.
What I'm careful about at those times is to first think about whether I can manage with things I have close at hand.
I think about whether I can substitute something else, recall if I have something for that purpose, or rethink if it's really necessary.
The first thing you shouldn't do is search to see if there are any goods for sale that will solve that inconvenience.
First, try to think about how you can solve it without spending money.
If you do that, you can prevent overbuying and reduce the amount of things you'll have to throw away in the future after buying them.

Today was my 67th day of daily posting.