What have you given up for your books?

[Gina]

When we bought our first home, the first piece of furniture we bought was a tall bookcase. It was the only piece of furniture we had for three years. The books slept soundly, tucked up safely on their shelves... we went without a bed or sofa and slept on the floor.
Then when the washing machine broke down, it was a toss up between a new machine or loads of books... I took up hand washing.
For our honeymoon, we had the choice of a hotel for a week and a little spending money, or a night at a hotel and loads of book-buying money. We had one very nice night in a hotel, and four days of shopping.

What have you given up to buy books, or keep them in the comfort they so richly deserve?

[Lori, Super Mod]

Ooohhhhh Gina, those are some great stories you shared with us!

My hubby is not a book reader, so he doesnt understand my obsession. We very rarely have extra spending money (two kids, loads of bills, you know the drill) so I was thrilled when I got him to agree to buy me two new bookshelves for the living room. The old one was so packed full that the shelves were buckling...

I had to keep hearing him later on tho, whine about all the other things we could have bought with that money, and he will say "but at least your books are more comfortable, ha ha".... what a good sport!

[Arminius]

Money and lots of it.

[Richard]

I could have been a fireman, a cowboy, an astronaut, a pilot, a rock star, a legend - but I gave all that up to become a frustrated translator who wants to write.

Never take the easy route - my mother always said.

(My apologies for misinterpreting the question.)

[Carrie]

Awesome story, GINA! :)

I have gone without my weekly Diet Cokes this week b/c I ordered a book from AmazoN!

[Kathy]

Hmm, I always told the kids that if they wanted to see their swimming pool, they could take a look at all of our books, as that is where the money went instead. Ha, ha. Seriously, I shudder to think what all I have given up because of my uncontrollable book buying. And, of course, there are the two sets of built in book shelves that I splurged for. Do we really need new carpet as long as the threads hold together?

[Atishay]

Ha Ha Ha ! These are some pretty funny stories. Luckily for me, my parents never prohibited me from buying loads and loads of books, so till now I haven't sacrificed anything, except time.

[Jeane]

I don't think I sacrificed anything for it, just got richer by it. I always say my three biggest passions in life are animals, italy and books. As long as I have those I am doing really good. For now I have only Italy (which makes up for really a lot) and I can read books that are in this house. So, not giving up anything. In the end, what would I be with all the rest, if I don't have books?

[Jeane]

And now you found a cheaper social life here!!!! You don't even need trainers for it!!!! So go for the books!!!!

[[deleted user]]

Space! We need a bigger house.

[Abigail (42stitches)]

Lots of time, money, and space. But I feel loads better for it. I never had much of a social life anyway. Kind of introverted by nature. Which is why the books make me so happy. Course I patronize the library a lot. I don't buy books unless they are important to me or really cheap.

[Gina]

Me too... I'd be in and out with ten at a time, until I ran out of puff and dropped dead. I admit that my teddy bear would be sitting on top of the first pile of ten though... couldn't leave him behind.

[Petra X]

Money. When I had a bar I had money, when I had a boutique and craft shop I had money, now I have a bookshop I have none. And the loans to prove it!

[[deleted user]]

Food & social life.

[Sherry]

Clothes,winter coat(which I've really needed) shoes...you begin to get the picture!

[Ann from S.C.]

I mostly go to the library, or to the thrift stores. I am a cheap addict.

[Marsha]

The television. I don't miss it.

I did watch all of LOST on DVD this year- so I may watch that when it starts up again. I have about 4-5 more episodes to watch online before the new season starts. But LOST actually plays like a great thriller-genre novel with lots of plot twists.

I have enjoyed the few episodes of House I have seen.

[Lisa]

Sex (but not for good or for all books)

[JG (Introverted Reader)]

Nicely said, Jeane: "I don't think I sacrificed anything for it, just got richer by it." That's the way we (and the significant others we drive crazy) should look at it.

[Atishay]

Spoken like a true book lover.

[Jeane]

Yes yes JG we only get richer everytime we take up another book!!!!!

[Kristie]

I've had to do the library thing because I am unemployed at the moment....it's so not the same as forking over cash and getting to keep the book. I hate saying goodbye as I return them to the library.

[Coalbanks]

Books or a new/er TV? Books won.

[Julianne]

Marsha-

I agree, I gave up TV. I never channel surf anymore. And I only have about 3 must-see TV shows, and I TiVo them so I'm not missing out if I continue reading.

I don't know what I would do without that TiVo...

[Lisa Julianna]

Oh I so agree I LOVE Tivo. :~)

[Kellie]

I gave up TV except for Panter Football.
LOL at Lisa's comment!

[Marsha]

I wish I had TiVo. I had it at my old house and miss it. I like the "on demand" feature I have. If I'm in the mood to veg out for a couple of hours, I can usually find something on there.

[Carol]

Besides the obvious sleep, I also have the most prominent features of bookshelves over any other furniture.
Moving is a pain because the books weigh more than the rest of the furniture.
TV is a lost cause for me now, even though I still enjoy a good old B rated sci fi film on the SCIFI channel, I make my own movies in my head - the scenes are so much better that way.
And, well, I am a teacher, so I am a library fanatic. Too poor to buy.