Book Buying Addicts Anonymous discussion
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How much does everybody spend a year on books?
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Samantha
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Mar 18, 2012 05:40AM
I was just wondering as my friend and I were talking about it the other day. My friend spends much more than me on books, but doesn't buy as many (£450 - £550). I spend £300 to £500 depending on offers, need of books or new places I've been.
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I'm afraid to think about this but probably between $500 and $800.Maybe more if I actually tracked my spending.
Mod
I spend WAY too much on books a year. I always secretly order books on amazon.com from my dad's credit card, hoping he doesn't notice (it's kind of an addiction that I have).
I don't even want to think about it, in two months I spent over $550. Friends say I need an intervention...lol!
Anne wrote: "I spend WAY too much on books a year. I always secretly order books on amazon.com from my dad's credit card, hoping he doesn't notice (it's kind of an addiction that I have)."I do a similar thing. It's funny trying to hid a credit expense. I try to hide it even from myself.
Samantha wrote: "I was just wondering as my friend and I were talking about it the other day. My friend spends much more than me on books, but doesn't buy as many (£450 - £550). I spend £300 to £500 depending on of..."I spend too much; glad to say I don't spend as much as you all; so i feel less guilty. In a year, I spend quite a bit. I think that now that I have found a couple of great used book stores, Goodwill ($1.39 for hardcover) and Amazon; I hope to do better. :)
Having actually thought about how much I spend and realizing how much a year that is. I'm going to make more of an effort to find cheaper books... although that may mean that I will buy more. But I can't grumble at more books. :)
Used books and free downloads, only way I can afford my addiction. I probably spend less than $200 a year.
Lately, I'd say between $300 and $600. That's a really rough figure. But I'm not sure.
I spend way to much! Couldn't even guess, but lately I have been spending way less cause I go to second hand stores and a new book shop has sprung up called "The Dollar Book Store". I went there today and bought 8 books for $8 # tax. They are all books I have been wanting, all in good to very good condition.
Karen M wrote: "Used books and free downloads, only way I can afford my addiction. I probably spend less than $200 a year."I'm the same. I use PBS (paperbackswap), thrift shops and garage sales. I rarely buy new. I can't afford to. If I absolutely must read a new release, I get on the library's waiting list.
ஐ Briansgirl "Book Sale Queen"ஐ wrote: "Karen M wrote: "Used books and free downloads, only way I can afford my addiction. I probably spend less than $200 a year."I'm the same. I use PBS (paperbackswap), thrift shops and garage sales...."
Good ideas I'll have to try garage sales and the library's wait list for new releases. New books just cost too much. Thanks
Ellie wrote: "I do a similar thing. It's funny trying to hid a credit expense. I try to hide it even from myself. "Me too! I'm NOT going to check, cause it's probably more than that, but I think I spend about 1000 dollars a year on books...
With my Kindle, I've managed to keep costs down somewhat, since a lot of the classics I can get for free and I've been checking out new authors, which are generally (although not always) priced much lower, but I think I still end up around $800. I really don't keep track, though. It's better that way.
I think I spend about $3000 to $6000 per year on books -- but if I add in my kids books it might be higher? Just this week I've spend something like $300 in various bookstores around town.
I definitely did my best to keep Borders in business, LOL.
I definitely did my best to keep Borders in business, LOL.
I'm a dedicated buyer of used books. Goodwill is my favorite bookstore. So I might spend 300 or 400 in a year. I also visit the library for new releases.
I buy about 4-5 books a month (sometimes more), and they're usually YA fiction, so they don't cost that much....I guess I spend about $600/yr on books. (I don't know why, but it feels like I spend way more than that!)
Lea wrote: "I think I spend about $3000 to $6000 per year on books -- but if I add in my kids books it might be higher? Just this week I've spend something like $300 in various bookstores around town.I defi..."
Wow, you must have a long TBR list....
Lea wrote: "I think I spend about $3000 to $6000 per year on books -- but if I add in my kids books it might be higher? Just this week I've spend something like $300 in various bookstores around town.I defi..."
Holy Moley! I would like to thank you for removing any guilt I may have felt for what I spend on books and yarn, combined, throughout the year! ;D
Tee27 wrote: "Lea wrote: "I think I spend about $3000 to $6000 per year on books -- but if I add in my kids books it might be higher? Just this week I've spend something like $300 in various bookstores around t..."
Yes, it's huge! I'm stockpiling for the future, lol. On the plus side, I am literally NEVER without a big variety of books to choose from.
Yes, it's huge! I'm stockpiling for the future, lol. On the plus side, I am literally NEVER without a big variety of books to choose from.
Erin wrote: "Lea wrote: "I think I spend about $3000 to $6000 per year on books -- but if I add in my kids books it might be higher? Just this week I've spend something like $300 in various bookstores around t..."
Ha!
I debated even posting that, but I figured it might put saner spending in perspective!
I do think there are a lot of people (especially in THIS group!) who buy as many books as I do, but spend a lot less because they shop smarter. I've seen people list resources here that I would have never thought of, library sales, etc. I'm just not smart like that!
I hear you re: yarn spending, lol. I had a bit of an obsession there, too, but had to make a choice. I try to stick to once or twice a year yarn buying now!
Ha!
I debated even posting that, but I figured it might put saner spending in perspective!
I do think there are a lot of people (especially in THIS group!) who buy as many books as I do, but spend a lot less because they shop smarter. I've seen people list resources here that I would have never thought of, library sales, etc. I'm just not smart like that!
I hear you re: yarn spending, lol. I had a bit of an obsession there, too, but had to make a choice. I try to stick to once or twice a year yarn buying now!
Mod
I defi..."
Thanks Lea, it's nice to know I'm not the only one who spends in the four digit range. :-)
I'm not sure how to go about figuring up what I spend a year, it's got to be a few hundred though. I'm sporadic with my purchases. We've probably spent $250 this month alone, but that's because of tax money, when it's gone I slow down alot.
Joseph wrote: "Lea wrote: "I think I spend about $3000 to $6000 per year on books -- but if I add in my kids books it might be higher? Just this week I've spend something like $300 in various bookstores around t..."
I suspect that -- for a lot of us -- books are probably our only BIG splurge! I really don't spend money on clothes, makeup, hair stuff, etc, so I don't really feel bad about spending what I do.
I'm like Matthew, too -- when I don't have it, I don't spend it! I draw on my stockpiled books, LOL.
I've been through plenty of times when I've had to SELL books to get by (still miss them, too), so when I have the extra money, I do like to treat myself.
Life's short, so I like to enjoy it as much as possible!
I suspect that -- for a lot of us -- books are probably our only BIG splurge! I really don't spend money on clothes, makeup, hair stuff, etc, so I don't really feel bad about spending what I do.
I'm like Matthew, too -- when I don't have it, I don't spend it! I draw on my stockpiled books, LOL.
I've been through plenty of times when I've had to SELL books to get by (still miss them, too), so when I have the extra money, I do like to treat myself.
Life's short, so I like to enjoy it as much as possible!
Hmm...probably a hundo a month or so...just depends on if i get new or check out the local archive shops for used or to trade my old worn out tomes in.
I get most of my books through rewards from amazon.com by using their credit card. On average I will get about a thousand dollars a year for books from them. I charge everything I buy, therefore earning more points. I do not carry cash. If I can not charge it I do not buy it. It is great way to get books for free.
I never thought about it that much, but more than I should, really. It has gone down quite a lot since there isn't a Borders in the nearby mall anymore.It might have been about $500 a year or a little more. I tend to buy more when I can browse stores (spur of the moment) rather than online.
I do like to frequent library sales and used bookstores so I can buy more books for less. :)
We are unfortunately on a "book diet" and are in the process of selling all of our books through our blog for $1 each. We currently own more than 2000 books. :-( So the answer for me right now is $0www.myyellowcardlife.blogspot.com
I buy mine at Deseret Industries (local thrift store) and the books there range from fifty cents to $3. I usually buy 3 or 4 at a time, and we make a trip once every two months. And since all they have come from donations, they don't always have new releases, but I'm still pleasantly surprised by how much they do have. My kids each pick a few books too, but kid books are usually two or three for a quarter.I'm lucky though because my friend's mother-in-law is in a book club and whatever she buys, she loans to my friend who then loans it to me.
I spend as much as I can afford in books. Right now, that's not much, but as soon as I find an engineering job, I'm going to set aside money just for pretty books.
I dont think I want to know. I like friends of Library sales but will pay full price too.
I spend way too much but you should be allowed one unharmful vice in life shouldn't you?
WAY TOO MUCH! LOL! I honestly don't know, but if I had to guess probably about $400-$600/yr? The way I look at it, it's better than spending the money on clothes that either go out of style or are otherwise un-wearable or on other (unhealthy) vices. Books are timeless. Okay, maybe I'm rationalizing:)
nothing right now. secondhand from library
I really don't know and haven't given it a thought.I usually get my books at the second hand shops, but have started getting them from better world books and the book depository as they are reasonably priced and no postage to pay!!
Samantha wrote: "I was just wondering as my friend and I were talking about it the other day. My friend spends much more than me on books, but doesn't buy as many (£450 - £550). I spend £300 to £500 depending on of..."I don´t count the money spent, to me it´s like counting calories... or worse yet...like weighting myself!!!
I'd agree with not keeping track (sometimes i do)...it's like going out on the town...do you limit yourself on fun? well sure, you're going to have a ceiling on your spending, but as long as you don't break the bank and miss a mortgage payment, car payment, student loan payment...etc...then you're ok :) Books are not bad...they last longer than a bottle of wine or groceries will! plus you can trade and share em...
I actually log my online purchases in an excel sheet and so far this year (and we're barly halfway through it) I have ordered online for just under € 400,- (I have this sheet so I don't accidently order the same books twice and also can remember what I ordered when so I know when to receive them).I have of course also purchased books in physical stores, but I don't track those purchases as such. But I think that I've my total for now, online and physical, is at a minimum of 600 Euros (a mix of second hand books and new books, all books were wanted and bargain hunted), so if this trend continues by the end of the year I will have spent at least € 1200 ...
Man, that was a wake up call.
I seriously need to put a lid on it. Also because I'm running out of space...
Rita. No one can have to many books. To make room for more books how about donating the older books that you have read and do not intend reading again to a local library. I am sure they would appreciate it.
I already do that with books i know for sure i wont reread :)But i'm simply running out of space.
Must stop buying more books until i have gone through what i have that is unread. I buy books much faster than i can read them!
Mod
Rita, I do the same for the same reason, but I also keep track of my in-store purchases as well.
As you said, we're halfway through the year. So far I've spent a little over $900 dollars. I'm pretty much right at the pace I thought I would be to end up with spending $1800 for the year. Time will tell.
I need to do something like that -- I just found another book I had two copies of. That's probably five times I've done that this year!
I think I'm spending a lot less now that Borders is closed.
I think I'm spending a lot less now that Borders is closed.
I try to keep it under €1000 a year but sometimes it doesn't work. If truth be told, I seldom think of the cost (especially on a yearly basis). If the books cry to me, I give them a loving home.
Lea wrote: "I need to do something like that -- I just found another book I had two copies of. That's probably five times I've done that this year! I think I'm spending a lot less now that Borders is closed."
I can definitely recommend doing it. I always felt silly for coming home with stuff that I already had on my shelves! In theory it can also help you control (or at least give you an overview) how much you spend.
I've made a list of my books and tick them off when I finish them. then I donate the finished books
Thom wrote: "I try to keep it under €1000 a year but sometimes it doesn't work. If truth be told, I seldom think of the cost (especially on a yearly basis). If the books cry to me, I give them a loving home."... so true, so true. You can hear them call out as you pass them... buy me, dammit!
or the ever popular; .."look at how low my price is?"
dang..
I spend between $50 to $75 per year since I've obtain my Cruz Tablet eReader. I got most of my books from book fairs, book sales at the library and the 99 cents book on Amazon for my eReader. I get a lot of free books at Amazon every day for my eReader too, which I have over 300 free books so far. I'm running out of room in my home library to buy the printed ones. All the county libraries here in St.Louis have "For Sales" table where I can buy books for 50 cents each or $2 for best sellers every day. So check your local library for steals and deals at every day low prices. :o)
I've been spending $300-500/month, but I gotta stop. We are out of room for more books. :-(
Not too much, I don't have a lot of money available to me right now but I'd guess the past two years it's averaged out at about $200 to $250.
