How much does everybody spend a year on books?

[A book away from an episode of hoarders]

I probably spend around $600-800 a year on books.

[Joseph]

Hilary wrote: "I've been spending $300-500/month, but I gotta stop. We are out of room for more books. :-(" No you don't. Just get rid of that unnecessary furniture like the living room couch, kitchen table, bed and dresser... You'll have plenty of room then for more books. ;-)

[Bonnie G.]

I am library book sale obsessed. I live within 10 minutes of 2 libraries and each has 3 sales a year. Yesterday at $5 bag day we got 31 books and 3 dvds for $5. So I don't spend much, but my house is PACKED with books.

[Jamie]

Probably $2000 I am currently making custom bookshelves

[Marylene]

I don't keep track, but it's way too much for my salary!!! LOL...

[Marylene]

Jamie wrote: "Probably $2000 I am currently making custom bookshelves"

I'm so jealous!

[Lára]

Oh, too much. about 80% of my year´s savings?

[Hilary]

Yikes! I went back and looked at the database I log all my books in, and the total value of my book collection is $26,500 with a small chunk of the books missing a value, so it'd be a bit higher. More than half were purchased within the last year, so $14,000-$15,000 might be a low estimate. I'm lucky my husband doesn't get mad about it...even though our house is starting to get a bit cluttered...

[Joi]

I spend at least $450 a year.

[Thom]

Hilary wrote: "Yikes! I went back and looked at the database I log all my books in, and the total value of my book collection is $26,500 with a small chunk of the books missing a value, so it'd be a bit higher. M..."
Unfortunately, once the average book is purchased and removed from the store (or delivered by the postman) the book is only worth the price of old paper. I found this out not so many years ago when a portion of my library succumbed to the waters of a flood. The insurance adjuster coldly told me that my lost children had no real monetary value. It hurt me to hear this but hasn’t prevented me from collecting. Most of my losses have been replaced and I moved my library upstairs so the I guess I have learned a few good lessons from this watery tragedy.

[Hilary]

I got a policy that specifically reimburses us either the price it was purchased for or the price we'd have to pay to repurchase the same product...I also collect movies, and my husband really enjoys his electronics...so we got the better policy and inventoried everything so we'd know the prices and get enough coverage...since its through USAA, we got a decent active duty discount...it's not too bad, and I sleep a lot better at night. My books are my babies, and in the last two years, our apartment has been hit by both hurricanes Irene and Sandy and Blizzard Nemo...we had no damage, but I felt better knowing we were taken care of

[Thom]

I live in Holland and because flooding is a constant companion we can’t get insurance that affords the same coverage that you’ve described. If a large flood would ever affect a substantial portion of the country the insurance companies would all of belly-up. Life is never a sure thing so I have to do with having my library on the second floor of my house. At least we don’t have tornadoes or blizzards here.

[Jess]

I just bought 7 books, plus 2 currently reading and 5 tbr .. I just can't help myselff !! But The last book I bought for more than a $1 was Vampire Academy. I find all the good bargainss and I've donated a couple

[Zouagie]

I would kill myself if I ever found out how much I spent this year, but just this month I spent only $70 on 14 books. So I guess I should say I did good considering that amount and its all brand new bestsellers too.

[Paulfozz]

I have no idea and am not sure I want to know, but I've logged the prices I've paid so I could export my goodreads library and find out. The important thing is that I spend well within my means… which probably indicates I'm not spending enough! ;-)

In recent months I've probably been spending something like £40-100 each month (mainly through buying up half-price books from a local shop that was closing - not even registering a blip on their 40000+ book stock!) but I tend to buy a lot from charity shop so my spending is usually a lot lower... except when interesting New Naturalists appear on the scene as new copies of those books tend to be £30+ and the secondhand copies can be pricey too.

[Vale (BooksAndTea58)]

I am Just an high school student and usually I pay My books with My own money, usually i buy new and recent books sometimes like for Christmas or My birthday but usually o shop at a thrift store for under 4 euros and the books look brand new or they are in really good conditions.. Per year I think i spend not more than 200/300 euros

[Susanne]

In 2012 I spent $2,339 on books, including $477 on books that related to classes I'm taking but were not required textbooks. I am well qualified to be in BBAA.

[[deleted user]]

I was very happy last weekend at the friends of library sale, I bought twentyone books for less than it takes to fill my car up with gas.

[Cammie]

Not sure and not sure I want to know. I'm a little afraid to find out. :)

[Cassandra]

Okay, as long as this doesn't get back to the hubs, I need everyone to keep quiet on this... :)

I spend about 2k a year. Usually a little more.
I prefer hardbacks and get them fairly cheap thru B&N, but they still cost a bit.
But, as this is my only hobby/addiction that costs anything (do my latte's count?)(hmm, we need a 'spending' poll on that one too), I'm okay with it.

Now....if only the hubs was cool with it.

[Mary]

Cassandra wrote: "Okay, as long as this doesn't get back to the hubs, I need everyone to keep quiet on this... :)

I spend about 2k a year. Usually a little more.
I prefer hardbacks and get them fairly cheap thru B&..."

It's cool! Just as long as you can pay your bills :-)

And the Latte's are good - just as long as you don't spill it on your book.

[Paulfozz]

I agree Mary, it's all relative - if you live within your means then it shouldn't really be an issue.

I decided to export my book list from GR and add up the costs of my books from this year. The grand total is £680 (around $1100) for 218 books, around £3 per book, though that should be lower as some of the individual 'books' were actually box sets or omnibus editions.

[Zouagie]

I spend about $20 each month on books, times that by twelve months and that equals up to about $240 give or take.

Sometimes the websites that I buy from does a HUGE sale and I would spend about $60 per order. Hey, good deal, especially if you're getting 18 HARDCOVERS.

[Louise]

I don't really know, but I roughly spend 100 dollars+ a month, so around 1200 a year? My hub is a little more concerned about space than money I think :-) I often buy used books and books from library sales, so I feel ok buying the odd new hardback or Folio/Penguin cloth bound edition once in a while :-)