For those of you who buy books now and then, do you have a book budget? How do you decide what books to buy?
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Monday, May 31, 2010
27 comments:
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I wish I've a budget beforehand (so as I don't have to overspend but then again, I have no self-control when it comes to book buying, LOL); most of the times I buy books on a whim, while other times those are books from my wishlist.
ReplyDeleteI really don't have a budget (although if it got too far out of control, I'm sure one would be placed upon me!). I do have a credit on Amazon upon which I draw for ordering and Kindle!
ReplyDeleteWell, I don't have much of a budget either, although I rarely buy anywhere else than Half Price Books - and when there I ususally buy from the clearance section.
ReplyDeleteI have been "saving my pennies" as it were for the annual book sale at the local library. The preview night for Friends of the Library (which I gladly enrolled) is next Tuesday night and I am already getting excited!
No budget. I have little or no impulse control when it comes to book buying. But I have identified some great second hand shops in DC and shop at remainder house extraordinaire, Daedalus Books, whenever possible.
ReplyDeleteBook budget? I don't need no stinkin' book budget!!! Actually, I do. Right now I'm on a strict no-buy diet as I'm having car problems & I need new glasses. Thank goodness I'm a librarian :). I also live near 3 Bookman's Entertainment Exchanges in AZ (& make 2 more on my way to other places), so when I do break down, I'm spending less. I also have some credit with them right now. Other than that, I buy at author signings, when a favorite author comes out with a book, and when I go to conventions.
ReplyDeleteI don't really have a budget. But then I haven't really bought books much for a while. With so many books coming to me free, and so many books that I already had, it's hard to justify buying any books. I will take a $20 bill to the library sale this weekend, and if I'm at Half-Price books, then I'll let myself buy a couple of books. But the only books I pay full price for right now are my book club selections.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a book budget, but boy do I need one!!! lol! Actually I don't do too bad since I receive so many review books, but I still buy plenty by favorite authors or books that I find on other blogs that sounds great!
ReplyDeleteI don't have a budget either. Bookmooch has really saved me some money since I'm really only paying shipping costs. Even so, I still go on a splurge because I can't always get what I want on Bookmooch. I always try to have my TBR list with me before I go into a B & N. I've marked the books I own so I don't but the same book again. I've been known to do that several times.
ReplyDeleteMy budget is around $20/month. This may not seem like much, but since I attend the library sale once a month, and each book is a dollar...well, you can see how it adds up. And the proceeds benefit the library which makes me feel good about spending it. If I go over budget, it's because I found a book I've been looking for on Powells.com.
ReplyDeleteAs for which books I buy, I do have a wish list but I would say I'm more of an impulse buyer than anything else. And those books on my list are nearly 99% blogger and friend recommended.
This year I started tracking what I spent on books. As a result, I became a "more aware" shopper. So far in 2010, I have purchased 51 books for a total of $126....and change. Tracking has made a big difference.
ReplyDeleteBudget? What's a budget? :-)
ReplyDeleteI just try to limit myself to buying no more than 3 or 4 books at a time, and I try to shop when I have a coupon. If I have a gift card to spend, I'll buy more, probably.
I decide what to buy based on a combination of what catches my eye as I browse and what's on my wishlist.
Great question, Wendy! Will you share your answer with us, too?
I don't have a budget really. I don't buy books that often so when I do, I like to splurge!
ReplyDeleteOMG...no budget...I rarely buy actual books...I Kindle books...usually in two's...no clue why...and my husband says far too many...oh well...
ReplyDeleteI rarely buy hardcovers anymore, although I bought one last month that I'd heard really good things about and I've just started it and it's really good.
ReplyDeleteI do buy paperbacks, though, especially if the author is a friend.
I've been buying more YA books lately, but again no hardcovers because my daughter can read them in an hour and I'd rather only spend on a paperback. It just seems like it's more cost efficient.
Honestly, I have a hard time justifying buying my books when I can check them out from my library. Every once in a while I will buy one that I just have to OWN and I'm always a sucker for a great sale book that I've been interested in!!
ReplyDeleteI don't have a book budget - wish I had a regular amount to spend each month, but just doesn't work out that way. Instead, I buy books when I get "surprise" money or when the Amazon clicks on my link add up to enough for a small gift card.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for your responses! A friend of mine has money set aside each month for book buying. It's something I've considered doing, but never have actually managed to stick to. Like some of you, I have little will power when it comes to not buying books I want.
ReplyDeleteTwo rules for me: I have to have a coupon and it has to be a book that I can't wait to read.
ReplyDeleteI probably should have a budget, but I don't. I also tend to buy when the mood strikes me or when I have a little bit of ready cash, or really anytime that I feel the urge. I bet you can imagine what my TBR stacks look like! I think in the future I am going to try to be more aware of what I am spending and try to be a bit more selective.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a book budget. When I decide to purchase a book, it's typically because I intend to keep it.
ReplyDeleteMy books usually come from library sales, garage sales, or the Half Price Books store.
ReplyDeleteOr I listen to the audio books online from my library with the overdrive system.
I don't have a budget but I tend to buy more at used books stores today than I did a few years ago. I also acquire a lot of books from the library and return them when I am done. With my son going off to college in two years I always feel like money in his college fund makes more sense than me buying another book.
ReplyDeleteI do have a book budget but then again if I tend not to look at it does it count?! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad my husband is also a bookworm or else I'm sure I'd be in trouble. haha.
I have a monthly allowance, where I can spend that amount and only that mount on my hobbies, clothes, shoes, etc. So the books come out of that amount. I can go months without buying anything, then I go crazy and use up all the saved money in one shopping spree. haha! I also use places like mypoints and swagbucks to earn points to redeem for amazon or borders giftcards.
ReplyDeleteI do buy the majority of the books I read. The only ones I don't buy are review copies and audio books (rent from the library). I'm trying really hard to read more of what I already own this year and only buying those to complete challenges or for buddy reads. I can't say that I haven't splurged some, but I have done pretty well.
I don't have a book buying budget, but my husband probably wishes I did! I buy books when I attend author events, but have to admit most of my purchases are impulse buys.
ReplyDeleteThank you for all your wonderful comments.
ReplyDeleteI know am behind late to responding to this...but decided to answear this anyway. I'm sorta in a budget but I should be in budget, if that make any sense. I decided what book to buy if they're already an auto buy authors for me. Other then that, other books am not familiar with, I won't buy unless there is a major ravings about the books :)
ReplyDelete