Awhile back I decided to stop buying books, and to use only the library. My only exception was for books I knew I would read again or books I would like to pass down to my own children someday. Books that fall into this category are books by J.K. Rowling, Jodi Picoult or Stephenie Meyer (I know, I know, so not an author I'm going to pass down but I think I will read them again!). Or books that are classics such as Wuthering Heights or Little Women, because if you read this post you would know it's important to me that my children read these. I sure hope I have girls, huh!? Ha!
I found that I was spending a ridiculous amount on books that I could get for FREE at the library and only have to wait a few weeks after the release date, if that! I have two bookshelves in my apartment and I have filled them several times with books, then given them away or sold them to Half Price Books for a ridiculously low amount. This happens during one of my de-cluttering phases that I tend to have several times a year.
I think I may have taken it too far...
Lately I have been checking my library account almost daily to see where I am on the hold list for some of my favorite books and strategically reading them in a certain order because of it's due date.
Wow. I can't believe I just admitted that. Oh well. I'm a dork and I love it.
Yesterday two books came in that I am really excited about, and coincidentally are milestones in this "No buying books" goal I have going. They are Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner and Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella. These are two books that a year ago (or even a few months ago) I would have ran out and bought on the day they were released. Doing this I would have wasted at least $30 that I could have avoided spending!
I'm proud of myself, because I am a very frivolous shopper and will buy just about anything I want wether or not I have the money or not! Not good...
A part of me feels bad because I'm not supporting these authors and buying their books. Although I can afford to buy these books I just don't see the point anymore... Maybe someday when I have larger place with more bookshelves I will return to buying books. For right now I'm pretty pleased with myself! Sounds so silly, but I'm serious, I was spending a TON of money on books. Sometimes books that I didn't even get around to reading!
Currently I have 7 books checked out and 6 books on hold from the library... yikes! I also just keep spotting new books I want to read and then go to the library's online catalog and place them on hold. It's the weirdest addiction I have had in a long time! LOL!
When I get an email alert that a book I requested is in I have to go get it that day.... It's slightly ridiculous.
Is anyone else like me? Do you tend to buy or borrow books more?
PS: Isn't that image above hilarious? It's a magnet! It might just be hilarious to me due to my strange obsession.... I understand if I lose readers because of my strange new fetish... ;)
11 comments:
Don't worry I'm totaly a Library nerd too. We were too poor to buy books when I was young and considering I was an insane reader and would sometimes check out 20+ books at a time no wonder I never bought them!
These days I love having a library card and being able to afford to read frequently (books in Oz are SUPER $$$$$$) I have a 2 hour public-transit commute each day so plenty of time to read.
I have been just the opposite. I have been purchasing books like a fiend. I have been reading them & enjoying them. I think the ease of the Kindle is enabling me to be reading so much. I sound like a commercial, don't I?
I've been reading books non stop lately. I'm trying to limit myself to spend no more than 7 dollars on a book. If it's over that then I wait.
Holy crap, you are my TWIN. I do the EXACT same thing. I might write a post about this tomorrow, haha I'll link you.
Right now, me and my mom together have about 15 books on reserve. I check the account everyday to see where the books are. I just got Best Friends Forever from the library yesterday!
I am conflicted since because I want to be a writer, I hope that people will buy my books, but I mean, as a student...I can't waste money on a book that's going to provide me with entertainment for 2 days maximum. You know?
I'm horrible with buying books. The minute I finish reading ONE book I go to the book store and spend about $100 on more books (thank god for the bargain section) and repeat process. I like that "New Book" smell, I like knowing I don't have to return the book by a specific time, I like knowing the book is mine forever, or until I decide to give it away. I have TONS of books!! I pass some of them on to my cousins children, have some that I pass between to my friends and family (a lot of true crime and biographics as well as chick lit). I just couldn't see myself NOT buying a book or ten!
I got a library card this summer but unfortunately have not been using it as much as I would like too!
I think I'm going to pay a visit to the library today, actually! Thanks for reminding me :-)
I did buy those two above-mentioned books on the day they were released. But I am being really good about getting books at he library too! I also check my hold list daily--here we have a Library "elf" who sends me email reminders. An elf! Too cute.
p.s. I want that magnet!
I love my library as well and have the same problem - all the books I had on hold came in at the same time! It's not necessarily the "saving money thing", but the "I don't want to store all these books I read once" thing that makes me use the library. And it's pretty much paid for by everyone in the form of taxes, so no reason to feel cheap.
As far as addictions go, I think it's a safe one to have.
I don't think I could ever be addicted to the library. Partly because I like having the option of rereading books whenever I want too. As it there's some book I've borrowed from people and gave back, and now I wish I owned them because I want to reread them.
And I definitely like the idea of being able to pass books down to my daughter. Although some of mine (like the Little House on the Prairie books) my mom actually passed down to me, so I'm not sure how good of a shape they'll be in by the time any daughter I have would read them
Thanks for stopping by my blog & commenting - I added yours to my reader as well. we are uncannily alike. I feel the same way about buying books and I also just stopped buying them - just requested my first books online and am not-so-patiently waiting for them to be available!
Looking forward to getting to know you better through our blogs! :)
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