Monday, May 31, 2010

Question of the Day: Book Buying

For those of you who buy books now and then, do you have a book budget? How do you decide what books to buy?


© 2010, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

27 comments:

  1. 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.

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  2. I 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!

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  3. Well, 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.

    I 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!

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  4. 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.

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  5. Book 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.

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  6. I 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.

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  7. I 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!

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  8. I 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.

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  9. My 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.

    As 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.

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  10. 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.

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  11. Budget? What's a budget? :-)

    I 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?

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  12. I don't have a budget really. I don't buy books that often so when I do, I like to splurge!

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  13. OMG...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...

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  14. I 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.

    I 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.

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  15. 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!!

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  16. I 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.

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  17. Thank 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.

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  18. Two rules for me: I have to have a coupon and it has to be a book that I can't wait to read.

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  19. I 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.

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  20. I don't have a book budget. When I decide to purchase a book, it's typically because I intend to keep it.

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  21. My books usually come from library sales, garage sales, or the Half Price Books store.
    Or I listen to the audio books online from my library with the overdrive system.

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  22. 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.

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  23. I do have a book budget but then again if I tend not to look at it does it count?! :)

    I'm so glad my husband is also a bookworm or else I'm sure I'd be in trouble. haha.

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  24. 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.

    I 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.

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  25. 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.

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  26. Thank you for all your wonderful comments.

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  27. I 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 :)

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