…I put myself on a book buying ban.
If you guys have been following me for awhile, you should know that I buy a lot of books. I’m sadly not exaggerating about this – just check out my Stacking the Shelves posts. Honestly, I’m so scared of how many books I’ve bought that I don’t dare check out my own Stacking the Shelves posts after I post them up and count how many books I’ve bought altogether in a year. (I definitely know I’ve bought more than 50 books this year, probably even more than 60 books. Or even 70 books. At this rate, I’m too scared to even count.)
To make matters worse, I don’t show some books in my Stacking the Shelves posts because I’m either 1) too lazy or 2) the books arrived later on the same day I wrote my Stacking the Shelves post or 3) the books are for a giveaway and I don’t want to ruin the surprise. Book signings are the worse for reason #3. Almost every time I attend a book signing, I buy at least two of the same book signed for the author – one for myself and one for a giveaway. Hell, once I even owned five signed copies of Unbreakable by Elizabeth Norris. -cringe-
That’s not even the worse part. The worst part is that my bookshelves can hold no more books even though it’s huge (I’m doing tons of twitter giveaways because of this) and my wallet wants to murder me for being so empty all the time, so I need a plan.
So here is what I’m doing: I’m going on a book buying ban, starting today. It’ll last until the end of next year.
Here’s the thing though: I’m realistic. I know I won’t last long without buying any books for an entire year, so I’m going to be logical. I’ll allow myself to buy only 25 books next year. Believe me, that will be a very hard thing to do, so I’ll be using this list to help me suceed.
I’ve already started my list because I like to be well prepared. And, well, January 2014 is close too.
1. Evertrue by Brodi Ashton [Amazon]
2. Split Second by Kasie West
3. A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller [Amazon]
4. The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski
5. The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah Maas
6. Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor
7. What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick
8. Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
9. Cress by Marissa Meyer
10. Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi
11. Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill [Strand]
12. Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi [Strand]
12.5 Diamonds and Deceit by Leila Rasheed [Strand Extra]
13. Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson [Barnes & Noble]
14. What Happens In Scotland by Jennifer McQuiston [Mass Market Paperback]
15. Summer Is For Lovers by Jennifer McQuiston [Mass Market Paperback]
15.5. The Sum of All Kisses by Julia Quinn [Mass Market Paperback Extra]
16. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead [Amazon Box Set]
17. Frostbite by Richelle Mead [Amazon Box Set]
18. Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead [Amazon Box Set]
19 Blood Promise by Richelle Mead [Amazon Box Set]
20. Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead [Amazon Box Set]
20.5. Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead [Amazon Box Set Extra (since it’s 42% off)]
21. Fragile Spirits by Mary Lindsey [Amazon]
22. Uninvited by Sophie Jordan [Strand]
23.
24.
25.
There is some exceptions for this 25 book rule though. For every two books I buy at Strand that goes on this list, I’ll reward myself with another book. (The reason for this rule is because hardcovers cost $9 in Strand and paperbacks are $5, aka very cheap).
Also, for every two mass market paperback book I’ll buy, I’ll reward myself with one more mass paperback book since again, they’re so cheap.
As you can see, I haven’t decided on all 25 books I’m going to buy yet. I’ll continue filling out my list as I read more books and as more and more books are revealed later on in the year.
Do you have a book buying problem like I do? Are you going to do anything about it? What are some books you’ll recommend I buy in 2014? And lastly, what if you’re in my position; what 25 books will you buy?
First of all – your new layout! Not only is it beautiful, but it makes reading MUCH easier!
I’ve never officially enforced a book-buying ban, but I’ll go through periods every so often where I pause and decided if x is REALLY a book I desperately need. Where I work hardbacks are $6 and pbs are $2 + I get a 50% discount – a few years ago when I first took the job I was so overwhelmed I bought everything. These days, however, I’m much more practical and resist impulse buys. Sure the book is way cheap, but will I actually get around to reading it anytime soon (or at all)?
I can totally relate to the bookcase issue. BF & I have three floor-to-ceiling bookcases and those were filled in no time. Perhaps giveaways would be a good idea for me – my books are currently overflowing onto armchairs, windowsills, piled on the floor.
Leah recently posted…Epic Recs: December
I definitely have this problem, compounded by the fact that I work in a bookstore (dangerous!!). Anyway, I got this great idea from Speculating Specific to implement a “read x, buy 1” type of system and I’m hoping it works well for me in 2014. So far it looks promising because I love making and achieving goals, so we’ll see. Since I currently own at least 3000 books I haven’t read, I’m doing a 4-1 ratio to help me get through my collection (I’ve decided review copies don’t count, and I’m hoping that will make me more choosy on Netgalley). Anyway, great post, and you’re not alone! :)
Oo, I love this list idea! I’m not quite ready to do a full year ban, but I probably should think more deliberately about what books I actually really want to buy…. I’m so conflicted when I want to support the author but know that I won’t read the book for ages….
Anya recently posted…Alienated by Melissa Landers eARC {3.5 Stars}
Being a college student, it’s really hard to maintain balance between univ needs and book needs. I also held a book ban for 6 months this year. I only reward myself a book everytime I read 2 books. Somehow, I got accustomed to it, but from time to time I itch to stroll down the bookstore and buy more books. Good thing I have an ebook app that is updated with latest release books and I can download those books for free. Seriously, it was a heaven on Earth. Haven’t decided yet on what I’ll do with my bookish expenses on 2014, but I set up a list of my priority so I know my goals just like yours! :) Hope everything turns well on your part. It’s always hard to control gahhhhh.
Have a nice day!
abby @ abbbzandbookz recently posted…Review: Prodigy (Legend #2)
My book buying problem is so bad! I alway tell myself to stop buying until I have caught up on the hundreds I have unread but I just get so excited when new titles come out I can’t seem to help myself.
CeCe recently posted…A Woman’s Core – A Bookish Discussion
I completely have this problem. And if anything, it’s getting worse. I’ve bought more books this year (really, just the last four months) then any other year. Two weeks ago I bought 26 books just from BookOutlet.com. But when you can get paperbacks for like 1.99 and hardcovers for less then $6, it’s hard to stop.
I have three, three shelf book cases plus the top of my dresser and I have no more room and I’m having to stack them. I have stacks of like 40 books. It’s insane.
At the start of the year, I told myself (and other people, thinking they would help me) that I would only buy sequels and a few stand-alones. That I would catch up on series’ and I wouldn’t start any new series’. And about 6 months ago that all went to hell. I just counted and I’ve bought more then 100 paperbacks and hardcovers this year. And I can’t stop. I bought 5 books last week and I won 4.
Plus, I just love to look at them. Just the stacks of them everywhere is so wonderful to me. I can’t even think of giving them away. I do have like 6 doubles I’d like to sell though.
And honestly, I’m not going to do anything about it. I’ve tried and it didn’t work out. Plus, if I happen to go to B&N with my family, my mom will buy a few for me and my dad actually has freakin’ great taste in YA (even though he hasn’t read a book in 30 years). so he’ll buy me a few.
Last week I went into B&N just for Allegiant (and I totally only bought that one book) but my dad ended up buying me 5 more behind my back (super awesome ones, by the way). Not that I wasn’t happy about those books (I freaking was) but that’s 5 more books I have to find a place for.
I use to be so careful about putting all of one series and even all of one writers books together. Putting them by series and by color and by size and by personal favorites. Now I just stacks them in random piles. It’s sad. Impressive piles but still sad.
But I wish you all the luck in the world for your list. Really, I hope you make it. And good for you to take some action.
Nice! I’m actually in the middle of a ban right now. Like you, I gave myself 10 “loopholes” from September 8th through the end of the year. I’ve already used them all so now I’m suffering, LOL!
My problem is more with the impulse buys at Barnes & Noble – I like to go and look at books and be surrounded with them, but for the most part, the books I like and enjoy the most are the ones I have NOT bought on impulse. There’s so much information now from being part of the book blogging community that there’s no reason to buy a book without checking GoodReads or SOMETHING first.
Good luck with your ban! A whole year will be challenging but it will be a good way to get through your TBR pile!
Terri @ Starlight Book Reviews recently posted…Month in Review: November 2013
I have exactly the same problem as you do but then again I think all book bloggers and vloggers do! I should probably go on a book buying ban myself but I’ve tried it before and it never works! I get so far with it and then will see a really good deal that I can’t pass up and then I have to start all over again! All in all I don’t really think book buying bans are that effective but good luck with yours!
Amanda @ The Last Isle recently posted…Review: UnSouled
I do have this problem! When I see so many books I like at once, I tend to be a bit excessive… I’ve never really put myself on a book buying ban, but I have been trying to limit myself to buying one book at a time. So I buy a book, then I have to finish reading it before I can buy another type of thing. With this holiday season though and all the great deals/coupons, I’ll probably let myself shop. Once 2014 comes though, I’ll probably try to hold off on buying books for a while.
Amy M. recently posted…Book Review: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
I had never put myself on a book ban until the end of October. (Those book events surely took all my money. :\ *still weeps over my poor wallet*) It was rather strange because I never openly say to myself, “hey, you won’t buy books” because I don’t tend to do it a lot. I finally bought some books because of Black Friday and I’m predicting a lot of money will be spent this month because of the holidays. :\
You should just give me all the books you plan to give away because I’m your friend and I love books. ;D
btw, you should take Split Second off your 2014 Buy List, because y’know, I’ll be buying that for you. ;D (Unless, you’re buying one to give away?)
Cee recently posted…THE THREE C’S: CANDID CONVERSATIONS WITH CEE | A Really Bad Reading System (featuring the Harry Potter series!)
Ughhh I’m right there with you. The 25 books idea is actually a really good one. I never thought of doing it like that before. But I feel like there is no way in hell I’d ever stick to that. I hate how (way too) easy it is to convince myself that it’s okay to splurge on more books. I’ve probably bought about the same amount as you have this year…oh my god and let’s not even think about all of the ebooks. I don’t want to know, I don’t want to know. I’m trying not to buy any books this month, since I know I’m going to be getting some as presents…but I already failed at that and bought one. There’s honestly something VERY wrong with me. But hopefully I can stick it out for the rest of the month.
Miranda @ Tempest Books recently posted…The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food From My Frontier {Cookbook Review}
I put myself on a ban for the rest of the year as well. It’s been about a week and I’m still going strong – but only because I have no money! Oh wait. I just remembered I bought a Kindle novella… but it was only $2… That doesn’t count, right??
You can do it! And I think 25 books is very brave. I don’t think I’ll be able to do that.
Kayla @ The Thousand Lives recently posted…End of Year Book Survey
This is such a great idea! Maybe I’ll go on a book buying ban with you. We can do this! I also love your idea of only buying 25 books next year. I’ll definitely only buy 25 books next year since I’m going to college that year, and I cannot be broke. Maybe you should host like a book buying ban-a-long like a ‘read a long’ except that it’s a book buying ban. Or maybe like a “25 books for 2014” along thing. Lol. Hope I made sense.
Leigh @ Little Book Star recently posted…{Tour Stop} Rewrite Redemption by J.H. Walker – Review + Giveaway
I’ve definitely got that problem! I don’t even know how many books I bought this year >.< The things that I can actually afford it at the moment when as a teen, I never could. But my shelves are full and I don't want to buy a new one because I'll be moving out of this apartment in about half a year or so and I don't want more furniture I then have to somehow transport from one place to another. I usually put myself on several shorter book bans every year, with ARCs and kindle freebies being allowed. Because I WANT to read all those books that I own! It's hard though. I can't imagine putting myself on a ban that lasts a whole year! o.O Good luck with it!
Carmen B. recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday: A Shard of Ice, by Alivia Anders
I’m on a forced book buying ban. It’s called not having a job, haha. It’s unfortunate, because the YA section at my library is woefully small. I haven’t bought a book since the beginning of October, and probably won’t until the end of the year. Hopefully by then I’ll have a job, and then I might go a little crazy with the book buying to catch up, lol. But it’s really hard, there’s a ton of books I want and can’t buy.
-Danie
http://www.bookish-brunette.com
Danie @ The Bookish Brunette recently posted…Review : It’s Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han
My book buying got really out of control this past year. According to my spreadsheet, I have over 250 unread YA books and over 30 adult unread books on my shelves. I feel really overwhelmed by this problem and it always causes me to waste so much time figuring out what to read next once I finish I book. My ideal to-be-read pile actually would only have 3-5 books in it.
But I recently discovered this really cute indie bookstore about three miles away from me and want to support the store because I think that’s important. Consequently, I cancelled over 20 preorders from Amazon for next year and vowed that I will buy my books from this indie bookstore instead. But the catch is–instead of placing 20 preorders all at once with them, I am only going to let myself buy books as soon as I’m ready to read them. This should prevent me from acquiring books that will just sit on my shelves, unread, for months and months. And because books are more expensive there than on Amazon because they can’t afford to give 30-40% off, it’ll force me to be much more cautious and careful about my purchases. I think it’s a good trade-off because I love the idea of supporting an indie bookstore and it’s more fun to buy a book in person, and it’ll also help keep my accumulation of books in check.
So while I don’t have a set number of books that I am going to allow myself to purchase next year, my rules are as follows:
1) All physical books must be purchased from an indie bookstore. Any indie bookstore in the country is fine, especially because they host all these signing events so I can get signed copies, but I want to become a loyal customer of the local bookstore. No more Amazon orders for physical books.
2) I can only purchase Kindle books if they are on sale for a ridiculously cheap price (like less than $3) or if I am ready to read it immediately.
3) Each month, I must read twice the amount of books from my shelf of books I already own than any that I purchase and read that month.
I think my plan will make it so that I purchase only a few books each month rather than 10-15 or more.
I buy lots of books too! My problem is, I go to my library’s biannual booksale and books are dirt cheap – $1 for hardbacks, 50¢ for paperbacks. So I end up coming home with a full box of books! I know I bought way more than 100 this year, but I also got rid of some too.
“The worst part is that my bookshelves can hold no more books even though it’s huge”
YES. I have 3 giant 6-shelf bookshelves that reach almost to the ceiling, and they’re FULL. I have books piled on top of books because I have no more room to shelf them!
I think it’s amazing that you’re planning to go on a ban. I could never have the self-restraint to do that O_O
Jessi @ Novel Heartbeat recently posted…Heartbeat Weekly (7)
Weirdly, putting myself on a book-buying ban always just makes me go out and buy more books. I think it’s that stupid psychological hang-up of always wanting what I can’t have. If I tell myself I can’t have more books, I inevitably go out and buy more. I think about not buying them, which makes me notice them more than usual, so something catches my eye that I argue with myself but inevitably make excuses for.
So I stopped telling myself I can’t have any new ones. I play it by ear. If there’s a book I really really want, I let myself buy it if I can afford it. That has resulted in me buying about 5 new books this past year. Total. The rest I’ve been getting as ARCs, which keep me busy enough and give me enough new reading material that I rarely think about buying new books, because I still have at dozens that already need my attention.
I trick myself with reverse psychology. So far, it seems to be working. ;p
Bibliotropic recently posted…The Warded Man, by Peter V Brett
I really love this idea! Not buying any book just isn’t realistic for me either. The feeling I get when I buy too books just means too much to me, haha. I think I’m going to restrict myself to a certain amount too. I’ve recently made two different wishlists, one is the ultimate one with the books I really need to have, the other with books I could buy once – but aren’t necessarily at the moment. So in a way, I use the same method as you! :)
Mel@thedailyprophecy recently posted…FF 22. Growing up as a reader.
God, I miss the Strand. My happiest moments in New York were spent in that store. I just about did a jig when I saw the price of Moleskine notebooks. A pack of three 5×7 notebooks usually costs $25+ where I live, so I scooped up four packs for $10 each :) It felt like a major victory. I had to restrain myself from buying too many books, though. Suitcase weight limits, and all.
I went on a book-buying ban myself this year, and resolved to borrow only from the library or make purchases with gift cards I received for Christmas. It’s worked out pretty well — I didn’t buy a single book :) I wish you all the best with your book buying ban in 2014.
Abria @ Read. Write. Discuss. recently posted…Blogging Map, 2014
I’m with you, Kelly. I buy way too many books, and I totally do the giveaway thing like you do.
Mary H recently posted…Giveaway: It’s the BrodiJodi show!