Thursday, April 1, 2010

When the shock wears off I'm buying a book

Holy mother....I was playing the evil little game/reality check hosted by Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea, how much $$$ did I spend on books!!!

Oh it's bad folks...it's really bad.

I went into this thinking that I would be impressed with myself. I mean honestly I didn't start buying books until March 1st. I had a deal with my husband about that and I actually kept it!!! It was a big deal for me. I had March 1 circled on every calendar I own. So imagine my shock when I added up everything and the total was.....


$92.30

In one month!!!! One month where I completely held back on my book buying madness!

What's worse is I was just at Bibliophile by the Sea and Diane has only spent $91.88 all year! Oh Diane you are so much smarter with your money. You have spent less than me (barely) but you have bought more books...so many more books! I need to take a lesson from you. My goal for this month is to spend less than you.

I just need to get over the fact that on every day off I have I find myself at the bookstore. It is the only place I enjoy in this town. And what do I do when I go to the bookstore, look around, and know that I can't leave with anything? Panic, hyperventilate, cry. I go home in a deep lonely hole of depression and sit on the couch looking at my bookshelf knowing that my books know they won't have any new company so they are sad and I am sad that they are sad and all of this sadness can only be healed by one thing...a new book. So I go to the store and buy one and it's painless and all is right in the world and suddenly I realize that I am such a drama queen. Next time I'm not going through all this "oh I'm saving money bull" because I know in the end I will break down and buy the stupid book so I may as well skip all the dramatic wallowing/rationalizing and just buy the book to begin with.

12 comments:

Unknown said...

Lol...Don't feel bad Jess, I'd easily put away $100 worth of books per month when I was there. Between the B&N there and the one in Raleigh....well, let's just say I bought way more than I could read. I'm still catching up lol.

Jess - A Book Hoarder said...

Joshua-I am going to be so sad to say goodbye to the B&N in Raleigh when I leave this summer. The only one I have loved more is the one in DC. I mean come on it has 3 floors!

Unknown said...

@Jess - A Book Hoarder I've found that I do miss Raleigh's B&N but there are several here in Dallas as well as a giant HalfPrice books literally right down the road from me. And I'm sure you'll find a suitable replacement in California as well. Maybe we should make a pilgrimage to Raleigh once a year to visit the B&N there.

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

Jess....don't feel bad. This is the time of years library book sales seem to increase. You can find new/near new donated books for 50 cents each often. if you want to check out books sales in your area, go to:

http://www.booksalefinder.com/

It will save you lots of money!!

Have fun buying, but saving on books!

Natasha @ Maw Books said...

I've told myself that I wasn't going to have ANY late fees at the library this year. Sadly, I'm well over $50 already and those are for books that I don't even own! *sob*

Anonymous said...

SO how much do you spend when you're not holding back? Books are worth it, IMO. Like Natasha, in addition to buying books, I'm heading up there in the library fees department.

Jenny said...

My shocks always come in when the library tells me how much fines I have on my card. That's why I try never to renew books over the phone, because after they get renewed, the librarians try to tell me about my fines.

nat @book, line, and sinker said...

lol! i try not to buy books at b&n or borders because they are too expensive. instead, i borrow from the library or buy them at thrift shops. it gives me physical pain to pay more than $10 for a book...i just can't do it!

ps. i lurve raleigh--my cousin lives there and i visit often. have you ever eaten at 'the pit'?!?! harris teeter is my favorite market... :)

Amy said...

Hmm...I don't even want to think about what I spend on books a month. Nope, not gonna think about it at all.

Jess F. said...

LOL!! I completely understand! That's why I'm trying to get into the habit of getting some of my books from the local library, but that doesn't always work out. *hehee* But that's why I try not to think about the costs all that much! *evil grin*

Kim (Sophisticated Dorkiness) said...

I totally understand. Every time I just browse on Amazon I end up buying something I find really cheap. And I can't go into Half Price Book or the campus bookstore without buying something -- it's awful. I've just had to avoid bookstores to keep from buying things. Good luck next month!

Jess - A Book Hoarder said...

You guys are awesome! I hate to admit I love hearing about all the library fines out there but what can I say...misery loves company.

Diane-Thanks for the tips. I am definitely going to be hunting for deals so I don't lose my book buying privileges.

Nat-I haven't been to The Pit but I better check it out soon since my Raleigh days are numbered. And I love Harris Teeter...it's second to Trader Joes.

Kim and Joshua-All I can say is why the hell aren't there any Half Price Books in either of the places I live? When I came across the one in San Antonio I went crazy.