I have a problem. A real problem. Though it is, in truth, made easier by that fact that many of you share my same problem. I love buying books. Even when I have dozens (nay hundreds?) of books at home to read, I still can't seem to help myself. So after this last book buying binge (see above!), I have decided to try and reduce my book buying over the next 6 months. The aim indeed is to buy no books at all, and to resort to the library and borrowing from friends, but I am a realist, so I'm taking it a month at a time...along with no clothes or jewellery buying. Hopefully my wallet will reap the benefits of this frugality, and I shall be left to enjoy the tomes I already possess...
I have all these plans for the coming year (not least because I have a certain traditional landmark birthday approaching)...all of which require those all important pennies. I'm planning a trip to Japan, hopefully in Spring 2010, for which I will most definitely need to save, and also learn to get by in the language (I'm very allergic to fish which makes communication important in some countries!), and I am still clutching to my dreams of buying that elusive cottage in the country.
Anyone else got any great expectations for the coming months?
19 comments:
I have a similar goal this year...When I labeled all of my TBR books "TBR" on library thing only to learn that I have 202 books sitting at home unread, I figured something had to change :p And the extra money will be nice!
So cool that you're planning a trip to Japan!! I've always wanted to go.
Good luck with your goal, Mariel. You have a good reason to save those pennies! A trip to Japan sounds like a great idea. I am trying to cut back on my spending too, although I still have quite a few bookstore gift cards I received for the holidays left to spend and so I have some wiggle room. I am not cutting back completely though--just minimally. I think that's the most I can expect from myself realistically.
At least the last books you bought look great! I'm on a no-acquisition book diet this year, so I'm not even allowing myself to enter giveaways. I don't know if I could handle not buying any clothing or jewelry though...for travelling I probably could. :)
I've been on a no-book-buying diet for awhile now (though I did slip at the first of the year) but I think it's great to have goals - I would love to go to Japan, good luck with that! Plans for this year are to finish my university course without losing my mind. We'll see how it goes.
Chris - I love that we're all in the same boat though! And at least I have a big pool of books to choose from at home...dont think I'll run out for a while!
Literary Feline - I have about £10 of points on my waterstones card, so I'm going to have to pick something good to spend it on! Its good to be realistic though, or you end up diappointing yourself!
Eva - my jewellery habit is almost as bad as my books, but I have even less need for more! Shouldn't find clothes too hard to avoid, though I do have a big work anniversary dinner dance in June and I'll need a dress!
Michelle - Good luck with uni. When I was at uni I couldn't afford anywhere near the numbre of books I buy now, but I wasn't really interested in reading for fun with all the book studying I had to do!
I don't buy a lot of books because I love how much shelving the library provides for free. I wish they'd store my ARCs for me! Maybe I should try sneaking them onto the shelves...?
I have a problem too. Just recently I reached 100 unread books, and while I know many other bloggers have even more, I really want to make an effort to READ them before I get more.
Having said that, who can blame you for getting those! They are so so good. I've just posted my thoughts on Shakespeare Wrote for Money, actually. Nick Hornby is my new author crush.
And that's so cool that you plan on going to Japan!
Best of luck! I also have an overwhelming stack of books, and yet I still go out and buy tons of books. Someday I'll reduce my stack. Someday.
I was the same, I was addicted to buying books. I have had to curb this habit, and because some of the books I had bought I no longer had any interest in (even though I hadn't read them) I gave them away. So now I only buy books in small batches and once I've read them then I buy the next ones I want to read.
Out of your list, I want to get The Wood Wife.
I know what you mean, I cant resist books either :)
Happy reading, and how cool that you are planning to go to Japan!
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/
I have (more or less) found a way of dealing with the urge to buy lots of books at once - I put them on my Amazon wish list. Which might not work for everyone. It does mean that when people ask me what I want for my birthday, I can remember.
By the way, I've just finished reading "The Gift" and I really liked it. Will have to get the next in the series (or add it to my wish list, anyway...)
awww a trip to japan is my all time dream!!!! I'm so jealous,but I'd never be able to afford it with my job now:(
my expectations for the month is to try and save some money,I'm absolutely broke, it's not even funny...
Rachel Caine, Patricia Briggs, and Charlaine Harris have books coming out soon. Can't wait!!!
Ali - Wouldn't that be great!
Nymeth - I'm so glad its not just me. Loving Nick Hornby at the moment too! Though I get far too many recommendations off him!
Kim - Thanks, right there with ya!
Margotreehugger - I hate it when I find a book on my shelf that I bought years ago and really don't want to read any more! Giving it away is the best option though, beats sitting there all lonely attracting dust.
Naida - Thanks! I just need to start learning the language!
K - That's a great idea. I have a notebook for that exact reason ( I have a slight stationery obsession too!). I'm so glad you liked the Gift, it's one of my favourite series!
Valentina - I'm right with you on the saving front. Fingers crossed for a tax return this year which should go a long way in getting me to the East!
Ladytink - I don't know Rachel Caine, you have me intrigued!
You found a copy of Tam Lin by Pamela Dean? I've been looking for one for ages and ages!!! And there's *Nick* again, who no one had the book when I was there last month....I only have the Wood Wife, which I just picked up before the trip. Everything you bought looks great! so if you are going to not buy any for a little while, I hope these help tide you over :-) Me, I've given up saying I won't buy any more books. I have a monthly allowance I try to stick to (I never seem to, but at least i try now), and I hate shopping for anything else, so all our money usually goes to books!! I do hope you can get to Japan, I've heard it is a beautiful and fantastic place to visit from others who have gone. My dream is to keep visiting England over and over!
And *sigh* the cottage in the country (filled with shelves for books), oh yes, my dream too!
Lovely post, Mariel.
Susan - The wonders of amazon! I prefer to shop at local bookshops or waterstones, but sometimes the internet is the only way! Reading nick at the moment and its like revisting an old friend! I should be ok for a while, plenty of reads to keep me going, though I'm already having to resist temptation with all the great blog reviews I've read this month!
I'm so excited about Japan, got a year to save up and start learning the lingo! Fingers crossed I might be able to afford my cottage before then though!
Hello. My name is Tanabata, and I'm a book addict! I have such a problem. I was going to hold out until February before I allowed myself to buy any more books but I ended up ordering a couple last night. Shakespeare Wrote for Money being one of them. Sigh.
That's cool that you're planning a trip to Japan though! Would love to meet you if we get a chance. And yes, you must learn how to explain your allergy because even the basic flavouring in so many things comes from fish stock!
A friend that came over is allergic not to all fish but to seafood. She got sick one day eating vegetable tempura because of course (we didn't think about it at the time) they dip the shrimp into the same batter!
Good luck. I need to do this badly but I just don't have the willpower at the moment. I blame everyone else for reviewing such great books just forcing me to buy them. I did slow down my spending, but it has ramped up again this month. What with buying a car as well I think it's time to curb my book buying sadly :(
Tanabata - Unfortunately my trip might be delayed for another year, due to other plans in the works! But it would be great to meet up if and when I do come over though! Will give me more time to learn Japanese though!
Rhinoa - I'm doing quite well right now, which is thankful now that I'm heading to the states for 3 weeks! And treating myself to shiny new hiking gear!
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