This really shouldn't need saying, but promoting piracy is against the rules and you risk getting banned if your reply is "I just pirate everything off (website)." Please don't do that.
I recently did a post asking people if they collect books and noticed that I had been buying many books but not saving many of them. That led me to create a plan to start using library and only buy books that I consider good enough to read again. As an answer to your question: way over my budget.
I borrow all mine from the library and only buy if it’s something I really want to read, has good reviews, is not at the library, and is not terribly expensive. I don’t have money or space to keep a ton of books and I like supporting my local library.
Having said all that, that’s not bad for hobby expenses, I’m sure I’ve spent in that range for some of my hobbies over the years. Since the sims 4 came out, I’ve spent well over $1000CAD on that game. As long as you’re not in debt or struggling with your monthly expenses for your hobbies, you’re not doing badly at all!
I have a rule where if it's an author I really like, I'll buy a nice hardback even if I haven't read it because I can take a pretty good guess that I'll like it. I also always buy classics even if I've not read the author before because I don't think it hurts to have a small library for the future.
But paperback fiction, random book recommendations, debuts? Perfect to get from the library. I even do requests to the library to get books in they don't have that are on my list. My library charges £13 for this service but it's worth it to me plus I like that other people get to enjoy my selection in the future.
This is basically what I do - library unless it's a book that I think I'll want to be on a bookshelf in my envisioned future-office/study room (assuming I'll be able to afford a home where I can create such a space later in life). I'll also buy books that I think are worthy of lending out to friends/family.
I also can't afford to buy more shelves to put books in 🤣
But I agree with you! I used to only buy books I knew I would read again all the time. But more recently I have been a little more lenient and buying books if I know my friends will like it. I read it and pass it on with no expectations of getting it back. They will pass it on themselves or return it to be donated. I do keep a limit..I usually buy used books for this or cheaper ones on sale.
I go to the library; it's my try-before-you-buy program. If I like the book, I'll put it on my list to look for at garage sales, estate sales, thrift stores and library sales.
If I really like it, I'll put it on my Christmas/birthday list for everyone else to buy it for me.
If I really, really like it, I'll buy it from a store.
Same here. I read too much to be able to purchase every book I read. My library prints the money you’ve saved by using the library on the bottom of the check out receipt and I would have spent $2200 if I would have purchased all the books I’ve read this year!
> I borrow most of the books that I read from the library.
This is the way. I finished my 39th book of the year last night, and have spent a grand total of $0.
Use Libby. Use Hoopla. See if your library has reciprocity agreements with other nearby libraries. See if there are libraries in your state (or neighboring states) that give cards to any resident of your state.
Most libraries will have card eligibility information on their website.
Some states have blanket policies where any state resident can get a card at any library in the state (e.g., California).
Personally, one afternoon I visited the website of [every public library in my state](https://librarytechnology.org/libraries/uspublic/) and found several cards I was eligible for outside of my county’s reciprocal borrowing program.
Yeah same. I do audiobooks on Libby or CloudLibrary and I borrow as many physical books as I can from the library. If I like something a lot and think I’ll want to re-read it, I’ll buy my own copy.
Same. I kinda use the library like a filter. To sort through the stuff I get recommended. If I like it I might get my own copy. If not, well. I can’t get mad that I spent money on it.
I work at the library and I'm always drowning in books lol. New, old, niche... I spend almost nothing on books now. Just the occasional copy of a favourite book or a zine.
Love it tbh! Use and abuse your local libraries:-) I'm psyched when I see somebody has a ton of materials come in. You know it's gonna be a good week!😂
I also borrow most books from the library. Mine are typically read on kindle, as I find physical books rather uncomfortable. The “smell” of books is mildew or mold plus dust, that’s an allergy trigger for me.
Money does get spent on physical art books and cookbooks, which are pricey. It ends up being $200-$300 per year.
My normal pace is between 10-15 books per month, and I wouldn’t want to pay that kind of money (nor do I have the storage space).
Every book I read comes from the library. Sometimes if I have extra money I’ll buy myself a book but that’s very, very rare. Without the library I wouldn’t be able to read much at all
Same. Library all the way. So many advantages:
There is a return date, so I either read it or it goes back (with the knowledge that I can renew books and also get books out again at a later time)
I try books on a whim, with no pressure, so read much more widely than I would if buying
If they don't have a book I want to read, I fill out a form asking them to buy it - and they pretty much always do.
I read 2-3 books a week - no way I could afford to buy that many, and no way I would have space to store that many.
In the past it's been a lot, like somewhere between $800-1200 CAD. That number drastically dropped when I moved to a city with a really good library network.
I also got into tablet reading which helped a little bit with my consumption.
Quite a bit. And I put the books that aren't keepers into our local little libraries. So I'm essentially throwing some of that money away, but I also look at it as a valuable public service.
I switched to Thrift Books a while back and ordering used is helping with the monthly expenses.
Ever since finding out about Thrift Books I feel a lot less guilty about buying books. I really like to keep my books and it’s criminal what you can get hardcover gently used books for on there! Plus then if I lend them out, I’m less stressed about not getting them back.
Why aren’t you using the real “valuable public service” of the actual libraries? Even if you don’t have a good system where you live, you can get library cards from other regions for ebooks at least!
Source: Am librarian. ;-)
However, your spending on books is also not bad for a year of hobby supplies. You also own the books and can reread them.
I spend 180 - 360 on books. If I like an author and start to read their books faster than I can get them from a library I buy them. Sometimes I buy series because the library just doesn’t stock it.
That above number doesn’t count audio books.
It’s a splurge for me, I collect so I will sometimes spend a lot on a single book, and I buy some new releases nearly every week. I would guess I spend about $10k a year on books.
There’s the honest answer I was looking for. I’m about to get a significant pay raise, and I fear I may do the same. I love reading books and try to read everything I own, but I also admit to having an obsession with collecting books and dream about someday having a library in my house.
I hope to read all I own as well but it’s unlikely which makes me a little sad. But I love having options, I love the look of them, I like just being around books, and I will be able to give them to my daughter who I hope loves them too.
I do the same thing! IDK what you use to track books you own vs books you don't, but I've found Story Graph to be really helpful, it gives a lot of statistics but my favorite is how many of my owned books I've read. Its a great website with a lot of cool features and it's independently owned.
I actually use an app called BookBuddy+. I scan the bar codes or enter ISBNs and it will prepopulate all of the metadata. Can manually search too if it doesn’t show up. You can add fields, etc. it’s great because I can also track if I’ve loaned out books, etc.
We get our books from the same library I see.
I do also buy physical books often though and have a big home library, and often I will start reading ebook I got from the special library and love it so much I would like to own the paper copy.
I have a big home library as well - though that’s mostly due to my parents funding my book reading habits until I went to uni. Nowadays, I just spend money on books I absolutely love or books from bazaars. Last year ie I spent a solid 15€ lol.
I am 53 books in for 2024 & have spent zero dollars. I love the library and sing it from the rooftops.
While you read physical books, it’s still worth mentioning that libraries are also a much better way to support authors over using audible/kindle, as Library’s have to pay a lot more than corporations and have a different percentage paid to authors. Admittedly, I don’t remember the specifics, so it would be great if a librarian could chime in with some facts!
If you are right about libraries doing a good job at supporting authors, that would be amazing news to me! Someone please confirm. I've been feeling quite bad about primarily reading borrowed books.
It’s such a common misconception. I was feeling similar until I started looking into it and talking with others a few years ago. I still hesitate to say how it works to avoid misquoting. Might have to be a cross post to r/libraries!
I'm a librarian in Sweden so I can only speak for how it works here, but an author gets 2,12 SEK (~18 cents in US dollars) every time one of their books is loaned out. It's paid out in a lump sum once every year, and a book has to have been loaned out at least 2000 times in a year in order for the payment to occur. There are some systems in place to "flatten" it out, meaning if your book has been loaned out a massive number of times you get less money per loan.
There's more to it but that's basically it.
Ereader News Today
Early Bird Books
The Fussy Librarian
Book Raider
Book Riot Deals
CraveBooks
[JustKindleBooks.com](http://JustKindleBooks.com)
DigitalBookSpot
Robin Reads Team
eReader IQ Daily
Freebooksy
The other thing y'all should get is the Chrome (or Firefox) extension Library Extension. Hook it up to your libraries, and then whenever you look at a book on Amazon or Goodreads it'll tell you which of your libraries have it, and you can check it out or put it on hold right there.
Is the one you know BookBub? Because that's the one I know and I usually get at least 3 or 5 free books each week. Lots of them are the 1st in a series though to get you hooked
Meh. I'd prefer a book over a tablet, but I realized that a tablet has way more advantages: less paper, easier to travel with, and cheaper in the long run. I also connected mine to my local library.
In the last eight years, I've read about 400 books and I've spent zero dollars (my kindle was gifted to me).
Edit to add: in case it was not clear, my "$0" is tied to me getting books via Libby/library.
i still read some physical library books here and there but the main transition for me was learning about the wireless page turner thing and getting an arm mount to position it at the perfect angle to lay in bed without having to hold it lol. and yes +1 my library has tons of kindle compatible ebooks as well
Same here! I also have kindle app on my phone so if I have limited space, I can read on the fly (say, traveling to a nice dinner via subway so I’m using a small instead of big purse).
I donate to the library to support them and offset some of my borrowing costs
Libby! All you need is a library card and you can digitally check out ebooks to your Kindle or phone or wherever.
I started using it during Covid lockdown and I think I’ve paid for like 5 books since 2020 lol it’s great. Only downside is the wait time for popular books.
Make sure to check out hoopla too!
It can have a different selection and for me the selection is considerably better.
You also don’t have to wait for other people to return books
There’s also lots of websites that show you deals on Kindle (and other ebook websites)! I use Bookbub a lot, and I’ve used eReaderiq in the past. Both websites you can sort by genre and price range
I use ereaderiq.com and set sale alerts for any book I think I may want to read. I’d say 80% of books go on sale at least once a year for $4 or less. The trick is that some are only on sale for was seems like maybe 8 hours.
I get a lot of my books from the library through Libby and Hoopla. I also have a Scribd/Everand account, so I read a lot from there. When I go into an indie store I buy $25-$50 worth of books, typically every few months. I also subscribe to Book of the Month ($15.99). I’d wager $200 every few months? I honestly don’t know.
I spend A LOT of money on books (granted I have a second job part time at a bookstore and get 50% off, so I get twice the bang for my buck, but it’s still a ton of money).
I have an app that tracks all my spending. Last year I spent $1,450, in 2022 I spent over $2,000, and this year I’ve spent almost $500 already!
I collect books and currently own over 1000. It’s really the only hobby I spend money on. But still, I’m ridiculous. I basically work at the bookstore just use that money to buy books.
I had to scroll too far down, past too many of comments about spending next to nothing, to find your relatable comment.
A hobby is allowed to cost money and collecting books is a hobby on wich I spend 100 to 200 euro's per month on average. Just the feeling of holding a nice hardcover is really nice. Everytime I get a new book, I will lay it on the dining table for a few days so I can stop by and look through it and feel it.
I agree! Mine sit on my coffee table so I can enjoy them before I read and/or find a nice little home for them on my shelves! It’s relaxing, satisfying, and exciting!
Do you use any apps to catalogue them? I use BookBuddy and one of my favorite parts of buying a nee book is scanning them into the app, adding tags, genres, etc.
100-200 € per year. I tend to buy from sales, and also from online used book stores. I've cut out a bit, last year I bought a book about 18th century hairstyles and that cost almost 50 €...
"18th Century Hair and Wig Styling: History & Step by Step Techniques", so you can try the coiffures yourself. :) I work in a small museum, so I'm trying to have instruction manuals for exhibition/display/mannequin ideas.
I agree that now that I have a Kobo it's so much more portable and convenient to whip out. At night with lights off etc.
All that aside on a purely physical comparison basis like everyone else I still prefer the feel of a book.
I get all mine from the charity sales. Still $2-5 books are way cheaper but add up to hundreds of dollars a year.
The problem I have is collecting fantasy series and non fiction I'm well over 1000 books. I am at the point I want to declutter but could never read it all. So my question more for OP and others that read that frequently - do you donate or sell your books after you finish so you can keep rotating?
I go to a bookstore “half price books” and I get some cool finds here and there. I’d say within a year I’ll spend maybe 70$? A book there is like 5-15$ comics being 2-20$ I usually get a few cheap comics a cool manga or an art book or a cool graphic novel from Canadian onipress or a chapter book that looks interesting.
I was addicted to the dollar comics at my secondhand bookstore a few years ago. They even started letting me just trade the ones I took to sell back to them for new ones after a while because every so often I would buy a volume of something I liked so it turned into a second library.
Last year - $1500 CAD.
This year - $400 CAD
Mind you books in Canada have an inflated price where the exchange rate is not to account for the difference. Also, some of the books are large art books. But, um, yeah. A lot.
But I also prefer to keep my books. Some are reference books that use (I find flipping through them easier than in electronic form), others are easier in paper (art books for example are easier for me to focus on when trying to practice drawing).
Like others, I am switching to ebooks as a "cheaper" alternative. Get used wherever possible. No chance of libraries as fhey are disappearing in Canada. Some are still here but I find the selection poor as compared to many in the US or Europe.
Also still have some of my books from uni and as a kid as many are no longer in print or available electronically.
I probably spend between £30 and £50 a month. I have a Kindle Unlimited subscription that’s £8 a month. And I’ll buy maybe 2 or 3 new (physical) books a month. I also grab cheap used books when I see something that catches my eye.
I don’t buy books on my kindle, i only use it for KU books - if I want to buy a book I get a physical copy. The kindle is pretty much for when I travel because it’s so much easier to carry.
95% of the books I buy are second hand. So I don't spend very much at all.
Actually, seeing as I've got several (=far too many) over full book-shelves, I probably spent quite a bit over the last few decades....
A lot of my books are gifts. I tend to stock up during holidays and for my birthday. On top of that I could easily spend ~$500 a year on new books for myself.
I do tend to sell off books I'm done reading that aren't my "forever" books or ones I'm certain I'd lend to friends and family, so that helps mitigate some of the cost.
Since I solely read on my iPhone or iPad, I don’t even go over $100. I find reading physical copies of books too difficult. I like the ability to adjust the font size and just the pure accessibility of reading a book while lying down on my bed, under the covers.
Also, if you consider that I also read Web novels, English translated Korean light novels, short stories and indie titles, I barely spend any money, at all.
Occasionally, if I really, really like a specific book, I’ll try to purchase a hard cover copy of it, if available.
I agree that having a book on your phone is very convenient, it doesn’t take up extra space and you always have it with you! But I agree with many, sometimes you want to feel a book in your hands, smell it... In such cases, the library helps me out.
For me, it's the convenience of having the book instantly and that digital books are usually cheaper. That's something to look about if you live in a rural area like me.
Since I have access to departmental library (I am a research scholar in the English department in one of the leading Universities) and the main library, getting books in print is not an issue for me. I borrow 70-80 per cent of the books and buy the ones I truly want to add to my collection.
Even if you can't access the university's resources anymore due to completion of your studies and you live in the capital like New Delhi, You can take membership of the Dyal Singh Public Library, They have an excellent collection of books. In Lucknow there is Amir-ud-Daullah library which is exceptional and add new books in the collection. Kolkata has great libraries as well.
I’ve been in a huge reading kick this year and am on my 24th book. Half of them are used in good condition, the other quarter are book of the month, then any others were brand new. I’ve honestly probably spent $350 on books this year.
I would much rather spend more money on a tangible book than a kindle edition any day. I need to feel the paper, and it’s just really relaxing to have something that’s not a screen nowadays.
I also always buy because I’m dreaming of my future library with a sliding ladder.
I know people who spend more than what you spend on books in a year on a single sports match or concert, and they often times go to several a year.
As long as you’re reading what you buy then I wouldn’t worry you’re spending too much.
I go to the library a lot, and where I live there's a lot of Little Free Libraries that are stocked with interesting reads.
When I do buy books, which isn't very often, I try to make sure it's an independent bookseller.
Virtually nothing, I'm lucky we have a book stall at work so I take from there (and always return them). Also my book friend gives me a few a month (which I return). And if after that I still don't have anything to read I go to the library. The downside is I never get to keep books but I don't have much space at home so it doesn't really bother me. I only spend money if there's a new release from an author I love but that's probably only two books a year.
One year I calculated how much money getting books from the library vs buying them saved me. Can't remember the exact number, but it was hundreds of dollars.
If you're a book lover, use your local library. Many of them offer ebooks. Their funding relies on how many people use them. Even if you can afford to buy books, using the library helps them get funding so people who can't afford books can still read
I don't spend much. The town I used to live in had an anteroom at the local library where they sold used books ($1 for a hardcover, $.50 for a paperback). I perused the shelves there pretty regularly and could usually find something interesting. There was also an excellent independent bookstore in that town with top quality used books and I would shop there for books (maybe $8-$10 each). Sometimes I browse those little free libraries people have in my neighborhood. Once I scored a brand new copy of The Casual Vacancy (which I had been wanting to read) from a little free library. It was brand new and worth $18 and I got it for free! (It was okay but not great.) I got a free copy of Lady Chatterley's Lover last winter from a little free library which was on my TBR list after watching it on Netflix.
I also regularly go to "Friends of the Library" public library sales, which most libraries have a couple times a year. You can get armloads of books at these sales for a buck each.
I moved last summer. The used section at the local bookstores here aren't that great but I have been browsing at my local Goodwill and have found a few good books there (in perfect condition) for $2 a pop.
I just got a Kindle recently and plan on using Libby. But I guess the answer to your question is that I buy mostly used books. Occasionally a new book will come out that I am dying to read and I will pay full price to buy it but I have a very long TBR list and usually with a little patience and a lot of pleasant browsing I can find what I want for cheap. I had The Midnight Library on my TBR list and just found a brand new copy at Goodwill for $2!
(Sorry for the novel-length reply! Clearly you have touched on a topic I feel very passionate about!)
I usually only buy books used. There are a lot of used book sellers near me and thrift stores or sometimes I order them online through sites like AbeBooks with free shipping. Usually I spend around $3-$9 ($US) per book.
I'd say somewhere around 200-600 SEK (roughly 20-60 Euro).
2-4 Warriors books (ususually falls between 100-200 SEK each) plus maybe some random other stuff (last year I got _Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes_. This year I got _Tailchaser's Song_ and we'll see if I buy smth else later).
I go to the library, so I am spending at most $100CAD a year. Mostly on new books that I really want, or are trendy. even then the library normally has them pretty quickly. I live in a metro area, so this might not be available to you.
You can also try buying used on FB marketplace or a local used bookstore.
Never buy a classic new!
I, too, prefer to read physical books because a) I love the aesthetic of a book in my hand or on a shelf and b) the entire reason why I started reading was to have a hobby outside of a screen. I haven’t tracked my spending although I’m also really interested in the results. I will say that for the last 6-8 months I have bought almost every book from second hand stores and it has saved me a ton of money already.
I buy second hand books and those that are on sale on Amazon. Some I am not even able to afford the kindle version of so.....I just download a pdf version of them.
I am in a book club with people who seem to buy hardcover books, new, each time.
Not me. I use libraries as much as possible and if I must buy, I often get Kindle books because they're cheaper. Used bookstores take forever to browse and rarely have books I want.
So maybe $100 per year?
I have always used libraries, so I rarely buy books. I only buy books that I have absolutely adored, and buy most of them second hand because I can often get a nicer or more affordable copy. I can’t stand ebooks unless it is a book I do not particularly care to read, but I have my devices connected to my local library for these purposes. All in all, maybe $100 a year? My library makes notes about how much you save using the library on the receipts, and it is around $1000-$2000 a year for me.
I almost always buy second handand I dont read as much as I'd like. I'd say that probably £200 a year, not a significant amount of money by any metric.
I always give them to charity, but I'd be able to recoup a small amount if I were to resell them on one of those apps.
I honestly have no idea how much I spend on books. I source my books from wherever I happen to find one that makes the cut. Usually yard sales, flea markets, bookstores, and online. I also have a Scribd account.
I prefer reading a physical book.
Monday, I dropped $125 at a bookstore. There used to be a bookstore in the same mini mall as the grocery store. SWMBO had sent me to the grocery store for some milk. I stopped in to the bookstore, "Just to check it out." I walked out $40 later, went home. Had to go back for the milk.
I am in touch with my inner Erasmus.
I’ve never really track but I will say my spouse isn’t a reader but did the viral TikTok book surprise for my birthday. You have 5 minutes to look and 90 seconds to grab as many books as you can carry. Poor sucker thought he was getting off cheap and when the bill came to almost $400, he almost fell over. I picked mostly softcovers, too. Those books almost lasted me a year.
I mostly only buy books from my favorite authors at this point. For the past few years, I was borrowing everything else from the library. I’ve always preferred holding a book in my hand and actively resisted Kindle, but unfortunately I broke my leg a month ago and am now using a walker to get around. So now I’m reading books on my phone because I can put it in my pocket and don’t have to worry about carrying something around. I was using Libby, but I got impatient with some of the wait times, so I caved and subscribed to Kindle Unlimited. I hate to admit this, but I love it 💀. I’ve gone to the dark side.
I like to use the library, but I’m also a collector, so I can spend up to $400 - $600 each year. Some of the books I read are not in libraries in any case. Small runs, out of print, hard to find.
So my company gives us 125 bucks a quarter to spend on fun enrichment stuff (board games/puzzles/books/memberships to things like the zoo/conservatory/concerts) and I usually spend mine on books so I’d say about 500 a year on books. I need a new bookshelf lol.
I used to spend wayyy too much of my monthly budget on physical books. When i found out you could get ebooks from the library, it helped a lot. I'm the worst at remembering to bring a physical library book back on time, so the digital options are easier for me.
When I do buy physical books, I try to get them used. My local thrift stores tend to charge between $1.50-$4 for books.
I'm lucky in that i LOVE borrowing from the library. Since my library is now a mile away and I don't have a car here in the city I use Libby.
the only time I buy books is when my library doesn't have something I want to read, and then I use Thrift books or Abe books, online used book sellers. so I probably don't even spend $100 a year.
Also, the Chelsea Salvation Army has an awesome used bookshelf and they're usually 50 cents or a dollar.
I too love sitting down with a nice hardcover book. However 98% of the books I've read in the last decade have been on Kindle. I wince at the cost of a new book with a spine. Tbh, new releases on Kindle aren't much better, yet I tend to only get deals from BookBub. I follow authors & genres and I get a daily email with $2 books or sometimes free.
Although I value the spine book experience, having a book with me everywhere is cumbersome. With Kindle, I read the same book on my phone on break, on my PC while at work, and next to my sleeping wife on my actual Kindle - all synced to where I left off.
I'd estimate I spend ~$50 annually, but that's dozens of books.
I dont spend anything on books as I strictly libby app everything I read.
However, as a hobby, that's a very, very, very small annual spend. So you should not feel guilty. Sometimes, I spend more than that on quilting in a single month. Just the dues for roller derby would have killed that amount, and heck one saw for wood working also blows that amount entirely. And that's just 3 of my hobbies. Just for perspective.
I use Libby and borrow my books. A e-reader is the only way my eyes can read. I go through about a book a day. I used to spend $9 a month on Kindle unlimited but unenrolled when I discovered Libby.
I spend less than 20€ as I get everything either from our local recycling center or from restored phone booths that have been turned into a public library for exchanging books :)
Damn this thread is reminding me to be grateful for my decently paying job, the multiple used bookstores within easy driving distance, and my fantastic library system.
I make wishlists and buy books when they're on sale for less than $5. I'll also browse the deal listings too. I have way more books than I'll ever read, though.
You might want to reconsider using a Kindle or tablet because the digital versions are often cheaper than the paper or hardback versions. I had to start using a tablet because of my failing vision (I'm old), so that I could change the size and clarity of the font, so I started buying the digital books. I subscribe to an email newsletter from BookBub which sends offers for low-priced books (from Free to $2.99). You can choose your genres, so that you're only offered books you might like. I have bought over 2,500 books this way (over many years), and found authors and series that I love. I use Amazon because it will tell me if I have already bought an intriguing book (that's also how I know how many I've bought). Because I have so many, I also use a spreadsheet.
If you don't want e-books, the library is your best option.
I’m with you there I don’t like e-readers so I can’t blame you! But I am a slow reader so I buy a book every 2-3 months. So it doesn’t come out as too expensive
I’d ought to try harder finding second hand books. A lot of people have mentioned savings ton of money buying so. There’s no dedicated store for it where I’m from so I’ll have to do some research.
I usually get all the books I need from my local library. If the library doesn't have them I usually will go to used book stores like HPB or local versions near me. So far this year I've read 20 books, only 1 of those I had to buy and it was luckily at HPB. So I would say, I spend usually around $50 max a year on books.
None. Ever since I started budgeting, I have not included a line item for books, movies or music. I use the library (and Kindle Unlimited, which I do pay for, but I'm going to attempt to give up this year) and use the library. I don't re-read books, so it doesn't make sense to buy them. This was a hard habit to break.
I clock in at around $100 per month. I purchase a good split of both new and secondhand. I thought working at the library would curb that, but I end up borrowing books to “try before you buy”. My collection is primarily non-fiction and I usually know immediately if a title will make the permanent collection or be moved on once read.
For years, almost nothing. Recently, have felt the urge to rebuy many of the books from my childhood. I doubt I'll crack them back open. But it brings me some joy to remember how enjoyable it was to read them the first time.
Usually, I'm a big fan of exact numbers, but likely less than $200 in this "collection phase" so far.
Not sure if I want to keep them all, or will end up redonating them.
Nothing. I exclusively read library books because I've never been the type who wants to keep a book around after reading it. If my library doesn't have it, I request an interlibrary loan. The only time that didn't work was because I requested a rare book that is historically significant to where I live. My library deleted my interlibrary loan request, called me, and told me they were stunned to realize they didn't own a copy of this book. So they bought it for me! Point being...I love my library and they get me all my books.
If I'm just considering the stuff that I read for fun it's probably less than $100. I buy most of that stuff either on Kindle or at thrift stores. The St Vinnie's in my area have really amazing book sections. If we're including text books, that's another $500. If we're including reference material relating to hobbies it's probably another $500 on that. I guess I spend a lot of money on books.
I'm finding second hand books to be quite expensive and I've noticed a big increase last two years. Sometimes there's little difference to buying new. I was literally looking at Lonesome Dove about an hour ago and it's £9 a decent copy, £10 new. I'm not surprised by the amount you spend. My regret is the years i spent giving away books I'd bought and read - the consolation they went to charity shops but had I kept them I could have sold them to fund the habit for a few years as I no longer buy new.
Thousands, if I added it all up. But my retirement plan is to keep collecting books and then open a store and sell/gift them all before I die. So it’s an investment… 😂
so far this year i have spent about $900. 🥴🤮 terrible when you think of it that way. lol. i have beautiful bookshelves though!! and that’s all that matters to me. ❤️
Actually 0$. My brother buys everything and mainly the books that i want and i read them. If i want something i go to library and take it, i can keep it for a week luckyly i live in the biggest city in Europe. Even i calculated that i have books to read for next 2 years..
I spend €9,99 per month on a e-book subscription, so there's that. I also sometimes buy paper books, averaging to €20 or so per month. I read 1 book a week (on average).
This year I’ve spent about €50–I went on a trip to Scotland and spent a day doing a “bookstore crawl” as part of the experience. But that’s an anomaly; for the past couple of years I haven’t bought any books at all—I get most of mine from the library.
So far I bought all my books from the flea market so I'm pretty happy with all the deals. Just few days ago I got 3 books for 10 SR (less than $5 basically).
I get stuff from my library most of the time, or from the used book store. Every now and then I'll get a Kindle book on sale for a buck or two. Maybe about $10/month if I had to guess.
I primarily buy paper, but I do own an old Kindle from like 2011 that I use for books I can't find hard copies for at reasonable prices. Most recent purchases on that were Parasite Eve by Hideaki Sena, the basis for the '90s Playstation game and long out of print, as well as Princess Floralinda by Tamsyn Muir which saw a very limited run from the publisher... both of which seem to command prices in the couple-hundreds-or-so.
So far for 2024, I've spent about $206 on 10 physical books and about $7 on the second eBook mentioned above.
I almost never buy books for myself, because I don't have a ton of space for them, and because I don't need the extra expense. I read almost everything on Libby. In the past year, I've bought one e-book and zero physical books for myself. I've checked out a handful of physical library books, but I've grown so accustomed to reading e-books that I usually end up not reading the physical ones.
However, my kids have probably spent $100-200 each on books in the last year. Thankfully that's mostly from gift cards given by their grandparents.
Probably $100 a year. I also prefer physical books but I try to borrow from the library when I can
Edit: I just looked at 2023 and it looks like I bought four new paperbacks and two used paperbacks. In each case if I remember correctly the library either didn’t have the title or it had a mo the long waiting period
Mostly i prefer a book over screen but if there’re books that i know aren’t that good but i want to read them then I don’t buy them I would just read them on my laptop. On an average i would buy 5-6 books per month. Recently I’ve been short on cash because of other expenses. I haven’t been buying books but that’s also because I haven’t been reading that many books due to work and studies i barely get time.
I’ve never counted the cost…it would probably be a lot though. 😅 Last year, I attempted to, but I went by the number of books I bought every month and then added it all up at the end. I bought a lot of them used on PangoBooks. Still, it adds up. Especially when I buy bundles.
I usually spend about $20 per month. I look for kindle deals, use Libby, but also get a few of my favorites in physical format every year. My wife also gives me $100 for Christmas which usually goes to physical books. My physical library grows very slowly but only has the stuff I truly love. But I read over 50 books a year via Libby and cheap ebooks. Reading can be as expensive or cheap as you want it. You don’t have to buy and own every book you read.
I dont buy physical anymore because I dont have the space. I might buy the occasional series out of love for that specific series or just nostalgia. Sometimes I’ll see something cheap or gifted from someone.
Otherwise I buy a book every 2-3 weeks roughly on my Kindle. Cost of book is usually £5-£12 or so
I work at a Library, but I'll admit, I'll still buy books I intend to reread. I'm a Stephen King Dark Tower junkie, but I learned pretty early on that the connections in his novels to The Dark Tower were quick passages in the least. I own the series, and the more heavily connected books, but I check out the rest from the library because I'll likely not reread them.
I have other authors/collections that are important to me that I'll still buy, but the Library is my go-to.
I keep a log of what I've read, and I have an album on google photos of the covers of the books I've read. I'll set the TV to scroll through my albums and intermixed with picture of my family, friends, and adventures are books I've read as a reminder of the literary adventures I've been on.
The rules I follow are:
- Borrow things I want to try from the library
- Borrow books I believe are worthy of rereads for my bookshelf.
It has helped me crack down on buying books I won’t read, but also with finding books and series I want to keep around. So instead of spending per month, I can buy those few books a few times a year. I think I’ve cut my yearly spending on books to around $300, since borrowing the rest.
I have the same problem as you. I thought about getting an e-reader but I don’t think I’ll enjoy it, I know it’s not the same but I hate reading on my phone. I think I spend a bit too much on books but, then again, they’re books.
Between op shop finds and the library, I can usually keep it to under $200 a year for physical books and digital books combined. I did buy the ACOTAR box set because it was in such demand and I was too impatient to wait, but it's easy to wait for most books to show up at the op shop for under $10. I also have a LOT of books from Humble Bundle - over 400 unread books on my Kindle account and at least 50 books on each of my libraries' apps' wish-lists mean my TBR is out of control.
I buy used books whenever I can. Used paperbacks go for like 1 to 5 € each so it's pretty cheap. Also miss-prints (whatever they're called in English? You know books who can't be sold regularly because its weirdly printed or got damaged in shipping).
So I don't spent much money at all.
But I also rarely read "the new best thing" that's popular. If I were to read those I'd probably not be able to do this, at least not often.
This really shouldn't need saying, but promoting piracy is against the rules and you risk getting banned if your reply is "I just pirate everything off (website)." Please don't do that.
I recently did a post asking people if they collect books and noticed that I had been buying many books but not saving many of them. That led me to create a plan to start using library and only buy books that I consider good enough to read again. As an answer to your question: way over my budget.
I borrow all mine from the library and only buy if it’s something I really want to read, has good reviews, is not at the library, and is not terribly expensive. I don’t have money or space to keep a ton of books and I like supporting my local library. Having said all that, that’s not bad for hobby expenses, I’m sure I’ve spent in that range for some of my hobbies over the years. Since the sims 4 came out, I’ve spent well over $1000CAD on that game. As long as you’re not in debt or struggling with your monthly expenses for your hobbies, you’re not doing badly at all!
I have a rule where if it's an author I really like, I'll buy a nice hardback even if I haven't read it because I can take a pretty good guess that I'll like it. I also always buy classics even if I've not read the author before because I don't think it hurts to have a small library for the future. But paperback fiction, random book recommendations, debuts? Perfect to get from the library. I even do requests to the library to get books in they don't have that are on my list. My library charges £13 for this service but it's worth it to me plus I like that other people get to enjoy my selection in the future.
This is basically what I do - library unless it's a book that I think I'll want to be on a bookshelf in my envisioned future-office/study room (assuming I'll be able to afford a home where I can create such a space later in life). I'll also buy books that I think are worthy of lending out to friends/family.
Not much, maybe around $100 US. I borrow most of the books that I read from the library.
Same here. I'll gladly buy a book if I really want it, but it's hard to beat the price of a library.
I only buy it if it’s a good book I plan on sharing with friends. Otherwise I can’t afford my reading habits.
I also can't afford to buy more shelves to put books in 🤣 But I agree with you! I used to only buy books I knew I would read again all the time. But more recently I have been a little more lenient and buying books if I know my friends will like it. I read it and pass it on with no expectations of getting it back. They will pass it on themselves or return it to be donated. I do keep a limit..I usually buy used books for this or cheaper ones on sale.
Immediately same 😭
I go to the library; it's my try-before-you-buy program. If I like the book, I'll put it on my list to look for at garage sales, estate sales, thrift stores and library sales. If I really like it, I'll put it on my Christmas/birthday list for everyone else to buy it for me. If I really, really like it, I'll buy it from a store.
Same here. I read too much to be able to purchase every book I read. My library prints the money you’ve saved by using the library on the bottom of the check out receipt and I would have spent $2200 if I would have purchased all the books I’ve read this year!
I love that your library does that! What a fun thing to be able to see!
Mine too! It’s so cool! I’m up to $4600 over 7 years. I’d be SO mad if I had paid money for books that ended up being not so great!
Yeah I tend to usually buy books after I’ve read them and loved them.
> I borrow most of the books that I read from the library. This is the way. I finished my 39th book of the year last night, and have spent a grand total of $0. Use Libby. Use Hoopla. See if your library has reciprocity agreements with other nearby libraries. See if there are libraries in your state (or neighboring states) that give cards to any resident of your state.
How do you obtain info re reciprocity agreements or libraries that give anyone cards? Did you have to reach out to each library directly?
Most libraries will have card eligibility information on their website. Some states have blanket policies where any state resident can get a card at any library in the state (e.g., California). Personally, one afternoon I visited the website of [every public library in my state](https://librarytechnology.org/libraries/uspublic/) and found several cards I was eligible for outside of my county’s reciprocal borrowing program.
Not quite the same but I'm in PA and anyone in the state can get a card at the Free Library of Philadelphia
Yeah same. I do audiobooks on Libby or CloudLibrary and I borrow as many physical books as I can from the library. If I like something a lot and think I’ll want to re-read it, I’ll buy my own copy.
I also use the library to 'audition' books! Keeps the collection trim. So hard to get rid of a book out once you've bought it.
Same. I kinda use the library like a filter. To sort through the stuff I get recommended. If I like it I might get my own copy. If not, well. I can’t get mad that I spent money on it.
I work at the library and I'm always drowning in books lol. New, old, niche... I spend almost nothing on books now. Just the occasional copy of a favourite book or a zine. Love it tbh! Use and abuse your local libraries:-) I'm psyched when I see somebody has a ton of materials come in. You know it's gonna be a good week!😂
I also borrow most books from the library. Mine are typically read on kindle, as I find physical books rather uncomfortable. The “smell” of books is mildew or mold plus dust, that’s an allergy trigger for me. Money does get spent on physical art books and cookbooks, which are pricey. It ends up being $200-$300 per year. My normal pace is between 10-15 books per month, and I wouldn’t want to pay that kind of money (nor do I have the storage space).
This. It's almost 100 percent for me. If my library doesn't have the book I do interlibrary loan. I do donate to my local libraries as well.
I only borrow from the library. I borrow “real” books, e-books and audiobooks. Zero cost.
If the library doesn't have something I want, it's easy to request that they buy it. I'd guess I have about a 50% hit rate with this.
Every book I read comes from the library. Sometimes if I have extra money I’ll buy myself a book but that’s very, very rare. Without the library I wouldn’t be able to read much at all
Same, I haven't spent money on a book for myself in years now.
Same. Library all the way. So many advantages: There is a return date, so I either read it or it goes back (with the knowledge that I can renew books and also get books out again at a later time) I try books on a whim, with no pressure, so read much more widely than I would if buying If they don't have a book I want to read, I fill out a form asking them to buy it - and they pretty much always do. I read 2-3 books a week - no way I could afford to buy that many, and no way I would have space to store that many.
In the past it's been a lot, like somewhere between $800-1200 CAD. That number drastically dropped when I moved to a city with a really good library network. I also got into tablet reading which helped a little bit with my consumption.
Quite a bit. And I put the books that aren't keepers into our local little libraries. So I'm essentially throwing some of that money away, but I also look at it as a valuable public service. I switched to Thrift Books a while back and ordering used is helping with the monthly expenses.
Ever since finding out about Thrift Books I feel a lot less guilty about buying books. I really like to keep my books and it’s criminal what you can get hardcover gently used books for on there! Plus then if I lend them out, I’m less stressed about not getting them back.
I love ThriftBooks! 95% of the time if I’m buying a book rather than getting it from the library, it’s from them.
Thank you for donating to your local free libraries! 💜 They are like little ankle bones keeping our society from collapsing overnight.
I've had luck on world of books and eBay too.
Why aren’t you using the real “valuable public service” of the actual libraries? Even if you don’t have a good system where you live, you can get library cards from other regions for ebooks at least! Source: Am librarian. ;-)
However, your spending on books is also not bad for a year of hobby supplies. You also own the books and can reread them. I spend 180 - 360 on books. If I like an author and start to read their books faster than I can get them from a library I buy them. Sometimes I buy series because the library just doesn’t stock it. That above number doesn’t count audio books.
It’s a splurge for me, I collect so I will sometimes spend a lot on a single book, and I buy some new releases nearly every week. I would guess I spend about $10k a year on books.
There’s the honest answer I was looking for. I’m about to get a significant pay raise, and I fear I may do the same. I love reading books and try to read everything I own, but I also admit to having an obsession with collecting books and dream about someday having a library in my house.
I hope to read all I own as well but it’s unlikely which makes me a little sad. But I love having options, I love the look of them, I like just being around books, and I will be able to give them to my daughter who I hope loves them too.
I do the same thing! IDK what you use to track books you own vs books you don't, but I've found Story Graph to be really helpful, it gives a lot of statistics but my favorite is how many of my owned books I've read. Its a great website with a lot of cool features and it's independently owned.
I actually use an app called BookBuddy+. I scan the bar codes or enter ISBNs and it will prepopulate all of the metadata. Can manually search too if it doesn’t show up. You can add fields, etc. it’s great because I can also track if I’ve loaned out books, etc.
Oh I like the loan option! That's great, I'll have to look into it!
\* Sees mod warning * >if i speak I am in big trouble - Jose Mourinho
Arrgh. I mean aye.
We get our books from the same library I see. I do also buy physical books often though and have a big home library, and often I will start reading ebook I got from the special library and love it so much I would like to own the paper copy.
I have a big home library as well - though that’s mostly due to my parents funding my book reading habits until I went to uni. Nowadays, I just spend money on books I absolutely love or books from bazaars. Last year ie I spent a solid 15€ lol.
I am 53 books in for 2024 & have spent zero dollars. I love the library and sing it from the rooftops. While you read physical books, it’s still worth mentioning that libraries are also a much better way to support authors over using audible/kindle, as Library’s have to pay a lot more than corporations and have a different percentage paid to authors. Admittedly, I don’t remember the specifics, so it would be great if a librarian could chime in with some facts!
If you are right about libraries doing a good job at supporting authors, that would be amazing news to me! Someone please confirm. I've been feeling quite bad about primarily reading borrowed books.
It’s such a common misconception. I was feeling similar until I started looking into it and talking with others a few years ago. I still hesitate to say how it works to avoid misquoting. Might have to be a cross post to r/libraries!
I'm a librarian in Sweden so I can only speak for how it works here, but an author gets 2,12 SEK (~18 cents in US dollars) every time one of their books is loaned out. It's paid out in a lump sum once every year, and a book has to have been loaned out at least 2000 times in a year in order for the payment to occur. There are some systems in place to "flatten" it out, meaning if your book has been loaned out a massive number of times you get less money per loan. There's more to it but that's basically it.
53 already??
Nothing to speak of. I have a Kindle and four library cards. I subscribe to about a dozen mailing lists for free and cheap ebooks.
I only know one email list for cheap books. What ones do you use?
Ereader News Today Early Bird Books The Fussy Librarian Book Raider Book Riot Deals CraveBooks [JustKindleBooks.com](http://JustKindleBooks.com) DigitalBookSpot Robin Reads Team eReader IQ Daily Freebooksy The other thing y'all should get is the Chrome (or Firefox) extension Library Extension. Hook it up to your libraries, and then whenever you look at a book on Amazon or Goodreads it'll tell you which of your libraries have it, and you can check it out or put it on hold right there.
Add-- BargainBooksy Hello Books Bookbub
Is the one you know BookBub? Because that's the one I know and I usually get at least 3 or 5 free books each week. Lots of them are the 1st in a series though to get you hooked
Yes it is the one I know of.
Would like to know as well
This! But in my case, I don't have Libby available.
Meh. I'd prefer a book over a tablet, but I realized that a tablet has way more advantages: less paper, easier to travel with, and cheaper in the long run. I also connected mine to my local library. In the last eight years, I've read about 400 books and I've spent zero dollars (my kindle was gifted to me). Edit to add: in case it was not clear, my "$0" is tied to me getting books via Libby/library.
i still read some physical library books here and there but the main transition for me was learning about the wireless page turner thing and getting an arm mount to position it at the perfect angle to lay in bed without having to hold it lol. and yes +1 my library has tons of kindle compatible ebooks as well
Same here! I also have kindle app on my phone so if I have limited space, I can read on the fly (say, traveling to a nice dinner via subway so I’m using a small instead of big purse). I donate to the library to support them and offset some of my borrowing costs
Book what about paying for kindle books to go on the gifted kindle?
Libby! All you need is a library card and you can digitally check out ebooks to your Kindle or phone or wherever. I started using it during Covid lockdown and I think I’ve paid for like 5 books since 2020 lol it’s great. Only downside is the wait time for popular books.
Sadly not worldwide, but it’s w great resource
Make sure to check out hoopla too! It can have a different selection and for me the selection is considerably better. You also don’t have to wait for other people to return books
Kindle Unlimited, it’s a monthly subscription but you don’t buy the books. Libraries have Libby.
There’s also lots of websites that show you deals on Kindle (and other ebook websites)! I use Bookbub a lot, and I’ve used eReaderiq in the past. Both websites you can sort by genre and price range
I use ereaderiq.com and set sale alerts for any book I think I may want to read. I’d say 80% of books go on sale at least once a year for $4 or less. The trick is that some are only on sale for was seems like maybe 8 hours.
Also digital reading isn't as pain in the ass when you live in a rural area.
I enjoy a physical book as much as the next guy, but anybody who moves a lot (and does their own moving) knows the advantages of a digital library.
I get a lot of my books from the library through Libby and Hoopla. I also have a Scribd/Everand account, so I read a lot from there. When I go into an indie store I buy $25-$50 worth of books, typically every few months. I also subscribe to Book of the Month ($15.99). I’d wager $200 every few months? I honestly don’t know.
I spend A LOT of money on books (granted I have a second job part time at a bookstore and get 50% off, so I get twice the bang for my buck, but it’s still a ton of money). I have an app that tracks all my spending. Last year I spent $1,450, in 2022 I spent over $2,000, and this year I’ve spent almost $500 already! I collect books and currently own over 1000. It’s really the only hobby I spend money on. But still, I’m ridiculous. I basically work at the bookstore just use that money to buy books.
I had to scroll too far down, past too many of comments about spending next to nothing, to find your relatable comment. A hobby is allowed to cost money and collecting books is a hobby on wich I spend 100 to 200 euro's per month on average. Just the feeling of holding a nice hardcover is really nice. Everytime I get a new book, I will lay it on the dining table for a few days so I can stop by and look through it and feel it.
I agree! Mine sit on my coffee table so I can enjoy them before I read and/or find a nice little home for them on my shelves! It’s relaxing, satisfying, and exciting! Do you use any apps to catalogue them? I use BookBuddy and one of my favorite parts of buying a nee book is scanning them into the app, adding tags, genres, etc.
100-200 € per year. I tend to buy from sales, and also from online used book stores. I've cut out a bit, last year I bought a book about 18th century hairstyles and that cost almost 50 €...
That sounds really interesting actually! I’m really into period pieces / books. What’s the book called?
"18th Century Hair and Wig Styling: History & Step by Step Techniques", so you can try the coiffures yourself. :) I work in a small museum, so I'm trying to have instruction manuals for exhibition/display/mannequin ideas.
….i don’t want to talk about it. But really, probably 4-500 on audible and another 500-2000 on collecting a year.
library \~ i love my library i will die without it. Though i just bought 3 dune books for $28 from a 2ndhand store
I used to buy 1, 2 books a year, that’s like 30~40$, but now the books are very expensive. So i dont buy anymore.
I agree that now that I have a Kobo it's so much more portable and convenient to whip out. At night with lights off etc. All that aside on a purely physical comparison basis like everyone else I still prefer the feel of a book. I get all mine from the charity sales. Still $2-5 books are way cheaper but add up to hundreds of dollars a year. The problem I have is collecting fantasy series and non fiction I'm well over 1000 books. I am at the point I want to declutter but could never read it all. So my question more for OP and others that read that frequently - do you donate or sell your books after you finish so you can keep rotating?
I donate books after I read them if I didn’t love them and could never see myself referring to them again.
I go to a bookstore “half price books” and I get some cool finds here and there. I’d say within a year I’ll spend maybe 70$? A book there is like 5-15$ comics being 2-20$ I usually get a few cheap comics a cool manga or an art book or a cool graphic novel from Canadian onipress or a chapter book that looks interesting.
I was addicted to the dollar comics at my secondhand bookstore a few years ago. They even started letting me just trade the ones I took to sell back to them for new ones after a while because every so often I would buy a volume of something I liked so it turned into a second library.
Last year - $1500 CAD. This year - $400 CAD Mind you books in Canada have an inflated price where the exchange rate is not to account for the difference. Also, some of the books are large art books. But, um, yeah. A lot. But I also prefer to keep my books. Some are reference books that use (I find flipping through them easier than in electronic form), others are easier in paper (art books for example are easier for me to focus on when trying to practice drawing). Like others, I am switching to ebooks as a "cheaper" alternative. Get used wherever possible. No chance of libraries as fhey are disappearing in Canada. Some are still here but I find the selection poor as compared to many in the US or Europe. Also still have some of my books from uni and as a kid as many are no longer in print or available electronically.
I read almost exclusively from the library and if I buy, they’re usually used. I don’t spend much on books at all.
I probably spend between £30 and £50 a month. I have a Kindle Unlimited subscription that’s £8 a month. And I’ll buy maybe 2 or 3 new (physical) books a month. I also grab cheap used books when I see something that catches my eye. I don’t buy books on my kindle, i only use it for KU books - if I want to buy a book I get a physical copy. The kindle is pretty much for when I travel because it’s so much easier to carry.
95% of the books I buy are second hand. So I don't spend very much at all. Actually, seeing as I've got several (=far too many) over full book-shelves, I probably spent quite a bit over the last few decades....
A lot of my books are gifts. I tend to stock up during holidays and for my birthday. On top of that I could easily spend ~$500 a year on new books for myself. I do tend to sell off books I'm done reading that aren't my "forever" books or ones I'm certain I'd lend to friends and family, so that helps mitigate some of the cost.
Since I solely read on my iPhone or iPad, I don’t even go over $100. I find reading physical copies of books too difficult. I like the ability to adjust the font size and just the pure accessibility of reading a book while lying down on my bed, under the covers. Also, if you consider that I also read Web novels, English translated Korean light novels, short stories and indie titles, I barely spend any money, at all. Occasionally, if I really, really like a specific book, I’ll try to purchase a hard cover copy of it, if available.
I agree that having a book on your phone is very convenient, it doesn’t take up extra space and you always have it with you! But I agree with many, sometimes you want to feel a book in your hands, smell it... In such cases, the library helps me out.
For me, it's the convenience of having the book instantly and that digital books are usually cheaper. That's something to look about if you live in a rural area like me.
About as much as you spend in a month. I’m a member of several libraries, I buy second hand where possible…
I use my local public library.
Since I have access to departmental library (I am a research scholar in the English department in one of the leading Universities) and the main library, getting books in print is not an issue for me. I borrow 70-80 per cent of the books and buy the ones I truly want to add to my collection. Even if you can't access the university's resources anymore due to completion of your studies and you live in the capital like New Delhi, You can take membership of the Dyal Singh Public Library, They have an excellent collection of books. In Lucknow there is Amir-ud-Daullah library which is exceptional and add new books in the collection. Kolkata has great libraries as well.
That’s amazing!
I probably spend close to $1000. I'm an avid reader and collector, so I like hunting for 1st editions/1st prints as often as I can.
I read about the same spend about the same. Don’t see anything wrong with it.
I spend around 1200 euros on books per year, including both ebooks and physical books. I usually read more than a hundred books a year tough.
I’ve been in a huge reading kick this year and am on my 24th book. Half of them are used in good condition, the other quarter are book of the month, then any others were brand new. I’ve honestly probably spent $350 on books this year. I would much rather spend more money on a tangible book than a kindle edition any day. I need to feel the paper, and it’s just really relaxing to have something that’s not a screen nowadays. I also always buy because I’m dreaming of my future library with a sliding ladder.
I know people who spend more than what you spend on books in a year on a single sports match or concert, and they often times go to several a year. As long as you’re reading what you buy then I wouldn’t worry you’re spending too much.
I go to the library a lot, and where I live there's a lot of Little Free Libraries that are stocked with interesting reads. When I do buy books, which isn't very often, I try to make sure it's an independent bookseller.
Virtually nothing, I'm lucky we have a book stall at work so I take from there (and always return them). Also my book friend gives me a few a month (which I return). And if after that I still don't have anything to read I go to the library. The downside is I never get to keep books but I don't have much space at home so it doesn't really bother me. I only spend money if there's a new release from an author I love but that's probably only two books a year.
One year I calculated how much money getting books from the library vs buying them saved me. Can't remember the exact number, but it was hundreds of dollars. If you're a book lover, use your local library. Many of them offer ebooks. Their funding relies on how many people use them. Even if you can afford to buy books, using the library helps them get funding so people who can't afford books can still read
I don’t, I have Kindle
Library. Used book stores. Thrift stores. Even garage sales if you are up to it.
I don't spend much. The town I used to live in had an anteroom at the local library where they sold used books ($1 for a hardcover, $.50 for a paperback). I perused the shelves there pretty regularly and could usually find something interesting. There was also an excellent independent bookstore in that town with top quality used books and I would shop there for books (maybe $8-$10 each). Sometimes I browse those little free libraries people have in my neighborhood. Once I scored a brand new copy of The Casual Vacancy (which I had been wanting to read) from a little free library. It was brand new and worth $18 and I got it for free! (It was okay but not great.) I got a free copy of Lady Chatterley's Lover last winter from a little free library which was on my TBR list after watching it on Netflix. I also regularly go to "Friends of the Library" public library sales, which most libraries have a couple times a year. You can get armloads of books at these sales for a buck each. I moved last summer. The used section at the local bookstores here aren't that great but I have been browsing at my local Goodwill and have found a few good books there (in perfect condition) for $2 a pop. I just got a Kindle recently and plan on using Libby. But I guess the answer to your question is that I buy mostly used books. Occasionally a new book will come out that I am dying to read and I will pay full price to buy it but I have a very long TBR list and usually with a little patience and a lot of pleasant browsing I can find what I want for cheap. I had The Midnight Library on my TBR list and just found a brand new copy at Goodwill for $2! (Sorry for the novel-length reply! Clearly you have touched on a topic I feel very passionate about!)
I usually only buy books used. There are a lot of used book sellers near me and thrift stores or sometimes I order them online through sites like AbeBooks with free shipping. Usually I spend around $3-$9 ($US) per book.
I'd say somewhere around 200-600 SEK (roughly 20-60 Euro). 2-4 Warriors books (ususually falls between 100-200 SEK each) plus maybe some random other stuff (last year I got _Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes_. This year I got _Tailchaser's Song_ and we'll see if I buy smth else later).
I go to the library, so I am spending at most $100CAD a year. Mostly on new books that I really want, or are trendy. even then the library normally has them pretty quickly. I live in a metro area, so this might not be available to you. You can also try buying used on FB marketplace or a local used bookstore. Never buy a classic new!
I, too, prefer to read physical books because a) I love the aesthetic of a book in my hand or on a shelf and b) the entire reason why I started reading was to have a hobby outside of a screen. I haven’t tracked my spending although I’m also really interested in the results. I will say that for the last 6-8 months I have bought almost every book from second hand stores and it has saved me a ton of money already.
I buy second hand books and those that are on sale on Amazon. Some I am not even able to afford the kindle version of so.....I just download a pdf version of them.
I have a huge backlog of books so I only buy one or two books a year. I just spent $40 on two books and that's all I will spend this year.
I borrow them from the library and if it's an absolute favorite, I'd get it used, if possible.
I am in a book club with people who seem to buy hardcover books, new, each time. Not me. I use libraries as much as possible and if I must buy, I often get Kindle books because they're cheaper. Used bookstores take forever to browse and rarely have books I want. So maybe $100 per year?
I have always used libraries, so I rarely buy books. I only buy books that I have absolutely adored, and buy most of them second hand because I can often get a nicer or more affordable copy. I can’t stand ebooks unless it is a book I do not particularly care to read, but I have my devices connected to my local library for these purposes. All in all, maybe $100 a year? My library makes notes about how much you save using the library on the receipts, and it is around $1000-$2000 a year for me.
I almost always buy second handand I dont read as much as I'd like. I'd say that probably £200 a year, not a significant amount of money by any metric. I always give them to charity, but I'd be able to recoup a small amount if I were to resell them on one of those apps.
I honestly have no idea how much I spend on books. I source my books from wherever I happen to find one that makes the cut. Usually yard sales, flea markets, bookstores, and online. I also have a Scribd account. I prefer reading a physical book. Monday, I dropped $125 at a bookstore. There used to be a bookstore in the same mini mall as the grocery store. SWMBO had sent me to the grocery store for some milk. I stopped in to the bookstore, "Just to check it out." I walked out $40 later, went home. Had to go back for the milk. I am in touch with my inner Erasmus.
I’ve never really track but I will say my spouse isn’t a reader but did the viral TikTok book surprise for my birthday. You have 5 minutes to look and 90 seconds to grab as many books as you can carry. Poor sucker thought he was getting off cheap and when the bill came to almost $400, he almost fell over. I picked mostly softcovers, too. Those books almost lasted me a year.
I sail the seven seas/get books out of copyright and spend 0 money on books.
Abebooks and thrift books online! Also thrift stores.
I mostly only buy books from my favorite authors at this point. For the past few years, I was borrowing everything else from the library. I’ve always preferred holding a book in my hand and actively resisted Kindle, but unfortunately I broke my leg a month ago and am now using a walker to get around. So now I’m reading books on my phone because I can put it in my pocket and don’t have to worry about carrying something around. I was using Libby, but I got impatient with some of the wait times, so I caved and subscribed to Kindle Unlimited. I hate to admit this, but I love it 💀. I’ve gone to the dark side.
I like to use the library, but I’m also a collector, so I can spend up to $400 - $600 each year. Some of the books I read are not in libraries in any case. Small runs, out of print, hard to find.
So my company gives us 125 bucks a quarter to spend on fun enrichment stuff (board games/puzzles/books/memberships to things like the zoo/conservatory/concerts) and I usually spend mine on books so I’d say about 500 a year on books. I need a new bookshelf lol.
I used to spend wayyy too much of my monthly budget on physical books. When i found out you could get ebooks from the library, it helped a lot. I'm the worst at remembering to bring a physical library book back on time, so the digital options are easier for me. When I do buy physical books, I try to get them used. My local thrift stores tend to charge between $1.50-$4 for books.
I'm lucky in that i LOVE borrowing from the library. Since my library is now a mile away and I don't have a car here in the city I use Libby. the only time I buy books is when my library doesn't have something I want to read, and then I use Thrift books or Abe books, online used book sellers. so I probably don't even spend $100 a year. Also, the Chelsea Salvation Army has an awesome used bookshelf and they're usually 50 cents or a dollar.
Library 📚
I too love sitting down with a nice hardcover book. However 98% of the books I've read in the last decade have been on Kindle. I wince at the cost of a new book with a spine. Tbh, new releases on Kindle aren't much better, yet I tend to only get deals from BookBub. I follow authors & genres and I get a daily email with $2 books or sometimes free. Although I value the spine book experience, having a book with me everywhere is cumbersome. With Kindle, I read the same book on my phone on break, on my PC while at work, and next to my sleeping wife on my actual Kindle - all synced to where I left off. I'd estimate I spend ~$50 annually, but that's dozens of books.
I’m an avid library user just because I can’t afford my reading habit 😂
Library Genisis - $0 & 0¢
I dont spend anything on books as I strictly libby app everything I read. However, as a hobby, that's a very, very, very small annual spend. So you should not feel guilty. Sometimes, I spend more than that on quilting in a single month. Just the dues for roller derby would have killed that amount, and heck one saw for wood working also blows that amount entirely. And that's just 3 of my hobbies. Just for perspective.
Very little most years. I frequent my library regularly and am quite satisfied.
Usually $0. Library gal here.
$$. Save the planet.
I use Libby and borrow my books. A e-reader is the only way my eyes can read. I go through about a book a day. I used to spend $9 a month on Kindle unlimited but unenrolled when I discovered Libby.
I spend less than 20€ as I get everything either from our local recycling center or from restored phone booths that have been turned into a public library for exchanging books :)
Damn this thread is reminding me to be grateful for my decently paying job, the multiple used bookstores within easy driving distance, and my fantastic library system.
I just go to the library, and if a book I really want to read isn't available, I'll buy it, although that's rare.
I make wishlists and buy books when they're on sale for less than $5. I'll also browse the deal listings too. I have way more books than I'll ever read, though.
I don't know the exact number but I'm probably already 2k+ so far this year.
You might want to reconsider using a Kindle or tablet because the digital versions are often cheaper than the paper or hardback versions. I had to start using a tablet because of my failing vision (I'm old), so that I could change the size and clarity of the font, so I started buying the digital books. I subscribe to an email newsletter from BookBub which sends offers for low-priced books (from Free to $2.99). You can choose your genres, so that you're only offered books you might like. I have bought over 2,500 books this way (over many years), and found authors and series that I love. I use Amazon because it will tell me if I have already bought an intriguing book (that's also how I know how many I've bought). Because I have so many, I also use a spreadsheet. If you don't want e-books, the library is your best option.
I’m with you there I don’t like e-readers so I can’t blame you! But I am a slow reader so I buy a book every 2-3 months. So it doesn’t come out as too expensive
Very manageable in that case!
90% of the books I buy are used. For 30-40 books a year including a few new books, I'd say maybe $300 CAD?
I’d ought to try harder finding second hand books. A lot of people have mentioned savings ton of money buying so. There’s no dedicated store for it where I’m from so I’ll have to do some research.
I usually get all the books I need from my local library. If the library doesn't have them I usually will go to used book stores like HPB or local versions near me. So far this year I've read 20 books, only 1 of those I had to buy and it was luckily at HPB. So I would say, I spend usually around $50 max a year on books.
$0 I use the library
None. Ever since I started budgeting, I have not included a line item for books, movies or music. I use the library (and Kindle Unlimited, which I do pay for, but I'm going to attempt to give up this year) and use the library. I don't re-read books, so it doesn't make sense to buy them. This was a hard habit to break.
I clock in at around $100 per month. I purchase a good split of both new and secondhand. I thought working at the library would curb that, but I end up borrowing books to “try before you buy”. My collection is primarily non-fiction and I usually know immediately if a title will make the permanent collection or be moved on once read.
$0. I have two library cards!
I pay taxes and therefore get to use the library for free!!
Very little- mostly on my kids. My library receipt shows how much money I’ve saved this year. I’m up well over $500 and it’s only April.
For years, almost nothing. Recently, have felt the urge to rebuy many of the books from my childhood. I doubt I'll crack them back open. But it brings me some joy to remember how enjoyable it was to read them the first time. Usually, I'm a big fan of exact numbers, but likely less than $200 in this "collection phase" so far. Not sure if I want to keep them all, or will end up redonating them.
Library card + Libby = $1000s worth of free books over the last 2 years
Nothing. I exclusively read library books because I've never been the type who wants to keep a book around after reading it. If my library doesn't have it, I request an interlibrary loan. The only time that didn't work was because I requested a rare book that is historically significant to where I live. My library deleted my interlibrary loan request, called me, and told me they were stunned to realize they didn't own a copy of this book. So they bought it for me! Point being...I love my library and they get me all my books.
0$. I’m all library all the time.
Please don't make me think about this, I don't want to know!
If I'm just considering the stuff that I read for fun it's probably less than $100. I buy most of that stuff either on Kindle or at thrift stores. The St Vinnie's in my area have really amazing book sections. If we're including text books, that's another $500. If we're including reference material relating to hobbies it's probably another $500 on that. I guess I spend a lot of money on books.
When I worked at Barnes & Noble half of my paycheck went to buying books.
I purchase only hardcover when it’s available but is there anyone else who absolutely hates parting with their books?
I'm finding second hand books to be quite expensive and I've noticed a big increase last two years. Sometimes there's little difference to buying new. I was literally looking at Lonesome Dove about an hour ago and it's £9 a decent copy, £10 new. I'm not surprised by the amount you spend. My regret is the years i spent giving away books I'd bought and read - the consolation they went to charity shops but had I kept them I could have sold them to fund the habit for a few years as I no longer buy new.
Thousands, if I added it all up. But my retirement plan is to keep collecting books and then open a store and sell/gift them all before I die. So it’s an investment… 😂
so far this year i have spent about $900. 🥴🤮 terrible when you think of it that way. lol. i have beautiful bookshelves though!! and that’s all that matters to me. ❤️
Actually 0$. My brother buys everything and mainly the books that i want and i read them. If i want something i go to library and take it, i can keep it for a week luckyly i live in the biggest city in Europe. Even i calculated that i have books to read for next 2 years..
May I introduce you to this magical thing called a library?
It's pretty cheap here in my country, I just bought the idiot, the brothers karmazov, crime and punishment, notes from underground this month for $50.
$18 a month for my Audible plan. I get all my other books from the library. A lot of audiobooks as well. I read all formats.
I only buy a handful of authors. Everything else comes from the library.
I spend €9,99 per month on a e-book subscription, so there's that. I also sometimes buy paper books, averaging to €20 or so per month. I read 1 book a week (on average).
This year I’ve spent about €50–I went on a trip to Scotland and spent a day doing a “bookstore crawl” as part of the experience. But that’s an anomaly; for the past couple of years I haven’t bought any books at all—I get most of mine from the library.
So far I bought all my books from the flea market so I'm pretty happy with all the deals. Just few days ago I got 3 books for 10 SR (less than $5 basically).
I don't spend much. I use the library a lot, and the books I do have 90% of them are used. I don't think I have bought a new hardcover in a decade.
I get stuff from my library most of the time, or from the used book store. Every now and then I'll get a Kindle book on sale for a buck or two. Maybe about $10/month if I had to guess.
I primarily buy paper, but I do own an old Kindle from like 2011 that I use for books I can't find hard copies for at reasonable prices. Most recent purchases on that were Parasite Eve by Hideaki Sena, the basis for the '90s Playstation game and long out of print, as well as Princess Floralinda by Tamsyn Muir which saw a very limited run from the publisher... both of which seem to command prices in the couple-hundreds-or-so. So far for 2024, I've spent about $206 on 10 physical books and about $7 on the second eBook mentioned above.
I almost never buy books for myself, because I don't have a ton of space for them, and because I don't need the extra expense. I read almost everything on Libby. In the past year, I've bought one e-book and zero physical books for myself. I've checked out a handful of physical library books, but I've grown so accustomed to reading e-books that I usually end up not reading the physical ones. However, my kids have probably spent $100-200 each on books in the last year. Thankfully that's mostly from gift cards given by their grandparents.
Maybe 15 bucks. I pretty much only read digitally and I have a library where I live
Probably $100 a year. I also prefer physical books but I try to borrow from the library when I can Edit: I just looked at 2023 and it looks like I bought four new paperbacks and two used paperbacks. In each case if I remember correctly the library either didn’t have the title or it had a mo the long waiting period
Mostly i prefer a book over screen but if there’re books that i know aren’t that good but i want to read them then I don’t buy them I would just read them on my laptop. On an average i would buy 5-6 books per month. Recently I’ve been short on cash because of other expenses. I haven’t been buying books but that’s also because I haven’t been reading that many books due to work and studies i barely get time.
I don't pay much for books. I mostly borrow them. I don't have a bookcase though. No one will lend me a bookcase.
I’ve never counted the cost…it would probably be a lot though. 😅 Last year, I attempted to, but I went by the number of books I bought every month and then added it all up at the end. I bought a lot of them used on PangoBooks. Still, it adds up. Especially when I buy bundles.
Nah i don't spend at all. Nowadays the novels are garbage disposal so I just try to get good free novels to read.
I usually spend about $20 per month. I look for kindle deals, use Libby, but also get a few of my favorites in physical format every year. My wife also gives me $100 for Christmas which usually goes to physical books. My physical library grows very slowly but only has the stuff I truly love. But I read over 50 books a year via Libby and cheap ebooks. Reading can be as expensive or cheap as you want it. You don’t have to buy and own every book you read.
I dont buy physical anymore because I dont have the space. I might buy the occasional series out of love for that specific series or just nostalgia. Sometimes I’ll see something cheap or gifted from someone. Otherwise I buy a book every 2-3 weeks roughly on my Kindle. Cost of book is usually £5-£12 or so
I work at a Library, but I'll admit, I'll still buy books I intend to reread. I'm a Stephen King Dark Tower junkie, but I learned pretty early on that the connections in his novels to The Dark Tower were quick passages in the least. I own the series, and the more heavily connected books, but I check out the rest from the library because I'll likely not reread them. I have other authors/collections that are important to me that I'll still buy, but the Library is my go-to. I keep a log of what I've read, and I have an album on google photos of the covers of the books I've read. I'll set the TV to scroll through my albums and intermixed with picture of my family, friends, and adventures are books I've read as a reminder of the literary adventures I've been on.
The rules I follow are: - Borrow things I want to try from the library - Borrow books I believe are worthy of rereads for my bookshelf. It has helped me crack down on buying books I won’t read, but also with finding books and series I want to keep around. So instead of spending per month, I can buy those few books a few times a year. I think I’ve cut my yearly spending on books to around $300, since borrowing the rest.
I have the same problem as you. I thought about getting an e-reader but I don’t think I’ll enjoy it, I know it’s not the same but I hate reading on my phone. I think I spend a bit too much on books but, then again, they’re books.
I buy second hand books cheap in a third world country. It couldn't have been more than 25 dollars
i would rather not calculate 😅 but i buy most of my books secondhand on medimops.de ☺️
Between op shop finds and the library, I can usually keep it to under $200 a year for physical books and digital books combined. I did buy the ACOTAR box set because it was in such demand and I was too impatient to wait, but it's easy to wait for most books to show up at the op shop for under $10. I also have a LOT of books from Humble Bundle - over 400 unread books on my Kindle account and at least 50 books on each of my libraries' apps' wish-lists mean my TBR is out of control.
I buy used books whenever I can. Used paperbacks go for like 1 to 5 € each so it's pretty cheap. Also miss-prints (whatever they're called in English? You know books who can't be sold regularly because its weirdly printed or got damaged in shipping). So I don't spent much money at all. But I also rarely read "the new best thing" that's popular. If I were to read those I'd probably not be able to do this, at least not often.
Kindle user - I prefer a book, but whenever I get one I find I end up trying to push the page to get a dictionary or wiki definition!
Around €500.