Restraining oneself

DMB · 08-04-2010, 01:38 AM

As a newbie, I have to ask this question:

So you get your shiny new device. How do you stop yourself from going nuts and buying far too many ebooks?

shanghaichica · 08-04-2010, 01:47 AM

For some reason I've never felt guilty about spending a lot of money on books. Sometimes I've bought about 10 books at one time and maybe only read 3, but I always have it in my mind that I will read them one day. I used to get a rush from going into a book store and coming out with a few bags of books. Now that's transfered to ebooks in my shopping cart and now I don't even have to think about where I'm going to put them.

banjobama · 08-04-2010, 01:57 AM

Um, I have no idea. I buy way more books now than I used to, probably because many of them are inexpensive books from Smashwords. My list to read is now over a hundred books long so I made a solemn vow to myself to not buy any more ebooks this summer and as long into the fall as I can stand it.

Sweetpea · 08-04-2010, 02:01 AM

I don't. When I see a book that I (think I) like, and I agree with the price, and I know I'll be able to liberate it (if needed), I'll buy it. No remorse.

If I think the price is a bit steep, or I think I might not be able to liberate it, I'll think twice. If it's a book I really want, I'll still buy it without remorse. Otherwise, I won't.

thinkpad · 08-04-2010, 02:14 AM

That's what TBR-lists (to be read) are good for. I usually hold of buying books until I get the time to start reading them. Needless to say my Amazon wish list is growing by the day.

Justy · 08-04-2010, 02:15 AM

I don't worry too much about how many eBooks I buy. Most of the ones I get are less expensive than a paperback at my local bookstore, or free, and I read enough that as long as I live to be about 150 I'll read them all eventually.

recluse · 08-04-2010, 02:19 AM

There is no such thing as too many books.
Time is the only enemy of a true lover of books.

dreams · 08-04-2010, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMB

As a newbie, I have to ask this question:

So you get your shiny new device. How do you stop yourself from going nuts and buying far too many ebooks?

My problem, just after I was given my Reader, was that I would go crazy downloading all the freebies. Then, I wanted to purchase books from every new author who came on MR.

My TBR list became very large (not to mention all the pbooks from family). Due to this, I became much more selective and now only purchase or download if I really find it interesting (and have checked a sample of their writing first).

I'm willing to give self-published authors a try if the price is under $4. I have to really think about it (an usually don't) if the price is higher. My favorite place to purchase is smashwords.

I will quickly purchase other books by an author I liked or if someone on MR (that has the same taste as me or I respect their opinion) recommends it.

estrial · 08-04-2010, 03:48 AM

being linked to amazon with the kindle, I tend to always "try" the book first. If I cant get into the trail bit, I wont purchase the book. Even though, most of the time im sucked into buying books because of the pretty covers

idraw22 · 08-04-2010, 04:01 AM

I'm no big shopaholic, I read the synopsis, and if it interests me, I read it. With my short attention span it has to do a pretty good job, lol. I don't go that crazy tho. I pick up stuff by reading a sample or cos I get a urge to read something like that. I guess that's why I don't have that many compared to others here.

DMB · 08-04-2010, 04:01 AM

My problem is that I am aged 70 and don't expect to live even to 90. I already have a four-year backlog of paper-based books sitting around waiting to be read. I tend to buy books on reviews or other recommendations that I read or because I am familiar with the author. But that still adds up to a hell of a lot of books.

I want an ebook-reader so that I can stop cluttering up living space with all these bloody books.

Juliette · 08-04-2010, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMB

As a newbie, I have to ask this question:

So you get your shiny new device. How do you stop yourself from going nuts and buying far too many ebooks?

Practical answer: debit card instead of credit card. You can keep the balance under surveillance way better. Or gift cards, depending on their availability where you live.

Maniac answer: too many books? Just think about all the shelves and the dusting and the keeping in order you'll save yourself from (and decent shelves for heavy books do cost a bit). You already have your HD if you have a computer, haven't you? There

plus with long books (>500) you won't risk wrist strain. You already have saved quite a bit

FlorenceArt · 08-04-2010, 04:08 AM

I think most people start by going nuts on free books. That's what I did, then I got tired of the mediocre quality of many of them. I don't believe I have changed my buying habits, or rather, I now may buy less than before, because I still read a lot of free books, I just don't read any free book I can get my hands on. And for pbooks I tend to use my local library more, so that I don't get weighed down with another paper brick

A long time before I even new about ebooks, I discovered that if I bought too many books at a time, there was a bigger chance I would never read some of them. So I never buy more than 2-3 books at the same time, whether paper or electronic. And with ebooks, I don't even need to buy them in advance, since I can get online and buy or get a new book any time I feel like it.

So, bottom line is, I read more but I think I buy less than I used to.

Lyndl · 08-04-2010, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMB

As a newbie, I have to ask this question:

So you get your shiny new device. How do you stop yourself from going nuts and buying far too many ebooks?

I went mad downloading as many freebies as I could find. Then I started on the Indie authors that I found here and other places. Now that I have about 50 books loaded and waiting TBR I can be a little more selective. All up, I've spent about $40 in 7 months.

m-reader · 08-04-2010, 04:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thinkpadx

That's what TBR-lists (to be read) are good for. I usually hold of buying books until I get the time to start reading them. Needless to say my Amazon wish list is growing by the day.

I use this approach as well. I also (try to) stick to the "one book at the time" rule. If I find a book I like, I stick it to my list.
No buying new books until the current one is finished. There's no need to hoard.
After all we are talking e-books here - it's not like they will run out of stock

Works reasonably well most of the times.

08-04-2010, 01:38 AM	#1
DMB Old Git Posts: 958 Karma: 1840790 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Switzerland (mostly) Device: Two kindle PWs wifi, kindle fire, iPad3 wifi	Restraining oneself As a newbie, I have to ask this question: So you get your shiny new device. How do you stop yourself from going nuts and buying far too many ebooks?

08-04-2010, 01:47 AM	#2
shanghaichica Guru Posts: 991 Karma: 5782970 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Scribe,Kindle Oasis 3, iPad Pro 11,15 Pro Max,iPad mini 7,colorsoft	For some reason I've never felt guilty about spending a lot of money on books. Sometimes I've bought about 10 books at one time and maybe only read 3, but I always have it in my mind that I will read them one day. I used to get a rush from going into a book store and coming out with a few bags of books. Now that's transfered to ebooks in my shopping cart and now I don't even have to think about where I'm going to put them.

08-04-2010, 01:57 AM	#3
banjobama Busy Read'n Posts: 980 Karma: 5039283 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Auburn, WA Device: Pocketbook Touch Lux 5	Um, I have no idea. I buy way more books now than I used to, probably because many of them are inexpensive books from Smashwords. My list to read is now over a hundred books long so I made a solemn vow to myself to not buy any more ebooks this summer and as long into the fall as I can stand it.

08-04-2010, 02:01 AM	#4
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	I don't. When I see a book that I (think I) like, and I agree with the price, and I know I'll be able to liberate it (if needed), I'll buy it. No remorse. If I think the price is a bit steep, or I think I might not be able to liberate it, I'll think twice. If it's a book I really want, I'll still buy it without remorse. Otherwise, I won't.

08-04-2010, 02:14 AM	#5
thinkpad David Posts: 1,808 Karma: 8916183 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Norway Device: Kindle, E.Edge (sold), Irex Iliad (retired)	That's what TBR-lists (to be read) are good for. I usually hold of buying books until I get the time to start reading them. Needless to say my Amazon wish list is growing by the day.

08-04-2010, 02:15 AM	#6
Justy Fanatic Posts: 547 Karma: 27509 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Greater Vancouver Area, BC, Canada Device: Nexus 7, Sony Xperia z3 tablet, Kobo Glo, Boyue T63	I don't worry too much about how many eBooks I buy. Most of the ones I get are less expensive than a paperback at my local bookstore, or free, and I read enough that as long as I live to be about 150 I'll read them all eventually.

08-04-2010, 02:19 AM	#7
recluse Banned Posts: 3,724 Karma: 535488 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: the Mortuary Device: Kindle 2	There is no such thing as too many books. Time is the only enemy of a true lover of books.

08-04-2010, 03:48 AM	#9
estrial small is good Posts: 95 Karma: 100 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kindle 3, Samsung Galaxy S	being linked to amazon with the kindle, I tend to always "try" the book first. If I cant get into the trail bit, I wont purchase the book. Even though, most of the time im sucked into buying books because of the pretty covers

08-04-2010, 04:01 AM	#10
idraw22 Zealot Posts: 115 Karma: 1094380 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: arkansas Device: Jetbook Lite, Kindle 3, jetbook mini, sony clie, sony prs-T1	I'm no big shopaholic, I read the synopsis, and if it interests me, I read it. With my short attention span it has to do a pretty good job, lol. I don't go that crazy tho. I pick up stuff by reading a sample or cos I get a urge to read something like that. I guess that's why I don't have that many compared to others here.

08-04-2010, 04:08 AM	#13
FlorenceArt High Priestess Posts: 5,761 Karma: 5042529 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreuil sous bois, France Device: iPad Pro 9.7, iPhone 6 Plus	I think most people start by going nuts on free books. That's what I did, then I got tired of the mediocre quality of many of them. I don't believe I have changed my buying habits, or rather, I now may buy less than before, because I still read a lot of free books, I just don't read any free book I can get my hands on. And for pbooks I tend to use my local library more, so that I don't get weighed down with another paper brick A long time before I even new about ebooks, I discovered that if I bought too many books at a time, there was a bigger chance I would never read some of them. So I never buy more than 2-3 books at the same time, whether paper or electronic. And with ebooks, I don't even need to buy them in advance, since I can get online and buy or get a new book any time I feel like it. So, bottom line is, I read more but I think I buy less than I used to.

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