Ebook Buying Addicts' Support Thread

[issybird]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

In this thread, is that any different from posting regarding commercial freebies?

There's a difference between posting a link to a specific deal, commercial or otherwise, and making a general comment about a resource that a poster finds helpful in cutting down on spending. We all deal with our addiction in different ways. I'd agree that once a post tends to facilitate more acquisitions by others it's contrary to the spirit of the thread.

Just as there's a difference between posting, "I slipped up and bought the Kindle Daily Deal today," which is fine, and adding a link, which is not, I'd hope that a reference to the MR Library wouldn't encourage stockpiling, which most of us seem to want to avoid in addition to spending money. That's in part because some would consider it an addition to their TBRs and in part because it feeds that acquisitive urge which most of us are trying to contain.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by issybird

I'd hope that a reference to the MR Library wouldn't encourage stockpiling, which most of us seem to want to avoid in addition to spending money.

I see it as a resource allowing one to avoid stockpiling, because it's not a "limited time" resource and is very unlikely to go away.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I see it as a resource allowing one to avoid stockpiling, because it's not a "limited time" resource and is very unlikely to go away.

Agreed, which is why I said I hoped it wouldn't encourage stockpiling, for just that reason. It's a very different case from commercial freebies, where if you like that sort of thing you need to get it while you can, which does lead to stockpiling and all the related issues we've mentioned in this thread before.

On a personal note, I've come to confess. After this morning's indiscretion, I've now spent 40% more so far this year than I spent in all of 2017!

The bulk of it was on four books which have been on my wishlist forever without budging in price and deals came along which let me shave a bit off and I figured they'd never get cheaper. But... And my TBR is up slightly, too, after having been in a downward trajectory for the past two years.

If I read the books this year, I'll forgive myself.

[ekbell]

Some of us do end up stockpiling books from Public Domain sites such as mobileread although I have for the most part refrained from picking up books that I *know* I'll never want to read.

That still leaves more books then I'm likely to read.

[Tarana]

It's all difficult. Resisting a .99 cent audiobook of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations which I may eventually read but then adds to my TBR that will already take 8 years. All the new Mystery&Crime showing up in the MR library. I keep reminding myself that I have 20 years left (not expiring like a coupon, but realistically, I won't live forever).

Currently downsizing and it's really painful to get rid of so much stuff, but in the end, I will be grateful when I eventually move into an apartment in 10 years. I try to use this to remind me not to BUY more audiobooks and ebooks and it helps a bit. Even though they don't take up space, they do cost money and sitting there unread is rather wasteful.

[Tarana]

I'm so pathetically weak. The stupid sale had a bunch of Terry Pratchett audiobooks on sale. Combined with those 4 free audiobooks, I am knee deep in Diskworld. These are things that I will relisten to again and again, but I'm still kindof mad at myself.

[pdurrant]

They sound to me like justified purchases of a favourite series at a good discount.

That kind of offer is why we try to be so careful the rest of the time.


I'm doing badly this month, but it's almost entirely the fault of an excellent bargain on some back issues of an SF magazine. It also doesn't help that I'm doing a lot of overtime at the moment, and will be to the end of March. It's certainly cut into my reading time.

[PurpleStar]

I bought like 3 books this month but not doing too bad! One of them was the daily deal and I had the first 3 in the series and it was only 89 cents so why not?! I should start that series!

[Fbone]

I made an unexpected purchase this month. One of my must read author's latest book was a daily deal for $2.99 down from $13.99. It was published in December 2018, a quick reduction.

[PurpleStar]

I bought a whole lot of books last month. Eeeeek and already 9 books this month but I can’t pass up those 99 cent star trek book sales. lol

[pdurrant]

These all sound like good purchases. It's to be able to make these purchases that we should avoid buying random books that merely sound good and are on offer.

[PurpleStar]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

These all sound like good purchases. It's to be able to make these purchases that we should avoid buying random books that merely sound good and are on offer.

Yeah I already have enough of those. Though I found a few authors I like from those offers! But you can never have too many Star Trek books.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by PurpleStar

Yeah I already have enough of those. Though I found a few authors I like from those offers! But you can never have too many Star Trek books.

Well, one more than I've got would be too many for me, but I'll stay strong!

[Fbone]

Another purchase this year. This time it was a 99c daily deal (prev $4.99) on a wish list book from an unknown author. I'm not happy about this buy. It's not about the money but it is about my goal of lowering my TBR-purchased pile of books. It's going in the wrong direction!

[pdurrant]

Four days into April and four books bought. I'm not doing too well this month.