Ebook Buying Addicts' Support Thread

[Tarana]

Originally Posted by DrNefario

I was mostly kidding. I am totally fine with buying a full-price book to read immediately if I think the full price is reasonable. I think it's probably better than buying bargains that sit unread for years, and if I could change all my buying to what I want to read next, I'd be a lot better off.

I have started the third book, and I didn't buy it until I was ready to start it, as with the previous two.

I keep telling myself that, and then another on my wishlist disappears from availability. I just have to keep reminding myself that if I read/listened 8 hours a day, I already have 4-5 years of material. Darn those series!

[Tarana]

Originally Posted by DrNefario

I was mostly kidding. I am totally fine with buying a full-price book to read immediately if I think the full price is reasonable. I think it's probably better than buying bargains that sit unread for years, and if I could change all my buying to what I want to read next, I'd be a lot better off.

I have started the third book, and I didn't buy it until I was ready to start it, as with the previous two.

That is what I used to do when I had paperbooks. Didn't matter if it was on sale or not, just bought the next book after some fill in at the library. What changed for me, I think, was the loss of vision forcing me to abandon paper. You SEE all those books, so you know you've acquired more than you can read. In addition, the library carried almost nothing in my genres in ebook or audiobook, furthering me along the path.

[PurpleStar]

Uh-oh. I got two Chapters gift cards for Christmas. Well, I'll at least wait until boxing day tomorrow!

[pdurrant]

I found this old post, and thought I'd see how the situation had changed over the year:

2019: N/A -> 56
2018: 100 -> 86
2017: 57 -> 54
2016: 140 -> 114
2015: 183 -> 177
2014: 120 -> 116
2013: 103 -> 96
2012: 43 -> 41
2011: 42 -> 39
2010: 74 -> 73
2009: 56 -> 55
2008: 95 -> 91

I think I must try to read more of my backlist.

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I now have unread books acquired over the past eleven years (bought or free)

2018: 100
2017: 57
2016: 140
2015: 183
2014: 120
2013: 103
2012: 43
2011: 42
2010: 74
2009: 56
2008: 95

No obvious pattern. But perhaps I've been doing a little better in 2017 and 2018 than in earlier years.

I'm certainly going to try to keep acquired but unread books to a minimum in 2019.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I found this old post, and thought I'd see how the situation had changed over the year:

2019: N/A -> 56
2018: 100 -> 86
2017: 57 -> 54
2016: 140 -> 114
2015: 183 -> 177
2014: 120 -> 116
2013: 103 -> 96
2012: 43 -> 41
2011: 42 -> 39
2010: 74 -> 73
2009: 56 -> 55
2008: 95 -> 91

I think I must try to read more of my backlist.

I think what it really says is that you should buy books only when you're going to read them right away. It seems obvious that old buys have little lustre. I regret to say that it's a truth I have recognized for a long time but have yet to internalize entirely.

[CRussel]

Since the 1st of October, I have managed to keep my eBook buying under control, primarily by judicious use of my libraries, and a bit of Kindle Unlimited (on sale!). I've only bought 3 books, for a total of $17 -- two for the New Leaf Book Club, and one a favourite author that I read immediately. My goal for the new year is to keep this momentum going, even though I will be dropping the KU when the trial period is over.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by Fbone

I haven't purchased anything in the last two months so my yearly total is still 3 books at $6.97 all in. That sounds good but it's tempered by the fact that I still have 16 unread purchases from 2014-2019. I read only 3 books since Sept 1st and they were library books.

I wish I had more time to read <sigh>.

My yearly purchases for 2019 remains at 3 titles totaling $6.97. I read two of them. Good job there.

However, I still have 14 unread purchases going back to 2014 a few I probably won't ever read.

So, for 2020, two things will most likely happen. 1) I will ignore my purchased titles and borrow library books. 2) I will buy then immediately read what interests me at that moment.

[issybird]

I got off to a disastrous start this year with a mini-spree in January and February, which essentially blew out my stats for 2019. I pulled myself together after that and in subsequent months bought from zero to four books, but my poor beginning was disheartening. I'm ending up the year with my TBR down 20 books. And very few were bought this year.

I've resolved to do much better in 2020; I suspect I won't match 2017 in which I bought only 22 books, but at least I know it can be done.

[HLS]

I have been buying considerably less than normal and I am better at waiting for a book to go on sale rather than paying full price. Also, I got better at buying books I actually want rather than being "sale stimulated" and i try to find library books but I still feel overwhelmed at the sheer number of ebooks I own I have around 637 on Nook alone 60 to 80 on Nook and probably at least 100 ( not sure ) on kobo. I have enough books to keep me busy for the next 18 years.

[PurpleStar]

Spent all my gift cards and now really have to stop. Something has to give! lol

[wandalynn]

Ending the year with 161 owned but unread ebooks and paperbooks. I began with 165, deleted 2 freebies and 2 duplicates, acquired 18 newbies, and read 18 of that total.

Overall, I read 82 books of which 40 were borrowed from the library/amazon prime, 18 were books I owned, 13 were audiobooks either owned or borrowed, and 11 were advance reading copies.

LibraryThing ROOT (Read Our Own Tomes) was a big help in reminding me to reach for a book I already own when I’m ready to start a new one and this check-in helps me curb that urge to buy more. (Although I would have ended up with much better numbers if it hadn’t been for all the sales around the holidays.)

Still nothing to brag about but I feel I’m closer to my goal of only buying books I’m likely to read.

01/31 - 162
02/29 - 163
04/01 - 164
05/01 - 169
06/01 - 173
07/01 - 176
08/01 - 180
08/16 - deleted one Kobo title
08/31 - 178
09/12 - found three uncounted books
10/01 - 181
11/01 - 179
11/20 - found three uncounted books
11/30 - 180
12/31 - 185

[DrNefario]

I lost control of my TBR a bit this year, ending up with over 40 more books, but I'm not too unhappy with the purchases. It was the freebies that did me in but, then, I don't care if I read those or not. I'm basing next year's goal on the number of purchases rather than the total TBR change.

I'm also planning to have a borrowed-books-only month at some point.

I mean, ultimately, there's not a lot of money involved at all.

[issybird]

Please don't post deals in this thread, whose purpose is to help members resist temptation, not succumb. That's what the Deals forum is for. Two posts have been deleted.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by issybird

Please don't post deals in this thread, whose purpose is to help members resist temptation, not succumb. That's what the Deals forum is for. Two posts have been deleted.

Resist temptation? I thought the thread was for confessing your failings, kind of like confessing your sins to your priest.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

Resist temptation? I thought the thread was for confessing your failings, kind of like confessing your sins to your priest.

The priest doesn't need to hear all the raunchy details!