Four months after first posting my original book buying restrictions onto my blog I’m ready to revise them. But not for the better, for the worse: I’m getting stricter on myself. I’m running out of space and there are books on my tbr pile I want to read, but can’t because they’re new series.
(That’s a reading rule I’ve placed on myself to stop from wanting to buy more books. I’ve hidden away the new series I’ve yet to start unless I own all of them)
Without further ado here are my rules (with additions in red):
1. Must only buy within a series I’m reading or own.
No exceptions for standalones; I actually own a ton more standalones than I thought I did. I also can’t purchase a new series just because I’ve seen it on Instagram and/or Goodreads and it looks amazing. If I want to remember it I can add the series to my “want to read” shelf on Goodreads. If I can’t watch the movie before reading the book, I will either get over it or simply not watch it.
2. It must be in the cover, edition, size and/or artwork to match the rest of the owned series.
Obviously this can’t always happen (Stravaganza by Mary Hoffman) but if possible this restriction is to be followed. I know I will regret it later on for the impulse buy which will not match.
3. One book only can be bought once a month.
Unless I am attending a book fair or on holidays or there is a significant sale, and then only a maximum of three books are to be bought and none others for the month. This will hopefully reduce the amount bought per year and of course month.
The books bought at special events mentioned above must adhere to the series & cover rules in 1 and 2. One standalone may be purchased if I cannot find anything else and I really want to purchase at a special event.
A significant sale is defined as a book under $5.00, for free or trades.
Hopefully with these updated rules I will further curb my buying addiction. It is getting better. I can walk into a bookstore and not purchase anything with ease, but it’s book fairs that get me now (the seven book photo was from a fair). I need to be stricter with myself, even though they may be a good deal it’s getting beyond that now. There’ll be good deals available in the future no matter what.
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