A few weeks ago, I had imposed a book buying ban on myself. I found I had way too many books on my kindle that I had not read yet. Bestsellers too, that I really wanted to get to a long time ago. Unfortunately, I have found that my inner-rebellious teenager has come out to play. I don’t like rules, and if someone tells me I can’t do something, I will do what I want, dammit. I have absolutely zero self control. Even with self-imposed restrictions. I started out with only one exception. That was if I had it pre-ordered it before the ban, then it was forgivable.
My first screw up was the virtual signing of The King by J.R. Ward. How are you supposed to give up one of those. Those books go fast and who knows if they will come back up again. No, I could not pass that up.
I was very disappointed with myself. But still when Crave the Night by Lara Adrian came up for virtual signing. That disappointment could not stop me. It happened again.
So, to justify my purchases, I wrote in a new “exception” to my book buying ban to include virtual signings. They are time sensitive so deserve to be an exception, right? Then another temptation reared it’s ugly head. Audible.com put on a first in series audio book sale. You could get the first in a series for $4.95. For an audio book, without using my credits, I could get a few of the books that had been on my TBR for some time. I resisted for quite some time, then I couldn’t do it anymore. I had them sitting in my cart, so all I had to do was hit buy. Then it hit. Buyer’s remorse. I really had no excuse for this one. Yes, it was a sale, but I could have used credits for these when it was time to read them, or even waited for another sale. Nope, no excuse. Here are the little nuggets I couldn’t resist:
Now, my birthday has arrived. This means gift cards! I had my big 4-0 party last Saturday night, which resulted in these little gems that give me the go ahead to splurge on those books I was dying to get. I was lucky and received a B&N card at the same time B&N were holding a 20% off sale. I used it to buy paperbacks of books I am going to want to get signed at RT, and I am trying to fill my bookshelves with books that I love even if I have already read them. Yes, I buy books I have already read. I’m a collector. This time I picked up:
So… new rules and we need to get back on track. First, virtual signings and pre-orders are still ok. I need to save my gift cards until I have read at least 4 books on my kindle. Two of those have GOT to be review books. Then I can purchase with my gift cards. Also, those pre-orders that I do download, cannot be a part of the 4 books I have to read. Reading them will have to wait until I’ve completed the 4 on my TBR. This portion of the ban will be in effect until March 31, 2014. At which time, this will be re-evaluated before the ban gets lifted. I think this goal will be doable.
Do you set goals and limits on your book buying? How do you keep track? Do you fall off the wagon occasionally?
