(I now blog weekly on frugal living, personal finance & earlier retirement at:
retiredtowin.com)
retiredtowin.com)
I am very focused on being frugal in everything I do and with everything I buy. I always do a mental check on whether I really need something before I buy it. Whether I already have something I can use to fulfill the purpose. Or whether I can fix something I have instead of buying a replacement.
But not where my books are concerned.
I could simply borrow books at the library. But I don't just love reading books*. I love collecting them. I really feel good being surrounded by books in a cozy library room. Books are my good friends.
So I make a big frugality exception where my books are concerned. I spend my discretionary money** to buy them (even though I've kept the average cost per book to around $5). I spend money on custom-built bookcases to display them. And, most expensive of all, I've spent money on having an entire room in my home dedicated as a library to house my book collection.
Since 2006, I've read 225 books. I still have them all. AND I have another 200 or so waiting their turn to be read.
My books are my big break with frugality. I've spent over $2000 on the books, more than $1000 on their bookcases, and dedicated a $15,000 room to them. It's all gone to satisfy a want, not a need***. But the satisfaction I get from my books is priceless!
# # #
* Time Traveling With History Books:
http://retired-to-win.savingadvice.com/2014/04/03/time-trave...
** A Discretionary Fund, Not a Discretionary Budget:
http://retired-to-win.savingadvice.com/2014/03/29/a-discreti...
*** My Financial Independence Key:
http://retired-to-win.savingadvice.com/2013/12/17/my-financi...
April 25th, 2014 at 07:27 pm 1398454066
Do only only buy new books? With your interests, I'd think some books you want are only available second hand.
April 25th, 2014 at 07:35 pm 1398454552
April 25th, 2014 at 07:53 pm 1398455584
April 25th, 2014 at 10:23 pm 1398464637
"If you think you'll need to get more bookshelves, look on Craigslist in the nearest city. Mine has been overrun with bookshelves of good quality. (I think a lot of people are transitioning to e-books almost exclusively.)
Do only only buy new books? With your interests, I'd think some books you want are only available second hand."
I get my bookshelves built-in, so it is an on-site custom carpentry deal.
I buy plenty of used books at flea markets, thrift stores, etc. I also order lots of discounted price books off catalogs. I am always on the lookout for a worthy (and low cost) addition to my collection
April 25th, 2014 at 10:25 pm 1398464746
"I wouldn't consider this a frugality exception. The whole point of being frugal is to spend less in one area so that you can spend more on something that's important to you. Since books are important to you, you are just spending less in other areas so that you can afford to spend money on books."
That is a very logical, sane and healthy way of looking at it.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:27 pm 1398464852
"Mr. and Mrs. JOHN Q. WIN AND MR. AND MRS. TOM D. HISBOOKS CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO THE WEDDING CELEBRATION..."
Mooshocker, what are you drinking over there?