Felicia over at Geeky Bloggers Book Blog is doing a monthly Book Budget post where she lays out her book buying rules and goals and holds herself accountable to them by showing us how she's done for the month. You can see her posts to see what I'm talking about in detail.
It's a brilliant idea and I since I'm trying to cut back on my spending in 2013 and work on reading the books I already have on my Nook and bookshelf; I decided to do my own post using Felicia's as my go-by with a few tweaks in the rules that better suit my book budgetting needs.
The RULES
- I can purchase ebooks (Nook) if they are less than $5.
- I can use my audible credits (started with 10 credits leftover from my 12 credit renewal in Oct/2012). Of purchase audios that are on sale through the $4.95 sales. My goal is to save my credits for 2013 releases of series I've already started.
- I will buy more used books to save money.
- RAK - I've joined Random Acts of Kindess again and I will allow 1 book a month purchase for the program.
- I will use my library's ebook and audiobooks through their Overdrive program in order to save as much money as I can throughout the year.
- I will take advantage of free ebooks through B&N (Nook) or other sites like All Romance eBooks that offer limited time free downloads.
- I will only request books from Netgalley/Edelweiss that I truly WANT to read in hopes that I don't have tons of expired galleys that I don't read because I ran out of time before I could read them. The same goes for paper ARCs that I request.
- I will continue to swap books with my friend Angela. We have saved each other tons of money by getting together monthly or every other monthly to swap books.
- I will trade in my paperbacks for "new" reads through my local used book stores.
- RAK - Will luck I will receive 1 free book through the program a month or every other month.
*I can use my Discover a New Love credit every month. Felicia has this one on her list and after researching the site I may join at a later time but right now I just signed up for their newsletter to keep tabs on what ebooks they offer at a low price.
I will keep track of total dollars spent on all book related activities: personal books, conventions, RAK, gifts, blog giveaways.
March 2013 Book Budget Totals
Book Purchased (2):
Grave Secret by Sierra Dean $3.85
Lover at Last by J.R. Ward $14.99
Goal $0
Spent $18.84
Books Gifted (3):
RAK:
Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane $7.99
Tempest's Fury by Nicole Peeler $7.99
Goal $10
Tempest's Fury by Nicole Peeler $7.99
Goal $10
Spent $15.98
Birthday Gift:
Hunted by the Others by Jess Haines $4.59
Birthday Gift:
Hunted by the Others by Jess Haines $4.59
Goal $0
Spent $4.59
Audiobook Credits (1) used: AudibleListener Gold Annual – 12 credits all at once:
Deadly Sting by Jennifer Estep
Started with 5 credits
Ended with 4 credits
Audiobook Purchased (5):
Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh $6.95
Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh $6.95
Archangel's Consort by Nalini Singh $6.95
Archangel's Blade by Nalini Singh $6.95
Archangel's Storm by Nalini Singh $6.95
Goal $0
Spent $34.75
FREE Nook Books (1):
Once Bitten by Trina M. Lee
Books Won (0)
Books for Review (Physical, Edelweiss, NetGalley) (10):
Big Bad Bite by Jessie Lane
Wicked as She Wants by Delilah S. Dawson (NG)
The Sweetest Torture by Amanda Bonilla
The Sweetest Temptation by Amanda Bonilla
The Sweetest Mercy by Amanda Bonilla
A Kiss of Blood by Pamela Plamer (Edelweiss)
Death Takes a Holiday by Jennifer Harlow (NG)
Trying to Score by Toni Aleo (NG)
Takings Shots by Toni Aleo (NG)
Scaredy Squrriel Goes Camping (NG)
Library Audios/eBooks (0)
GRAND TOTAL FOR MARCH $74.16
GOAL WAS $10 (for RAK)
I busted my budget for March by $64.76
BUT 3 books were Birthday gifts to others....
I busted my budget for March by $64.76
BUT 3 books were Birthday gifts to others....
My spending goal for April is $10* or less
I'm going to RT the 1st week in May so I'm saving money.
*I will be spending money on one book for the Roast giveway.
Come back to see if I stuck to my goal.
The first month is the hardest (it was for me) mostly cause I have had to tweak to allow for book club purchases. Budgets are hard but I think it makes me take a look at what I really want as opposed to just might look good. Maybe if I ever get my TBR under 500 (it is at 1500 so that probably won't happen) I will loosen up a bit LOL
ReplyDeleteI'd be too scared to post a book budget and my actual spending. I have a feeling that the two would not match at all and I'd be forced to hang my head in shame. LOL I'd rather do that privately...
ReplyDeleteI posting in hopes it will shame me and help me spend less. LOL
DeleteOMG, this is a wonderful idea that may help me a bit with my book spending. Mind if I steal it? I'll make sure to provide a notation of where it came from...
ReplyDeleteGirlie, you should be ashamed!! LOL! I buy more books and shit for giveaways than anything else and THAT I need to stop!! I'm also also afraid to do this but I may do it one month just to see.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I'm backing off of doing blog hops like I did in the past. They get expensive. I want peeps to read my blog because they enjoy what I have to say about the book world. Not because I do a giveaway every week.
DeleteI could never stick to a $10 limit a month. It's just crazy talk. I try and use the library as much as possible. I wish you much luck with your goal.
ReplyDelete