I had a friend once who needed to save some ’spending money’ for a holiday she was planning. She decided to give up buying all those glossy monthly magazines she loved.
So after opening an account at the library, she then opened an account at a different bank to the one she normally used.
When the library received it’s copies of those same magazines she’d borrow them, then magazine in hand go into the bank and deposit the cost price into the savings account.
She said it was a win – win situation for her. She didn’t miss out on something she enjoyed and little by little (by paying herself the price of the magazine) her spending money grew.
~ ~ ~ ~
I gave up buying books a long time ago, they were going up in price and after retiring my attitude to some things changed. I began to resent all that money just sitting there on the book shelves so my library card very quickly became my book credit card.
But it wasn’t until a few months ago I began to wonder just how much I was actually saving. I didn’t (like my friend did) go the whole hog and physically save the cash…mine was saved virtually.
I’d seen an idea on another blog where the blogger wondered if…..using library books only ….she could ’save’ an amount equal to her yearly council rates.
My curiosity didn’t stretch that far – I just wondered how much all these books I was reading….wherever they came from…..would have cost in the real world.
Like her I used an Australian online bookshop Booktopia to ’price’ my books and to make it easy any price ending over 50¢ was rounded up, anything under 50¢ went down and anything at 50¢ stayed as is.
Well, as the title says….it all adds up….I worked out that the cost of those 52 books I read to achieve my Goodreads challenge would have been in the region of ….
1240AUD – 676GBP – 909USD
So it’s a good job I I gave up buying because I’d never be able to afford it if I did!
How about you – do you have a money tree dedicated to books growing in your back garden?
Still Waters 
I use the library AND buy books. An indulgence. Which I am trying to whittle down.
The garden also consumes a lot of my ‘spare’ cash.
LikeLiked by 1 person
EC I often think that if you enjoy it and it does you no harm why stress over it. Depleted bank account – harm…..maybe a little stress is in order 😊
LikeLike
I’ve never been a great buyer of books but I also don’t read a lot. I apply the adding up logic to lunches and coffees, people spend thousands on that stuff
LikeLiked by 1 person
At $5 a cup (average) it certainly will add up. $25 a week $100 a month as you said could be over a $1000 for some- Big Bucks!
LikeLike
I started using my library card when I received one of those end-of-the-year credit card reports that itemized purchases from certain types of stores. The bookstore purchases just blew me away. I could hardly believe the total staring me in the face. Sure enough, now that I use the library for over 100 books a year I have much more money to do other things. I do buy books for the grandchildren when they come to visit. We always visit a local bookstore where they choose a tall stack of books, but I see that as an investment in my grandchildren’s future.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Something like that certainly makes you think and realise how much and more it takes to stock our libraries. I certainly don’t begrudge any of my taxes being used for that purpose.
Books were a standard part of any gift we gave our grandchildren – some needed a little encouragement others definitely didn’t.
LikeLike
That’s an interesting tally. I haven’t gotten into the frequent trips to the library. I started, but when covid hit, it was closed, then opened with a side-bin to return books that were sanitized and not on the shelf again for a week. They’ve lightened up now that we know contact exposure isn’t as risky as airborne.
I still like real books and haven’t tried using a Kindle. My aging eyes don’t want any more light at them.
I saved some of my son’s books to read for future grandkids. (Sent 8 boxes to my nieces for their kids; major downsize!)
Linda in Kansas
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think that was one place I missed more than anywhere else during our constant lockdowns. Ours even went as far as to courier books to their members…..they even put extras in to fill the boxes if your hold’s didn’t do so. We had contactless pick up – ring and collect from the lobby and oh the joy when they announced an opening date.
I agree about the light from the iPad/kindle affecting eyes….and sleep.
LikeLike
Since I was small, I’ve visited the library once a week (or more) so my bought books is not many. But still our house is filled with books – gifts, must-haves (those I stamed out again and again), second hand books, clearing sales books, dictionaries, cookbooks, travel books, prayer books … I donø’t buy books – they breed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds a bit like my house was Charlotte – books definitely act in a similar manner to wire coat hangers who also breed overnight 😊
LikeLike
That is very funny. Just two days ago I was telling our librarian that we get our property taxes back in books from the library. I never buy fiction but do like to keep up with the best sellers. Fortunately so does our library and features them making them easy to check out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks strange thoughts about money – and isn’t it great when our councils use our rates/taxes for the good of us all
LikeLiked by 1 person
I value the library, road repair and fire and ambulance service. I am happy to educate the next generation of school kids. No complaints from me about sharing the load.
LikeLike
I love craft magazines. I stopped throwing them out and when I fancy buying one take myself to the stash and read the old ones. Works every time. Like you I must save a lot with. Library books. Having said that I bought one today at a craft show as it was by a local author and she signed it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Special occasions need special treats Cathy 😊
A craft show and a ‘signed copy’ certainly come under the banner of SPECIAL!!
LikeLike
Just before our first lockdown hit last year – I had got out of the library, I think 6 books. Then suddenly I couldn’t get anymore and the ones I had I couldn’t return. I lost my mojo with books fullstop.
Until some time this year I started looking (probably in a lockdown) occasionally at e-books I could read on my phone. Even though the screen is small, it actually works out to be just fine…and as soon as I finish one, or nearly finished – I search for something else to read. I don’t always read the entire book, but it’s very easy to return them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I envy those who ‘enjoy’ reading ebooks. They know what to expect from the small screen (especially a phone screen) and find no problem at all with not having a real book in their hands.
I lose my way trying to read that way…. I don’t seem to be able to keep my place on the page and don’t seem to relate to the words either. So it’s a big book or….well I was going to say nothing but I do read articles and such like.
LikeLike