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Original poster

To think this a huge sum to spend on books?!

137 replies

KeiraKnightley2 · 07/03/2024 14:24

My boyfriend is moving into a new place soon (it's early days, so not living together yet). He loves books and so do I.

Anyway he said he's getting a big bookcase and has given himself a max budget of 1k to spend on books of his choice!

I said I thought this was a huge budget (great if he can do it) but he reacted with surprise, as though this is normal spending money. It isn't, is it?

Then again, you might spend thousands on a laptop, so maybe I'm wrong.

OP posts:
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TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 01/07/2024 16:05

That'll buy a couple of books of stamps these days.😟

PassingStranger · 01/07/2024 16:00

BIossomtoes · 29/06/2024 14:38

You’d hate books? The mark of a civilised home? Oh dear. 🥹

Show quote history

I don't hate books, I read myself. I would hate all the clutter.
I borrow from the library.

Catopia · 29/06/2024 15:45

I generally think of books as something to be acquired over time rather than bought all in one go... But then we're in the process of taking books to the charity shop because our house cannot hold any more.

JWhipple · 29/06/2024 15:05

£1000 is reasonable but it's the buying them all at once I find bizarre. I get books from the library or buy from World of Books (second hand and bargains galore) occasionally I get new one.
I can't imagine buying all the books I own now at the same time. I imagine I've easily spent over £1000 over the years though.

BIossomtoes · 29/06/2024 14:38

PassingStranger · 29/06/2024 14:06

What a load of clutter, I would hate that.

You’d hate books? The mark of a civilised home? Oh dear. 🥹

PassingStranger · 29/06/2024 14:06

What a load of clutter, I would hate that.

GasPanic · 29/06/2024 13:54

When you move into a new place you often want to do stuff that you have not done/could not do in your old one.

So maybe have the enormous telly. Or fantastic dining room table. Or giant american style fridge freezer. Or maybe a bookcase full of books.

Needmorelego · 29/06/2024 13:44

@Sam2000 you'd be better starting your own thread.
Your post won't get noticed on an old thread 🙂

Sam2000 · 29/06/2024 13:38

Anyone?
Sam X

Sam2000 · 26/06/2024 21:13

Hi everyone

I also have a rather unusual question about bookcases.
We have a self-contained annexe attached to our house, and as a part of house renovation, we've just opened a new doorway to the annexe that we'd like to hide through a secret bookcase door that can hold books rather than a faux set of books. We love books!

I'm having trouble finding a carpenter in London who can do that and who will show me examples of similar jobs in the past.

I hope someone can point me in the right direction.

Thanks,
Sam X

LenaLamont · 08/03/2024 19:05

Academic titles are ridiculously expensive! They are rarely under £30 a pop, often significantly more. I can see how a grand would get swallowed up pretty quickly if he's trying to replace his previous collection.

I think it's a rather wonderful way to spend a thousand pounds. We have at least 1500 books here, so even at paperback discounts of 2 for £15 we'd need 10K to replace them new (I buy a lot second hand).

s4usagefingers · 08/03/2024 14:32

KeiraKnightley2 · 08/03/2024 11:24

@WitchWithoutChips I think it mostly isn't about aesthetics for him.

He is from another European country and left a lot of books when he came here three years ago.

Now he is settling in and here for the duration. Anyway I'm excited to see what he buys 🙂

That makes sense if he is replacing ones he already had. Otherwise very strange to buy them all at once. If you’re thinking about money then second hand is always best. I love books and could easily own a lot more than I do.

Aroundthewaygirl · 08/03/2024 14:26

When I was growing up my parents would spend at least 2K on books a year - there were four of us and all of us are big readers. I could easily spend 1K on books right now but as new books came out I would spend more on those throughout the year.

Original poster
KeiraKnightley2 · 08/03/2024 13:51

The amount is not coming from a research grant and won't be used at work.

This is books for his pleasure only. I love books too, but I wouldn't have that spare cash to spend. Maybe at some point but current has to go to less glamorous stuff like house repair.

Been nice to see others posters passion for books 🙂

OP posts:
tittybumbum · 08/03/2024 12:44

KeiraKnightley2 · 07/03/2024 15:24

He's an academic. A lot of the books he wants are either in his industry or proper British classics.

I think it is definitely a big treat. For me I couldn't possibly justify spending that (yet) but think it's great he can.

Could you justify spending on a hobby of yours? Or a few weekends away or new clothes and shoes?
His thing is books

Asiatoyork · 08/03/2024 12:44

This is literally my job. Well part of it. I spend £2-3K a month of other people's money on books every month. 😁The best bit is unboxing them when they arrive, all perfect, new, and unread!

Ahhhh… this used to be my job! Lovely when they arrived and there were no issues with the order and it was all orderly and delicious!!!

LadyNijo · 08/03/2024 12:31

LibrarianByDay · 07/03/2024 15:39

Does he have a research allowance? Perhaps he's funding some of them from that.

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Yes, this. I’ve had book allowances of different magnitudes in various jobs.

Having said that, I’m an academic, DH is an ex-academic, and our house is full of bookcases and books that we’ve built up throughout our lives (cull underway atm). It seems a bit weird for an academic to say ‘I’m going to buy a bookcase and spend £1000 on books!’ Doesn’t he already have lots of both bookcases and books?

Gwenhwyfar · 08/03/2024 12:25

ThanksItHasPockets · 07/03/2024 19:36

“He's an academic. A lot of the books he wants are either in his industry or proper British classics.”

You can click ‘see all’ on the OP to see her updates.

Show quote history

It's relevant enough that it should have been in the first OP. Also, see my sentence starting 'Even so...'
I would have thought that academics buy books for their research usually and not with a particular bookcase in mind.

Natsku · 08/03/2024 12:08

I could easily spend that much on books at once if I had the money! I spent 150 euros on books for Christmas but wanted to buy so much more.

gocompare · 08/03/2024 11:55

I've seen some really fancy Harry Potter books in Waterstones that I can't afford. I would buy them.

I will get them if I get a bonus this year

To think this a huge sum to spend on books?!
Bbq1 · 08/03/2024 11:44

Sirzy · 07/03/2024 14:28

If I had a spare £1000 I would happily spend it on books!

Worlw, yeah me too. Definitely! Even though my 2 bookcases are more than full!

pootlin · 08/03/2024 11:28

Would it not be cheaper to ship over his books? It can only as low as £1 per kilo.

Original poster
KeiraKnightley2 · 08/03/2024 11:24

@WitchWithoutChips I think it mostly isn't about aesthetics for him.

He is from another European country and left a lot of books when he came here three years ago.

Now he is settling in and here for the duration. Anyway I'm excited to see what he buys 🙂

OP posts:
WitchWithoutChips · 08/03/2024 09:07

The sneery comments about ‘aesthetics’ are shitty. Before I had my own place I moved quite frequently and used to dream of my own bookshelves. I had a wish list of the books I wanted to own. I couldn’t afford to buy them all in one go when I did finally have my own place and my own shelves but I would have happily done so if I could, and it wouldn’t have been for the ‘aesthetic’.

Kwasi · 08/03/2024 07:35

It’s a lot of money considering books are typically under £25 each, but even at top whack, £1000 is only 40 books. If he reads one a week and reads them over, as well as getting pleasure out of seeing them on display, it’s not really an expensive hobby. My DH’s hobby frequently costs him £1000 per month; I’d love it if it was a one-off cost of £1000.

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