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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:
ThanksItHasPockets · 07/03/2024 16:37

Academic books in niche areas have very small print runs and can easily cost several hundred pounds. A grand may not go very far.

Spreadthehappiness · 07/03/2024 16:36

Green flag for me haha! But ya, that’s insane. And also a fantastic use of money !

Jux · 07/03/2024 16:33

Back when I had money to burn I would allow myself to visit an independent bookshop down the road from work only once a month as I spent too much each time - I would always go home with 10-15 new books.

Looking at prices now I reckon his budget is probably equivalent to what mine was if you spread that cost out over a year.

Gettingonmygoat · 07/03/2024 16:31

I used to buy a new hardback every week. The average cost was £15 a book, £1k would only get you 66 books. Just over a years worth of books, that's really not a lot.

AuntieMarys · 07/03/2024 16:26

I probably spend £50 to £100 a month on books......so over a year its about £1000. I dont begrudge it at all!!!
Good on your bf

EmpressSoleil · 07/03/2024 16:19

If he has the spare cash, why not? Plenty of women spend 1k (and more) on a handbag. Which is probably just as mystifying to those who wouldn't!

Gwenhwyfar · 07/03/2024 16:17

Unmute · 07/03/2024 14:46

The more I think about this the odder it seems.

Surely you wait until you have books stacked in double rows on the shelves, and some piled on the floor, and then you buy another Billy bookcase to instantly fill?

Owning no books, buying a bookcase, and then buying more books than you can possibly read in a year to fill the shelves seems completely backwards.

Yes, it's like he sees books as decoration. You buy a book, read it (or not!) and then buy another one when you're ready for the next book or something interesting catches your eye.

Moier · 07/03/2024 16:12

Some hard back special books can cost a £100 each.... would he use charity shops and second hand book shops?
If he can afford it I'm with him..l adore books.. but collected them over the years.

Blondeshavemorefun · 07/03/2024 16:10

I love books and have 2 bookcases

Hardbacks are usually £20

Soft £7/10

So if hardbacks that's only 50 books

Not many

Unless goes to charity shops and buys for £1/2 each May take a while

BookwormDadUK · 07/03/2024 16:10

Anyotherdude · 07/03/2024 14:52

It’s unusual to go on a book-buying spree, but not unheard of. I normally buy books one or two at a time, but last Christmas asked for specific books as gifts for me, and ended up with more than 10 - that’s the most books I’ve ever had arrive into my possession at the same time, since I did something similar on my 10th birthday and was able to spend over £12.00 book tokens on one book-buying binge!

We do a book-buying spree 2 or 3 times a year! It's our vice and we make a day of it.

BookwormDadUK · 07/03/2024 16:07

Synergies · 07/03/2024 14:35

I am flipping through the latest Folio Society catalogue as we speak, spending my imaginary £1k

We got ours today too - and same!

We could definitely spend £1k on books given the chance. Definitely, we've spent hundreds in a single haul and there's been a few big purchases - Encyclopedia Britannica, and the Folio Society did a flipping beautiful release of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy set.

As pp have said, if he can afford it, why not? We spent £10k last year converting our biggest bedroom into a custom library, with ladders.

GCAcademic · 07/03/2024 16:04

I’m an academic and the books I buy tend to average around £50. £1000 wouldn’t buy you much, and certainly wouldn’t fill a bookcase.

Jeschara · 07/03/2024 16:00

I love reading, but hate lots of books and book shelves. I have a kindle. It does not gather dust, and does not make the place look untidy.
I read as much as people with book shelves.

Love51 · 07/03/2024 15:58

Have you watched him make himself a bowl of cereal? Does he put the milk in first then the cereal?
What else is he doing back to front?
It isn't the money which is unsettling me, although it is a lot, it is the order of precedence. You buy a bookcase to house the books that are spilling out into different areas of the house.
Books to me are like chocolate, yes I buy them but with an eye to the side effect (clutter) and attempt to minimise that impact .

HumanRightsAreHumanRights · 07/03/2024 15:54

For academic books, some of mine have cost a few hundred pounds for one book, so £1,000 on academic books could mean 3 books he's treating himself to that he really wants.

For paperback novels, it's a lot of books.

nadine90 · 07/03/2024 15:54

With your update op, I don’t think it’s that strange. There are some gorgeous limited editions of classic books that could easily add up. I have a basket on the folio website totalling much more than that, just waiting for my lotto win!

Rosesanddaisies1 · 07/03/2024 15:51

It seems odd to randomly buy a load of books in one go, just to fill shelves? Surely you want to see what is published in the future, what if you find new things you enjoy. Seems a bit materialistic to me..

Original poster
KeiraKnightley2 · 07/03/2024 15:50

@commonground yes, so far, he pretty much is. He's very generous to me too.

OP posts:
Original poster
KeiraKnightley2 · 07/03/2024 15:49

@Iluvteandbiscuits on I'm not upset about it! I was just surprised, as I think it's a lot.

He said he didn't think it was, so I was curious to hear other viewpoints.

OP posts:
commonground · 07/03/2024 15:49

Wealthy and a reader. Basically the ideal man.

BeaRF75 · 07/03/2024 15:47

How wonderful! It's not that much, and he sounds like a great guy.

Iluvteandbiscuits · 07/03/2024 15:46

@KeiraKnightley2 Books are a tangible asset, would you care if he spent 1000 on a holiday that lasted 1-2 weeks and had nothing but memories left. At least his books will last a lifetime and can sell on at some point if he likes.

LibrarianByDay · 07/03/2024 15:39

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.

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

RagzRebooted · 07/03/2024 15:25

I'm pretty sure DD would spend £1k of my money on books, given a chance!.
I prefer to borrow them on the library app on my phone or pick them up for 50p. I read a lot. One year I read 200+ books. If I'd spent £5 each on them, that's a £1k. I don't, because I don't have that spare but if I won the lottery/was a lot richer than I am then maybe. But storing them for the sake of it seems silly, I don't keep many books to read again.

Original poster
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.

OP posts: