I can’t stop buying books!

CadiFfan · 02/08/2026 19:08

You’re buying books not crack🙄

Vye1988 · 02/08/2026 18:16

cantstopbuyingbooks · 30/07/2026 14:43

Help!

I picked up a huge stack in Asda for my holiday, which I then started to read.

Then I got some more on Amazon, which I’ve broken into.

Then I got even more in Asda today! I just can’t help myself! I’ve read five in five days!

No advice for you. I buy books to read, then re buy them to read on my Kindle for when I cannot physically have the book with me! My Kindle goal is 250 books this year. I am not telling anyone in real life how close to that goal I am 😂. I do read a lot of Unlimited books on Kindle though so keeps cost down. But I have always loved books, was home schooled, read constantly as a young teenager. I have always been a weird sleeper, 4-5 hours and I am wide awake so reading is my company. There are worse hobbies to have. I would rather read at 3am than doom scroll. Next week is my birthday and my dad (at my ripe age) will take me to Waterstones as he has since I was about 11 and I will stock up. As long as you are not hurting yourself financially I see no problem.

Stressedoutmummyof3 · 02/08/2026 17:09

I love reading but my daughter is a real book worm. She's read 60 books this year. I don't know how.

PaperMachePanda · 01/08/2026 21:28

I own about 5000 books. I'm a voracious reader and will pick up anything.

Big tip, go to charity shops and ask to see the books they're about to throw away. I have rescued so many from the skip! Managed to get some lovely leather bound Bronte books recently.

Original poster

cantstopbuyingbooks · 01/08/2026 21:22

carkerpartridge · 01/08/2026 21:20

I'm pretty sure this was meant to be light-hearted.

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Yes, it was. Sadly the usual miseries have got hold of it.

OP posts:

carkerpartridge · 01/08/2026 21:20

latetothefisting · 01/08/2026 19:24

In which case why even bother to start a thread about it? If you use a title deliberately suggesting it's a problem, to the extent you even say 'help!' then it's no surprise people offer alternative suggestions!

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I'm pretty sure this was meant to be light-hearted.

latetothefisting · 01/08/2026 19:24

carkerpartridge · 01/08/2026 17:36

I doubt the op is spending that amount of money every week on books, maybe she is but so what. She hasn't come on here saying that she can't afford to eat because of her book habit. Lots of people spend far more money on daily coffees, cigarettes, vapes, drugs, alcohol, gambling etc. I would rather buy books which can be passed on or sold (or kept!!) rather than buying an expensive coffee that's going to be flushed down the toilet an hour after drinking it!

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In which case why even bother to start a thread about it? If you use a title deliberately suggesting it's a problem, to the extent you even say 'help!' then it's no surprise people offer alternative suggestions!

carkerpartridge · 01/08/2026 17:36

latetothefisting · 01/08/2026 13:54

it's pretty expensive though! If you're reading a book a day, even at asda prices for about a fiver a book, that's £35 quid a week, £140 a month, £1825 a year on something that lasts you less than a day.

By all means do it if you can afford it, you're doing a good thing keeping authors' lights on, but people are recommending kindle/library schemes etc because most people, even those of us who are the most avid readers, can't!

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I doubt the op is spending that amount of money every week on books, maybe she is but so what. She hasn't come on here saying that she can't afford to eat because of her book habit. Lots of people spend far more money on daily coffees, cigarettes, vapes, drugs, alcohol, gambling etc. I would rather buy books which can be passed on or sold (or kept!!) rather than buying an expensive coffee that's going to be flushed down the toilet an hour after drinking it!

Yourinmyspot · 01/08/2026 17:25

I have the same problem OP. I got four books for my birthday last month and have bought another five since, as well as all the library books I’ve reserved!

I am lucky that we have a really good local library, it’s not huge but you can reserve books online and they get most new releases in, you just have to wait a while sometimes if they are popular. It’s saved me a fortune and I’d be lost without it.

Lilyhatesjaz · 01/08/2026 13:54

Books are better value for money and environmentally than newspapers and glossy magazines which are designed to be consumed and disposed of. I have favourite books which I have read and reread many times. If you don't want them you can give them to the charity shop and if they have gone yellow and smelly cut the pages out for recycling, you have to bin the spine bit because of the glue.
They are not really comparable with fast fashion which is often made of non biodegradable plastic.

latetothefisting · 01/08/2026 13:54

cantstopbuyingbooks · 30/07/2026 14:47

I’m not sure I’d class it as overconsumption, as I read them all!

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it's pretty expensive though! If you're reading a book a day, even at asda prices for about a fiver a book, that's £35 quid a week, £140 a month, £1825 a year on something that lasts you less than a day.

By all means do it if you can afford it, you're doing a good thing keeping authors' lights on, but people are recommending kindle/library schemes etc because most people, even those of us who are the most avid readers, can't!

Original poster

cantstopbuyingbooks · 01/08/2026 13:47

FeliciaFancybottom · 01/08/2026 13:28

Honestly, OP, why aren't you reading War and Peace in the original Russian you found in a skip? Shame on you, young lady.

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The thing that makes me laugh is that all of these people who complain probably don’t even read

OP posts:

declutteringonedayatatime · 01/08/2026 13:39

Damnyou · 01/08/2026 13:36

My TBR never gets any shorter.

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Especially if you like Freida McFadden for example. They seem to have a new book every week.

Damnyou · 01/08/2026 13:36

HauntingBillCrouse · 30/07/2026 14:47

It's not your fault. It's all those authors, they keep writing books, damn them.

My TBR never gets any shorter.

FeliciaFancybottom · 01/08/2026 13:28

cantstopbuyingbooks · 01/08/2026 13:21

But why does everything have to be intellectually challenging and difficult?

I have a tough job. I like to switch off. A thriller can be just as challenging as some others in places.

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Honestly, OP, why aren't you reading War and Peace in the original Russian you found in a skip? Shame on you, young lady.

Whatevergoes2025 · 01/08/2026 13:27

cantstopbuyingbooks · 01/08/2026 13:21

But why does everything have to be intellectually challenging and difficult?

I have a tough job. I like to switch off. A thriller can be just as challenging as some others in places.

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Ok. Maybe call yourself ‘cantstopwontstopbuyingbooks’ then? Puts a different spin on it.

Original poster

cantstopbuyingbooks · 01/08/2026 13:21

Whatevergoes2025 · 01/08/2026 13:20

Asda books are often shite though, let’s face it. Maybe try something more challenging. Will make it last longer?

But why does everything have to be intellectually challenging and difficult?

I have a tough job. I like to switch off. A thriller can be just as challenging as some others in places.

OP posts:

Whatevergoes2025 · 01/08/2026 13:20

Asda books are often shite though, let’s face it. Maybe try something more challenging. Will make it last longer?

zingally · 01/08/2026 13:17

For what it's worth, I bought 5 from The Works this morning. I needed none of them!

Original poster

cantstopbuyingbooks · 01/08/2026 12:03

NotOnYourEllie · 01/08/2026 10:52

I am not on my high horse about your shopping or reading habits. They aren't ideal, but I'm sure there are worse things. What I dislike is you making a thread about it and then digging your heels in, and taking cheap shots at people who reasonably dislike your thread. "Oh, single handedly responsible for climate change am I?" when you know perfectly well nobody had suggested any such thing. "Oh on your high horse are you?" which is just a cheap dig, because you either don't have, or don't want to say, anything more intelligent.

Anyway, you seem to be completely resistant to hearing anything negative about your reading and shopping habits. So I assume this was a thread you wanted only positive responses to. Sorry I cannot provide that for you, but that is because I find the whole thread pretty disgusting.

You are not a bad person or single handedly responsible for climate change, but your thread is in really bad taste.

Maybe go have a glass of wine and chill out a little? It was a lighthearted thread and almost everyone else on here has managed to realise that and take it in the good faith it was meant.

OP posts:

Original poster

cantstopbuyingbooks · 01/08/2026 12:02

MrsShawnHatosy · 01/08/2026 11:59

I love a hardback - they feel so luxurious - but only buy them second hand for myself, though usually get DH a couple of new hardbacks for his birthday/Christmas.

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I think because I’m always carrying a book, I prefer paperbacks. But it’s always testament to a good book if I picked up the hardback!

OP posts:

MrsShawnHatosy · 01/08/2026 11:59

cantstopbuyingbooks · 01/08/2026 11:53

I can’t stand a hard back! I’d rather read on my phone, but sadly it seems hardback is still the favoured first choice for publishers.

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I love a hardback - they feel so luxurious - but only buy them second hand for myself, though usually get DH a couple of new hardbacks for his birthday/Christmas.

Original poster

cantstopbuyingbooks · 01/08/2026 11:53

Squirrel60 · 01/08/2026 10:59

I'm a lifelong book addict, so what I say is good for you!

I only ever have paperbacks or hardbacks, and there's always a paperback in my bag, which gets replaced as soon as I've read it!

I buy them online and in physical shops, new, and also from charity shops.

I have no TV or radio by choice, but my flat looks like a library! I buy flat-packed bookshelves - those attached to the wall and free-standing - and build them myself, and there are other books on the coffee table!

I can’t stand a hard back! I’d rather read on my phone, but sadly it seems hardback is still the favoured first choice for publishers.

OP posts:

FeliciaFancybottom · 01/08/2026 11:48

NotOnYourEllie · 01/08/2026 10:52

I am not on my high horse about your shopping or reading habits. They aren't ideal, but I'm sure there are worse things. What I dislike is you making a thread about it and then digging your heels in, and taking cheap shots at people who reasonably dislike your thread. "Oh, single handedly responsible for climate change am I?" when you know perfectly well nobody had suggested any such thing. "Oh on your high horse are you?" which is just a cheap dig, because you either don't have, or don't want to say, anything more intelligent.

Anyway, you seem to be completely resistant to hearing anything negative about your reading and shopping habits. So I assume this was a thread you wanted only positive responses to. Sorry I cannot provide that for you, but that is because I find the whole thread pretty disgusting.

You are not a bad person or single handedly responsible for climate change, but your thread is in really bad taste.

Give yourself a day off love, maybe go read a book.

Squirrel60 · 01/08/2026 10:59

I'm a lifelong book addict, so what I say is good for you!

I only ever have paperbacks or hardbacks, and there's always a paperback in my bag, which gets replaced as soon as I've read it!

I buy them online and in physical shops, new, and also from charity shops.

I have no TV or radio by choice, but my flat looks like a library! I buy flat-packed bookshelves - those attached to the wall and free-standing - and build them myself, and there are other books on the coffee table!