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Original poster

how much is an ok amount to spend on books for kids and how much is quite a lot?

65 replies

HowTheFillyjonkStoleChristmas · 17/11/2006 07:56

its for christmas...

have been chucking stuff into my book people trolley with abandon and now notice that the total is quite a lot...

like £70

(and then I also have amazon stuff and I want to get some barefoot books)

Please give me permission to spend this much on books which, lets face it, are as much for me as for the kids.

OP posts:
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Original poster
HowTheFillyjonkStoleChristmas · 18/11/2006 18:34

oh that pesky rat is marvellous

I got a copy of fixit duck and the ladybird guide to garden birds today. Round here that represents a seriously good haul

school jumble sales are where its at imo.

OP posts:
Twiglett · 18/11/2006 14:48

or it might have been amazon calm down Boris

very sweet

kissy, kissy, kissy

Twiglett · 18/11/2006 14:45

last time I was on the Book People I bought a book about Boris and kids love it

Bozza · 18/11/2006 14:33

I don't really get so attached to adult books. Only the children's ones. I spent £30odd at the book people but it was not just for DS and DD. I got them a set each of 10 books for £10 but they both already had two of the books, but they will come in for party presents. I also have a hairy mclairy purchased on a 3 for 2 hanging around which will be for DD. And bought the Night before Christmas in Tesco the other day - that will have to be given before Christmas. Also while in Tesco I got DD a little mermaid book and DS Horrid Henry's Christmas Cracker - bedtime reading in the run up to Christmas. Then DD and I called in at the charity shop and got her the ladybird Little Red Hen and him Roald Dahl's The Twits.

PinkTinsel · 18/11/2006 14:30

can never buy too many book imo

TooTickyDoves · 18/11/2006 14:26

at Filly having time to read in the bath.
We got a copy of That Pesky Rat in a charity shop. That is Lauren Child, isn't it?
Does anybody else love the amazing picture books by Colin Thompson? Unfortunately they are out of print. We have picked up a couple withdrawn from the library.

Original poster
HowTheFillyjonkStoleChristmas · 18/11/2006 11:24

yes book crossing

we have 2 local drop offs

sadly its mainly dross

there are various book swap websites but they look like complicated hard work

OP posts:
ParanoidAndroid · 18/11/2006 11:20

I did think about doing that book recycling thing - I can't remember what it's called, but something to do with leaving a book in a public place for someone else to read.

Although that still means losing a book, I suppose it could be considered to be for the greater good?

ParanoidAndroid · 18/11/2006 11:18

Oh, and NEVER count up how much is spent on books - to me they are as essential to life as food and water.

Original poster
HowTheFillyjonkStoleChristmas · 18/11/2006 11:18

ah lots in loft already chez filly

i know i have a problem...

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ParanoidAndroid · 18/11/2006 11:18

I've no idea what to do about the space thing. Our tiny cottage is filled to the brim with books and I don't know what to do now! I did think I might start putting some in the loft - some of the ones that I want to keep but don't necessarily need to see on a daily basis!!! We just had a studio built in the garden in the summer, and I'm already planning to store some books in there! There won't be room for my painting soon or DH's desk....how popular will I be!

Original poster
HowTheFillyjonkStoleChristmas · 18/11/2006 11:14

ah good, now i am feeling positively frugal

am ignoring book money for rest of year atm gb, please don't bring that up.

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roisin · 18/11/2006 11:13

ClerkKent - who? who? Does she want to sell them to me?!

Gingerbear · 18/11/2006 11:08

I have spent over £50 on books for DD alone this Christmas.
It must be £100+ over the whole year.

Original poster
HowTheFillyjonkStoleChristmas · 18/11/2006 11:04

am running out of space in the house for all the books though

what can i do about that?

i amazon/ebay all the ones I can bear to

OP posts:
ParanoidAndroid · 18/11/2006 11:02

£50 for two kids - positively scrimping I'd say!

We have a fantastic second hand bookshop in our nearby town (Godalming) which is wonderful for adult books - fiction and non-fiction, but not so good for children. We also have a small independent bookshop which we support avidly by spending a small fortune in there (particularly since one of the horrid massive chain bookshops opened up immediately opposite them - bullies)

I'm not too keen on libraries because I hate, positively HATE, giving the books back - I like to see them piled up beside our beds ready to read, sitting on shelves looking at me, going to bed early with a favourite book, I like to rearrange my books just for therapy .... books are just fantastic!

Luckily the children agree with me and after 18 years of marriage, DH also now has a small pile of books on his side of the bed

Original poster
HowTheFillyjonkStoleChristmas · 18/11/2006 10:43

oooh

amazon credit card

what a marvellous ida

hmm

OP posts:
foxinsocks · 18/11/2006 10:33

but, in answer to your question, depends on how much money you've got to spend!

foxinsocks · 18/11/2006 10:28

we spend faaaaaaaar too much on books really but then I suppose we are all avid readers - we are all members of the local library and get lots of books from there as well

in fact, I signed us up to the Amazon credit card because we get Amazon loyalty points to spend on books (and the amount that goes on that credit card through dh's work means we get loads of points!)

Original poster
HowTheFillyjonkStoleChristmas · 18/11/2006 10:19

yeah but they're not usually the books I want, charlie

you find some great stuff there, I grant you, but...dunno, have never seen clarice bean or similar there.

Agree totally with poster who said that you should always buy a book if you really want it (and can afford it).

We do rumage round charity shops, who doesn't?

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charliecat · 18/11/2006 09:31

Does noone go rummaging in charity shops? You can pick up books for 10p...all nice and shiny and new! £100s of on books...no way!

saadia · 18/11/2006 09:01

I can't resist books. A lovely new children's bookshop has opened locally and there were so many books I wanted to get, but whittled it down to 4 books. Have also just received the Oxford Reading Tree's Read at Home set from The Book People.

In terms of money, I don't really buy lots in one go so haven't really kept track of how much we spend on kids' books. Also, some places like Tesco and Woolworth do quite good "learning to read" books at very reasonable prices.

lunavix · 18/11/2006 08:55

I love the book people

I'm just starting out selling Barefoot Books and I think they're fab too. Pricier obviously as the great attraction of the book people is that they're discounted, but they're so unique and different.

paddingtonbear1 · 18/11/2006 08:53

I often pick up a book for dd when I do the supermarket shopping - not much spent at a time, but it's mounted up to more than a bookcase full! She loves her books. We go to the library most weeks as well!

ssd · 18/11/2006 08:52

not that I'm suggesting you'd ever do that HTF!!