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

[HowTheFillyjonkStoleChristmas]

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.

I spend a fortune on books &dd1 is going to be the same book shelves cover most of my room and dd1 has all hers in boxes under her bed and has ran out of room
dd2 likes to line hers up and will only read the ones about tv programmes [rolls eyes]she does like Horrid henry though!

The answer depends on how much the children enjoy and appreciate books.

If the child in question is going to read the books, I don't think you can spend too much...

Oh well, obviously if you cripple yourslef financially and your house gets repossessed, you might have gone too far, but apart from that...

I am a complete danger on The Book People website as a bargainista my philosophy is always, if I can get them at a good price I can buy more.

So I buy lots. But I break it down into smaller amounts so dh doesn't hit the roof. Can you believe I married someone who doesn't read? Even dts1 is getting certificates at school for his reading abilities.

I got them both some really good book collections out of TBP for Christmas. In fact have never bought a book from there that hasn't been a fantastic bargain.

Don't worry Filly ... you can never have enough books IMO ....
Books are the only 'presents' I buy my children all year round - if I see one I think they may like I get it for them ... Other things they only get for Christmas or birthdays.

I buy ones that DS really really likes from the library when they are 50% off with a voucher - but other than that he has his trip to the library once a week (or more) to get 20 books, and I reserve any special requests.

I really only buy them if he has requested it be reserved once and asked for it every day for a week.

ah that felt good

Bllx to it, its all they're going to get really and they will love it.

I have trimmed a few and am down to £50. For 2 kids. Not bad,

If we are out and my kids want to buy something they know they can always have a book. Last forever, don't go out of fashion and don't break. I've had a large order from the Book People arrive yesterday. Fairy books, Ripleys Believe it or Not, Books for clever boys, James Bond book.

Sorry it was a book for clever boys, that was the name of it!

(our books don't last forever sadly though.

I take them in the bath

I have to or I'd never read enough things)

my mum always said that if you want a book you should get it - I love books and my children do too - they see them as wonderful presents, I odn't think you should feel bad. If I am at bookpeople I always try to stay in a budget but if I see my son in bed reading horrible histories or something my heart kind of melts - that makes it all worth the money.

Books are lovely and communicating that to your chidlren is a really great thing to do for them. I say order loads, orderloads more then click 'confirm order' before you have time to think about it!

sounds like my book people order but then we get mil dh and four kids their presents from there
so no I do not think it is too much to spend on books
last year we got ten books for less than a tenner and split them in two for mtydd2 and dd3
mybook people order was 120 last timebut what the eck they are educational and make great presents imo

in answer to op, it depends how much £'s you have.

I don't think you can spend too much on books, but of course the main thing is spending the time actually reading them to your kids, not just spending a huge amount and letting them lie on a bookshelf!

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

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!

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.

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.

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!

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?

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!)

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

oooh

amazon credit card

what a marvellous ida

hmm

£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