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Original poster

Read What You Own 2026

658 replies

ÚlldemoShúl · 30/12/2025 13:04

This is a brand shiny new thread for those of us who want to continue reading what we own in 2026.
My aims for 2026 are:

  • At least half my reading will be from books I already own on 1st January 2026
  • I will buy less than a quarter of my reading new including kindle deals😱 and book club books
  • I will wait when prize lists are released to see if the books appear in the library within a week. I will not read full longlists unless I love the sound of each and every book on it.
  • For the first two months I will only read what I own- focusing on the older books on my kindle while allowing myself to read newer (but already owned) physical books
What are your RWYO aims for 2026?
OP posts:
BookWurmple · 30/12/2025 13:27

Thank you for the thread

I've been decluttering for a few years and books are my sticking point, because I don't see them as clutter and think 'oh I'll read that one day' then buy more

My aims

  1. Get some 'outs' - some probably aren't for me any more and can be donated. The others I should actually read then pass on.
  1. Cut down on 'ins' I've got enough. I have been using the library and Borrowbox more for book club ones.

Some books I will want to keep but the vast amount aren't going to be ones I want to read twice or classics.

Thanks for the inspiration

Purplecatshopaholic · 30/12/2025 13:36

Ooh cracking idea. I have so many books sitting patiently to be read, yet I keep buying more. Partners the same, so no help, lol. My 2026 aim is to take proper chill time when I need it and read an actual book, not fanny about on my iPad, lol.

TittyGajillions · 30/12/2025 13:36

Yesterday I sat down and wrote a list of 30 books I already own both physical and ebooks that I want to read next year before I'm allowed to buy anything else.

Original poster
ÚlldemoShúl · 30/12/2025 13:51

Welcome to the thread and great aims everyone. I’m going to use this thread to count my reads old vs new. I read a lot but everyone welcome no matter how many or few you read a year 😊

OP posts:
noodlezoodle · 30/12/2025 14:02

I definitely need this! My bookshelves are groaning and my kindle is stuffed full, and yet somehow there are always more books to buy.

I like your goal @ÚlldemoShúl of at least half your reads being RWYO - I'm going to go for that too.

SheilaFentiman · 30/12/2025 14:22

Signing in, back later with goals!

CoubousAndTourmaIet · 30/12/2025 14:26

Watching for now. I have over 100 books unread (all paper, no kindle or audio) but if I commit I fear I will fail, as with the 50 books challenge this year.

AllTheChaos · 30/12/2025 15:01

Such a good idea! Especially as I just got given a tonne of books for Christmas and have literally no where to put them but a windowsill 😂

Midnightstar76 · 30/12/2025 15:07

Joining goodness knows how many books I have but that’s a good aim read half of what I own. But allowing myself to borrow books from BorrowBox p.s will also fail miserably too but the thoughts there lol

BookAndPiano · 30/12/2025 15:15

I'm in!

In line with it, I'm also going to dedicate 4 hours a week to reading books that I already own.

This means that I don't have to deprive myself of new or library books completely but at least means I will be getting through what I actually own.

Every week=4 hours on my own TBR, no matter what.

SilverShadowNight · 30/12/2025 15:25

Thanks for the new thread.

Enjoyed the previous thread, and that it helped me to reduce my massive virtual TBR pile.

Will continue in the same way, focusing on the books I already have (especially the oldest ones), but if I spot any interesting bargains I give myself permission to snap those up 😆.

Boudy · 30/12/2025 15:32

What a good idea. I am putting it out here that I am going to buy ONE book this year.!! It is out in Sept. I am going to read through my physical and kindle piles( as much as possible!).Will I be able to buy only one book🤔

Kayemm · 30/12/2025 15:40

I'm in definitely.

I'm not counting the size of my TBR pile but I shall clear it before I spend more money on books, apart from my 6 book group books. ( We meet each month but me and a mate always share the book).

Apart from a few gifts all my books come from charity/second hand shops and I think that part of my problem is I buy a lot that once I get round to them I can't remember what interested me in the first place.

I have an 'Abandoned ' shelf on Goodreads!

Kayemm · 30/12/2025 15:42

@Boudy what is it?

I do really want to read The Correspondent. It's out in May, I can clear my TBR by then...

Boudy · 30/12/2025 15:49

@Kayemm oh yes sorry! It is a follow on from the Cazalet Books. Written by the author's ( I think niece) I will go and find title now.

HouseWithASeaView · 30/12/2025 15:50

I’m feeling slightly twitchy at this idea even though I know it’s a good one!
As well as RWIO, I also need to get back to my routine of 2 fiction to 1 other. I have a lot of biographies & historical books on my kindle as well as various self help style books

Cherrypi · 30/12/2025 15:52

I'm in too. I've read hardly any physical books I own this year and I really need to get to some of them before they deteriorate. I'm contemplating turning off the kindle daily deals email to save money. I don't like that feeling of coming across books at the library I've paid for and haven't read yet even if it was only 99p. I do have loads of books on my kindle. I always want to try and read books when I'm at the peak of my excitement for them.

Original poster
ÚlldemoShúl · 30/12/2025 15:52

@Boudy you are hardcore!!

OP posts:
Boudy · 30/12/2025 16:00

Well will see eh?😱😁

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 30/12/2025 17:18

Signing in. Need to read some physical books and make some space. Need to be accountable. Also have more Kindle books than the total of adult fiction books in my local library so need to make a dent. Thanks @ÚlldemoShúl

CutFlowers · 30/12/2025 18:12

Thanks @ÚlldemoShúl .

My aim is to read 8 books I own before I am allowed to buy one new one and/or borrow one from the library (which I tend to read straight away). And then another group of 8. I find it helps me be quite choosy about what I buy - and can have maybe one from the monthly deals but have to resist most from the daily deals.

My current TBR pile is 198 (down from 264 this time last year!). I'd love to reduce it by a third this coming year.

FrostyFlo · 30/12/2025 18:19

I have a couple of large piles sat beside our bed yet I carry on buying others .
this year I'm determined to read them all .
I buy ones I really want to read and they are added to the pile . Yet I buy 99p offers on Kindle , Prime books , and charity shop buys and read those whilst the ones I buy at full price still lie unread in the pile !

Thebookone · 30/12/2025 18:58

I really would like to aim for NO books purchased other than book club books. It’s a big ask though.

Peridot1 · 30/12/2025 19:10

my first task is to go through my kindle books- I have a lot I bought years ago and I’ve no idea why and I’m just not picking them to read now.

@Boudy - I loved the Cazalet series. Will definitely be buying the new one. And might have to re read the originals!