A Quick Chat on Book Consumerism and an UnHaul

In my heart there is a tiny book dragon who loves to hoard pretty shiny things. But let's talk about how to be a better consumer, save money, and validate all readers!

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[brooke]

Big advocate for library use, especially for audiobooks. They're expensive! But I was able to read over 60 books last year thanks to Libby and Hooplah.

[KatieColson]

We love an unhaul paired with a meaningful and informative conversation. Great work

[ghostiegail]

When I was a teen and obsessed with booktube, I definitely felt like I was supposed to read (and buy) 50+ books a year, which ultimately burnt me out from reading for a few years. This is my first year really getting back into it, and it's been great to say I don't care about strict reading challenges or reading the most popular books anymore. I think a lot of it is the mindset you choose to go in with/what you value.

[cassie_hart]

I always have bookshelf envy when I watch youtube or tiktok videos, but I love my Kindle and I love audiobooks! I can listen to so many more books while I cook, clean, drive, grocery shop etc. I'm super grateful that my library has an excellent selection and I never run out of things to listen to.
Sadly, my print TBR pile has been mostly ignored for the last few years - even though the ones I buy are ones I know I will love!

[thejenmath]

I was such a blind book buyer when I first discovered Booktube about seven or eight years ago. I made so many BookOutlet orders. But as I got older I learned my book taste and how to curate my shelves. Unless I find something at a little free library or isn’t he clearance section of a bookstore, I read a book from my library before I buy it so I know if I actually like it. Some still get me, but it’s helped my wallet a lot.

[empisani]

Thank you for saying this! I'm all for book recommendations, but it IS very aggravating when individuals make you feel like you're not a true reader unless you have a giant at home library. I try to get my books/audiobooks from the library or on my Kindle first, and then, if I love it and think i will reread it, I buy the physical copy (usually second hand from Thrift Books).

[MossCrossings]

Great video, I love when people talk openly about this topic and I liked hearing your thought process for consuming books in a realistic/practical way! Also, I think an important point when talking about how we all value different things is that not everyone even has enough money to make choices about what they want to spend it on in the first place. Like, if your whole income every month is consumed by rent, bills, groceries, and debt payments, and you have little to no discretionary spending money left over, you literally can’t afford to buy books even if you do value them and would ideally want to have a physical collection. 100% agree that you shouldn’t have to go into debt to “prove” your love of stories by owning tons of books!!

[sweetreads]

Yesss huge advocate for the library! My kobo e reader connects to my local library and it’s so good!! The popular books take a few weeks to become available but the wait is good for delayed gratification hahah👌

[Sophie-qhce]

I recently had a massive unhaul of books I read when I was a teenager and like going through them, I don't even remember half of the plots. All donated or given away to friends with kids who would enjoy them but I kept like maybe 10 books I felt emotionally attached to and/or had special editions of out of like close to 100 books. Let me tell you, the SPACE that freed up oml! My new book buying system is to only buy books myself on kindle as it's cheaper but I will allow a trip to a bookstore with gift vouchers to buy nice editions of books I know I will want to read again and again (looking at you The Bone Season) and so far it's working great for saving money and space!

[BecxReadz]

yeah nothing makes you realize you don't need so many books as having to pack them up and move them. After moving every few years all my life, I've realized that and now only keep books I rate 4 or 5 stars.

[hellapainyo]

There are lots of lil libraries in my town so I comb through my books every quarter and see if there are any I need to “unhaul” and donate to those. That said, for anything with spice, I put a sticky note saying that.

[griffinmoth]

additional support for ereaders (and audiobooks): theyre much more accessible! you can adjust the size, the font, the background color and contrast level. I have so many friends who have learning disabilities or adhd or are low vision who benefit massively from audiobooks or ebooks

[lornatw]

I have actually watched quite a few of your videos going back to 5 yrs at the mist and I didn't even realise when I saw your channel today that I'd visited before! This is exciting, I've officially subscribed now I've found you again :) and will also be catching up on the years you started plus everything I've missed in-between!

[joanne]

I found the Once and Future Witches interesting as it was a good mix of feminism, history and magic and it’s sapphic, overall a good read you should give it a go 😊

[OfMiceAndDestiny]

I easily fall into consumerism because of my adhd. Whenever I pick up a new hobby or get back into an old one... I end up going overboard. I live in a tiny space. 10x10 room. It's hitting me now how overwhelmed I am with stuff. I have over 200+ physical books and 400+ ebooks that I haven't read yet. I'm on a no buy at this point. I made a chart where every 10 books I read I put $20 into a little fund. When I get to $100 in that fund and have unhauled some of the physical books I've read to make space or ones I know I won't read, I'll take myself on a little book shopping trip. This way I read and unhaul more books than I'm bringing back in and can start getting my collection to a manageable spot. I also have been using my library for new books I want to read and give myself a little monthly $15 budget to buy any ebooks on Amazon if they go onsale.

Hopefully these little things that have worked for me can also help anyone else who might be struggling in a similar way. 🧡

[Tiffs-bookshelf]

I jumped on this book box buying in 2019. I took an inventory late 2021 and now that I got rid of over 200 books, sold most of my duplicates, gifted some, and made some money on SE books. I am being more cautious and for the first time in 3 years, started skipping boxes I don’t want or need. It’s been freeing :).

[BethanFuckingRose]

I’m obsessed with The Raven Tower, can’t understand why no one else talks about it!

[colleen]

I get attached to art on the version of a book I read, so if I destroy a copy from constant reading (cough cough Dune), I will spend money on an exact replacement.

Books make me so emotional, but I don't want multiple copies. I want to remember how I felt when I first read it.

[ayajade]

I check my library first; if they don't have it and it's a recently published book I put a book request in the hopes they buy it. I can't afford to buy every book I want to read which is why I try to get second hand books when possible which really curbs the impulse buys. There's 25+ books about to leave my house for little free libraries around me it's a shame no one wants textbooks I'd get so much shelf space back

[Impossible]

One of the things I do to set a budget is getting a gift card. Put a certain amount of money for the month to use and if I don't use the whole budget, I can save it for next month.

As for unhauling, I can't 😂😂 The wheels are set in motion and there is no stopping the hype train. I only get books where I am confident that I'll be reading again. So far all of your recommendations have been wizard. My wallet hates you lol but I really love your videos. I'm happy. No regrets.

But hey, one thing in mind because for comics, which I collect. There are different cover variants for one comic. People and myself included have spent over big amount of dough just buying the same comic, just for a different variant.