Does anyone have a problem buying too many books? I read a lot, but I sometimes spend beyond my means on books. I don’t accumulate a huge debt, but I’d like to stop the behaviour, because it eats into my spare money. I know I’ll eventually read many of them, but even then, I’ll only read them once. I let the behaviour slide, because it’s not going to waste in a lottery or something. Still, it’s disturbed behaviour.
I’m worried because I’m only allowed to have one shelf. The other two shelves are empty. I got rid of two shelves of books after I found out there was a bed bug problem in my apartment building, and they were getting closer to my unit (these bugs are very rampant in my city, apparently). So I needed to downside on belongings. I panicked and gave up the books for donation. I had to check each one for any kind of insect.
Why keep only one shelf? Because, when pest control comes to treat the apartment for bedbugs, I have to pull away all furniture from the walls by two feet. I have to somehow store the books, and there’s no space for three shelves of books in the middle of my living room & dining room. I gave away over two thousand dollars (maybe more) in books because of my paranoia (two full shelves!) I never did get the bed bugs. The pest control people stopped them from spreading beyond a few units close to me.
It’s not a gambling problem, but I wonder if my Abilify (20 mg a day) is behind my book buying problem, because now the ‘one shelf’ is overflowing with books again. I need to just STOP. But it’s always just ‘one more book and then I’ll stop.’
I mostly don’t buy books now. I either use the library or the Little Free Libraries in town. I prefer to read books on my eReader as they take up zero space.
I had a kobo eReader (and access to 40,000 eBooks at the local library) but didn’t want to have a lot of software on my computer, so I didn’t reinstall them when I had my OS ‘refreshed.’ I bought the eReader in 2012 and it doesn’t work anymore, anyway.
I use my tablets for reading, watching videos, and viewing photos. They have to work as more than an eReader. The new ones have fantastic battery life.
When I took 15 mg of abilify I had the same problem but with something different. I bought a lot of books, but when I started reading them I stopped reading them after a few pages.
I’m sorry but one shelf of books, that you read, is not a book buying problem. Try a whole house full, that you Don’t read, like my friend. @FlyingSwan
I strongly disagree. It’s a problem if I’m using most of my spare money. And it has this sick proactive feeling that only lasts for a while, especially when buying cook books, or exercise books. I’m on disability pension right now. I probably will never be able to afford a house, btw.
The abilify might be behind it, so definitely talk to your doc.
From a behavioral approach, I have found that my spending issues are worse when I don’t have a clear idea of my budget. I get nervous about money, so I stop buying anything, including essentials. The lack of essentials messes with my comfort, so I impulse buy tiny things to feel more comfortable. But then I don’t have money to buy my essentials, so I stay uncomfortable, but now with added guilt over impulse buying instead of getting the essentials. The cycle repeats.
I help this by using the “envelope system” in a slightly modified version. I opened a separate bank account that has ONLY a debit card, with zero overdraft. If I run out of money, the card just gets declined. I calculated the exact amount each month I can lose to impulse purchases, and I have that amount automatically deposited into that account. I use ONLY that debit card for impulse buys, and once it is declined, that’s it til next month.
I’m trying to purge my flat of my best books i don’t use, I’m doing a book sale on my clubhouse zine for Christmas I just need to list a few more which i just got from my car and then write/design the article
Thank you for the information. Unfortunately, my new doctor just wants to up the dose. I’ll look into the ‘envelope system.’ It sounds like it would be a big help. Thanks again!
I visited a bookstore today. Many interesting titles. However, zero bucks spent there, no book left the shelf. You could call it self-control or perhaps thriftiness. Truth is I already own many books worth opening and my reading pace is slow. I’m simply being rational. Once I burn through the current stash I will consider buying new ones.
I never did get the bed bugs. The pest control people stopped them from spreading beyond a few units close to me.
