Monthly Balancing the Book Budget Check-In!
The RULES
- I can purchase 2 books a month (Either Kindle or Paperback form)
- I can use my audible credits (2 a month). So if I hit a 3 for 2 sale score for me but I will not be purchasing additional credits in a month.
- I can use my Discover a New Love credit every month. (I actually have 2 saved up that will be used at some time too)
- I can make 1 book club purchase a month. I had to add this in because I don’t always read the same books my book clubs do. I have 2 book clubs so this does pose a bit of a problem as they don’t often pick the same book and one of the 2 I run. However, I did not want to add 2 books to my purchase total. Sometimes I will have to go strictly for the social aspect or get the book from the library.
- I can download free books but must track them.
- I can receive books as gifts or win them but must track them. (This is includes giveaway books from blogs, contests, Library Thing, and Goodreads)
- I can request/receive no more than 2 (paper or kindle) books per month for review. Once I am caught up from last years requests I might up that to 3 but right now I need to catch up.
- I can continue to request Brilliance Audiobooks for review but no more than 5 of those. I knock these out pretty quickly and audiobooks are something that I adore.
- I will keep track of total dollars spent on all book related activities: dinners for book clubs, conventions, book related expenses, etc.
2013 Balancing the Book Budget Totals
Books Purchased/Dollar Amounts (4): Dang OVER!
- One Good Earl Deserves a Lover: The Second Rule of Scoundrels by Sarah MacLean $7.57 (READ)
- Dead Reckoning: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel by Charlaine Harris $8.65 (READ)
- Dead in the Family: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood) by Charlaine Harris $8.65 (READ)
- Once Her Man, Always Her Man: A 1 Night Stand Story: Always a Marine, Book 1(Audiobook) by Heather Long ($1.99)
Total Spent: 26.86
Audiobook Credits (3) used: I still have 1 unused credits for when something screams at me 🙂
- Deadly Sting (Digital Audiobook) by Jennifer Estep (READ)
- A Rogue by Any Other Name (Digital Audiobook) by Sarah MacLean (READ)
- (PRE-Order) Dead Ever After: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel by Charlaine Harris
Book Club Purchase (1): It was cheaper to get the combo ebook/audio than the audio on its own.
- Die For Me by Cynthia Eden ($4.32)/Die for Me: A Novel of the Valentine Killer (Digital Audiobook) ($2.15) (READ)
Total Spent: $6.47
Books for Review (Physical, Edelweiss, NetGalley, Blog Tour) (9): Went way over though I did make sure that they were spread over the next few months.
- Bare it All by Lori Foster (Blog Tour)
- Highlander Most Wanted by Maya Banks (Edelweiss/Released/Read)
- The Marrying Season by Candace Camp (Edelweiss/April 23)
- What a Duke Desires by Sabrina Jeffries (Edelweiss/June 18)
- Exposed by Laura Griffin (Edelweiss/June 25)
- Caged Warrior by Lindsey Piper (Edelweiss/June 25)
- Night Demon by Lisa Kessler (NetGalley/Released)
- Taking Shots by Toni Aleo (NetGalley/April 23)
- Trying to Score by Toni Aleo (NetGalley/April 23)
Discover a New Love Credits (3): I have one banked for another day
- A Shot of Sultry by Macy Beckett
- The Geek Girl and The Scandalous Early by Gina Lamm
- Cowboy Tough by Joanne Kennedy
Audiobooks for Review (2): My books from Brilliance did not make it in before the end of the month
- Dark Desires After Dark by Kresley Cole (Simon and Schuster)
- A Long Kiss Goodnight by Gena Showalter (Simon and Schuster)
Books Won (6):
- The Charmed: Book One of a Trilogy by Christine Wenrick
- Won a basket from Christie Craig/CC Hunter (5 Books included)
Book Events (2):
- Dinner with Vicki Pettersson
- Dreaming in Dallas Book Signing
Total Spent: Dinners were around $40.00
Books Gifted (2):
- Lover At Last: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward
- Time Untime (Dark-Hunter Novels) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Freebies are tracked on Goodreads
Books I added to the shelves this month: 32
Books I read this month: 22 (I didn’t meet my goal this month DARN IT)
Seriously Series Reads: 15
TBR Tipping (Books Purchased before 1/1/13): 13
Review Books: 1
New Purchases/Gifts Read (Books Purchased after 3/1/13): 7
Goodreads 200 book challenge: 64 of 200
Overall not a great month BUT not completely out of control! I am actually quite surprised how well I am holding to my budget. This month was hard though as I had to pass by many books that I actually really wanted. Where is my book fairy godmother LOL
During her non-reading time you can find her hanging with her rescue furr children named after book characters: Lizzie a beautiful cattle dog mix (Pound Pup), Cinder a beautiful Shep/Pitt mix (Pound Pup), and Minerva a beautiful Shep/Pitt mix (Foster Fail). Gathering with friends and family, attending conventions, watching movies/tv shows, rooting for the 49rs, and crocheting.
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I don’t think it’s that bad of a month at all 🙂
Oh I think you did very good! Love that you added the event as part of the budget. I would have made it a part of another budget. LOL
I added the event part because well they count. However, I also count books if I buy them at the event in my total other count. That really is more for my knowledge because I haven’t tracked that number before….
While you might have gone over this month it does look like you got most of them read this month and that’s something!! 🙂
That is the one thing I am trying hard to do. If I buy it, then I must want it so I must read it LOL 🙂
You’re so good about keeping track. I REALLY need to check in at what I’ve spent so far this year — I know it’s more than I think because I keep ordering ebooks, which still just seem fake to me and, therefore, don’t *actually* cost money (haha!).
I have to do this. I don’t have anyone to keep me in check and well the last 5 years I have bought a LOT (like credit card pay off more LOL)
You did get a few too many, but hey we are only human
YEP! I am telling myself that it is a learning thing. I went over so this month I must be more diligent!
I think you did awesome considering all the temptation that was out there this month!
I was really surprised that I didn’t buy anything at either event (well I did buy the raffle tickets but that was a good cause) 🙂
You know I have the spending under control. I stopped buying books mostly because I can’t even read them because I am too backed up with my ARCS. I have seriously got to get the NG and Edelweiss under control so I can have time to read one I want to read. I am trying to not request anything until Fall unless there is a must have book. I must get under control. I am so impressed you are doing an amazing job!
LOL we all have our book quirks 🙂 Actually last year my NG and Edelweiss weren’t under control either (and even this year I requested a few more than I would like but way less than before). 🙂
You did good on the TBR pile this month. I did not read as many books this month either, my totals will appear next Sunday on the Post..since I have till midnight to do some damage!
I finished one more before the night was done but I was still 8 short of my goal 🙂 That being said I think I hit my 90% TBR goal so that was good!
You did do pretty good on the $$ amount. 22 books read this month. You are a Reading Rockstar!
22 🙂 I was a little shy of goal but I talked a lot of books so that has to count for the missing 9 right? LOL
You did WAY better than me.
I blew my budget for March.
http://www.thebooknympho.com/2013/03/book-budget-see-what-i-spent-in-march.html
We can totally do it in April 🙂 I know we can!
I’ve been pretty good this month, but I used gift cards for all my purchases anyway. Kinda cheating. I really don’t need any books when I have hundreds in the pile…
I don’t think I could ever officially budget myself, so you’re my hero!
Jennifer @ The Bawdy Book Blog
Gift cards are not cheating. Last night someone gave me a $30 to Barnes and Noble–I used it on books 🙂 I had to budget myself because well the totals for last 5 years is a little out of control —read WAY OUT OF CONTROL LOL