5 Reasons Book Buying Bans Need to Chill

You need to get off that book buying ban immediately.

“Um, Jordyn, this book buying ban is the only reason I have any money in my wallet.”

I know. Trust me, I get it. Book buying bans, in theory, are a reader’s best friend! They keep your spending habits in check and, most of all, help you focus on the books that you do have, rather than the ones that you don’t, which forces you to cut down that TBR like a kick-butt samurai.

However, there are most definitely reasons why book buying bans need to chill out:

1. “Everything in moderation.” 

Yes, that little piece of advice was originally stated in relation to food, but the same principle applies. Now, I’m no health professional, but in my opinion, when you want to eat healthier, the proper way to do it isn’t to completely cut out a food group. If you want to cut back on your carbs, you cut back on your carbs, you don’t cut them out in their entirety.

It’s the same thing with book buying. Feel free to slow down on the book buying, but don’t completely cut yourself off. Too much of anything is bad for you. Everything in moderation.

2. You lose the hype

I went on a book buying ban myself for the few months of this year and I despised it. Mostly because there were so many wonderful books coming out that I didn’t get to be excited for. Oh, one of your most anticipated releases of 2017 comes out next week? TOO BAD. You’re on a book buying ban until next month.

I felt this a lot earlier this year. Anyone in the book communnity can tell you about all the amazing books that came out, and I only allowed myself to finally buy them last week. Being caught up in all of the hype and getting to post a picture of your new book or tweet about it is really fun and I underestimated how much I enjoy it. It may sound shallow, but one of the best parts of buying something new is showing it off while it’s still relevant.

3. They’re really easy to break

Thanks for this one, Mia! Temptation to break a ban is all around us, especially if you’re a bookstagrammer/booktuber/blogger/on book twitter, or if you watch/view any of these. Even going to Target or browsing Epic Reads can be deadly. The books you want are everywhere, and because of this, I actually stopped watching booktube while on my ban and avoided twitter and instagram on release days of books I really wanted.

Of course I’m happy that people I’m following are getting some exciting new reading material, I’m also frustrated and sad that I don’t have it. Maybe it’s selfish, but I want that book, and I don’t want to stare at things I can’t have! Which leads me to my next point…

4. You don’t deserve it

The truth is, we all deserve a little gift to ourselves every now and then.

Whether you got through a really tough week of life or you aced that Calculus test, there is absolutely no shame in giving yourself the gift of a book. Your friends and family don’t have to be the only ones to buy you presents. You are more than allowed to reward yourself for your hard work with a cake book.

5. You’re going to buy them all later anyway

I realize that a lot of the time, we go on bans to prevent impulse-buying. But, at least in my case, I tend to make a list of all the books I’ve wanted to buy and then go out and purchase them as soon as the ban ends.

This is kind of going back to reason #1, all things in moderation. Dropping a bunch of money on a haul as soon as your ban is over is, while thrilling, completely nonsensical. It makes a lot more sense, to me at least, to spread your book buying out throughout a period of time.

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There you have it bibliophiles! Don’t get me wrong, I completely see the attraction of book buying bans. I mean, I only recently purged myself of them. If they work for you, then go for it.

I, on the other hand, will enjoy my books in moderation. Maybe make list of the books I’ll allow myself to buy for a specific time, or a number I’ll limit myself to every month.

Do you find book buying bans helpful? Do you end up buying all the books back like me, or do you actually reduce spending? Do you agree with me and think that book buying bans need to chill out? Tell me in the comments! 🙂

Stay bookish,

Jordyn

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