buy books or borrow books?

I borrow because I cannot afford to buy.. if I buy my kids will likely get their hands on it and destroy it. I only own 1 book at the moment... the 7th Harry Potter book. It's the only one I've managed to keep safe from my kids. I'd like to own them all some day because I do like rereading them.. as well as the Twilight books. But I'd only buy a book to keep if I planned on reading it over and over again. Otherwise I'll just borrow it to read once and return it.

I'm also pretty much a collector of books, I have so many at home I haven't read yet, and I just keep buying more. Usually I borrow from the library only when I know for sure I'll read it in the following week - which is mostly when it's related to studies or work. Of course I borrow books that are out of print or I can't easily find at my bookstore, and some reference stuff that I need to quickly check something, and it would be too expensive and otherwise not interesting for me to buy. I also borrow books in English, as those are also generally out of my budget limits.

My method is simple, if it is a collector's item I buy else I borrow. For e.g. I have the Asimov series, the HP series and so on which I consider are collector's items. On the other hand if I look at other writers or authors, I would like to sample some of their books and if I do find it very interesting then I might sneak into a bookstore near me and purchase the book. So in short I do both and it depends on the quality of the book. Cheers! Ram

It depends. If I am trying out a new author then I borrow the book from the library, but if I already know the author and they have a new book coming out like Sherrilyn Kenyon or Ted Dekker then I definitely will buy the book to add to my collection. I have almost a whole collection for both authors even with new ones coming out each year.

I typically buy books. I haven't been to the library in ages because my stack of to-read books hasn't shrunk in months. I'm reading just as fast as I normally do... but I haven't stopped going book shopping so it never does me any good. When I'm out of books and don't have any money, then I borrow books from the library. I also borrow from the library if I'm pretty sure I'm not going to want my own copy. If I love a book I got from the library, then I want my own copy. I like having all my favorite books on hand to read again or lend to friends and family. My fellow book-reader friends and I do this funny thing called "forced borrowing". They give me a book and say "YOU NEED TO READ THIS!" And so I do. If I really liked the book then I'll get my own copy.

I buy books that I want to keep. There are books I feel better to have in my house or I love so much that I need to see them from time to time. there are other books that I think to have no special value for me. I can be borrow them easily. Anyway, I have many books already and I think twice before buying any books now. They need much space.

Well I know I work with a lot of people who do a lot of reading so for them it is definately cheaper unless it is a Book they really want to own to go to the Library and get most of their books from there. Since I tend to be a slower reader, and do not take much time to do any reading unless it is online, I tend to buy my books so I can take as much time as I need to read them. Eventually I hope to own a Kindle so I can do my reading from there.

i prefer to buy books especially if i like the author or the story/title because i usually re-read them and also i want to keep a collection which i will be passing on to my son when he's ready to take them. for titles that i don't find too interesting or are new, i just try to borrow from friends or the library, although i haven't been doing it the recent years, lol.

i am one of those who prefer to borrow books as i don't have much space to store books at my place. maybe when i have my own home in the near future, and my children are all grown up, i might consider collecting some books that i really like although my husband might think differently hehe i have bought some books but now, i don't read them anymore and they're just collecting dust hehe so i'm slowly donating them to the public libraries. instead i've actually made a blog on all the books that i've liked so that maybe in the future, when i want to read something but have no idea what to, i might get some ideas. i agree that it is a little inconvenient to borrow books from the library for me too. but so far, it's working fine. hope it continues to stay the same as i'm enjoying myself by reading. http://sminut13.blotspot.com

I love buying books as opposed to borrowing a book. If I want to check out a new author I might borrow a book and if I like it ill buy the books. my favorrite is thrift store finds there was one where I found amazing books for a quarter.

it depands on whether the book worth to collect. i also will borrow books from library, if i fond it is interesting, i will buy it.

It all depends on the type of book it is. If it is a book that I have been eagerly waiting for or something that I have wanted for a while, then odds are I will buy the book. On the other hand, if its just a book that a friend has referred to me, then I will just borrow it first. I love reading, so I have plenty of books, but these days my purchasing has slowed for lack of funds. Whenever I do have a little extra, I will certainly buy more books off of my wish list.

i think borrowing books are good because when you buy a book your are spending money and you cannot save for it and also book is good if you just read it because others are just buying books for collection.

I think for me, reading as many books as I can is very important, especially those on my list of books to be read in the future. So if there are books available in my school, i borrowed them, if i have money and can buy one then i would buy them.I have a growing population of books in possession right now, thatis piling up in a little corner of a room, i hope i can get a better house for them soon.

I usually buy my books. I only keep them though if they are exceptionally good or if its a reference book that I will go back to again. I read alot so even though I only keep some I still have books everywhere in the house LOL. I also buy most of my books used and then donate them when i'm done. The local library will take them if they are in good shape or else our local food pantry will take them as they also have a section for household needs and clothing for those people who have been through an emergency situation and have lost everything.

I'd like to buy books than borrow them. I think I like the idea more of owning the book rather than borrowing it from someone. I like to collect books. They're like my current collection aside from the stamps and coins. It also makes me happy seeing those books because I bought them myself and that's like saying I'm proud of myself.

If the title is available in the market then I will buy the book (if I have the money). If not then I would rather borrow from the library. At the back of my mind every book that I have read or reading I always wanted to have a copy of my own, I must consider the circumstances ex. title are only being sold to specific countries or I don't have the necessary money for it.

i love buying and collecting books that i can get important things or knowledge from that books.like dictionaries,recipe books,interesting story books,books about nature,about health.simple story books and other kind of books thats not really important i just borrow them from my friends,sister and from the library.borrowing is a big help on saving our money but sometimes i love to buy books for my own and put it on my shelves.so everytimes that i really need to have them i can get them in just a second from my shelves...no hurry to drive and borrow them from the library.

I buy some if it is an author I really like, or if it is like a devotional book, or something, but mostly I borrow. But my biggest weakness is yard sale and used book sales. Oh my gosh, it makes me crazy. My neighbor had a yard sale a month ago anad I got 10 books for $1. Then my mom and my grandmother and I all read them, and I either re-sell in a yard sale or donaate to the library or give to someone else. I Love Books. And I have already got my children going down the same path! They love books and love being read to.

I used to just borrow books or buy them, read them then sell them on Ebay. Now I also have started a little collection of them, just can't seem to be able to part with them anymore. When I do buy them I always buy them from Ebay.