No CDs for a year

[bhodges]

I may be daft, but how does one download for later?  I seem to be only able to get the streaming version...

Hm, sorry, I may have spoken too soon.  I have only streamed them myself, but thought I found instructions on the site about how to save them.  I have to log off soon, but will check it later. 

--Bruce

[George]

For the past couple of days, I've been staring at my mounting pile of unlistened-to CDs (now at 200+), and also at my overall collection, and I've been asking myself, 'Do I really need any new CDs just now?'

The answer is no.

I agree with you 100%. However, I buy them because I want them. 
Seriously, though, I have done some crazy things in my checkered past and to me, buying any amount of CDs or DVDs for that matter (with actual money, not credit, mind you) no longer bothers me.

This weekend, I shall have to spend £150 on new CD storage - partly because I need more space, and partly for toddler-proofing purposes (yes, I'm thinking ahead ). And having bought and assembled the units and re-catalogued my discs, I'll be faced with the reality that I have too much music. Or at least, too much for the dwindling space available in my home, and too many CDs that I'll just never get to hear if I keep buying more.

Yes, I will soon buy another CD booklet case to keep my CDs in, since I am quickly running out of space.

So, I'm setting myself a challenge. I will not buy any CDs from January 1st to December 31st 2008.

Already, I'm quaking at the thought of what I'll have to do to meet this challenge ... namely, not hit 'Purchase' in Amazon, MDT, eBay, et al.

Every challenge needs ground rules, and these will be mine:

1) I can add as many items as I please to my various wishlists
2) I can continue to download music, but only from eMusic, with whom I have a long-standing monthly subscription
3) I am allowed to buy any BBC Music magazine back issue cover CD that I come across, as I'm very close to completing the entire series to date.
4) I am allowed to make an impulse purchase in a charity shop ONLY if the item is as rare as rocking-horse shit.

There will be penalties, too:

1) If I buy any disc not covered by the exemptions above, I must fine myself £2 per CD and put this money into my daughter's savings account
2) If I go mad and have a whopping spend-up in a moment of utter weakness, I must buy my wife shoes ... lots of shoes

So, one of two things will have happened by the end of next year. Either I will have discovered (and rediscovered) many musical gems in my collection, and end the year feeling smugly satisfied at having beaten what I secretly suspect might be becoming an addiction; or, my daughter's college fees will be paid, and my wife will have to change her name to Imelda Marcos.

It's going to be an interesting year. Please, try not to tempt me.

I wish you the best, Mark. I won't tempt you, I promise.

[SonicMan46]

Mark - now we all know that you've gone through these phases before! 

And, I've not read all of the previous posts that carefully (having a BAD work week!) - but try to 'cull out' the CDs that might not interest you, and make a deal w/ yourself, e.g. sell two CDs & buy one (someone may have already suggested that?) - but this will be a HARD withdrawal for you to last an entire year - but, best of luck - I'd agree w/ the others to arrive @ a compromise solution - Dave 

[springrite]

I am becoming a father next year, and I am considering the same thing. I will ONLY buy CDs that Vanessa asks me to buy FOR OUR CHILD (which means no new Carter or any other late 20th century early 21st century stuff). Otherwise I will stay with what I have. 2800 CDs and hundreds of DVDs should be more than enough. Besides, I won't be have much time alone to listen to them anyway.

PS: I do have about 30 CDs in my shopping cart. And I know that anything from Harry's refusal bin does NOT count against me since they are free. I may start sending Harry my wish lists!!!

[Bogey]

Less than 24 hours and Mark is doing just fine folks:



However, I am a bit frightened thinking about what topics Mark will start generating here at GMG around his eighth month without a purchase. 

And does the LvB set get shelved, or is that one grandfathered in as well? 

[rubio]

4) I am allowed to make an impulse purchase in a charity shop ONLY if the item is as rare as rocking-horse shit.[/b]

This one I follow all the time + very good bargains, and that means I can buy a LOT of CD's .

[Mark]

George, I knew you'd understand. Is this not, after all, a revival of sorts of your own thread from the last incarnation of the forum, where you were trying to buy fewer CDs?

Dave, that's a good idea for a compromise - but that way lies madness. I'll start regretting CDs I culled, and then looking to replace the repertoire with what I consider to be superior performances of the same.

Paul, I hear you. Being a father WILL transform your listening habits, so I think you'll be okay with your enormous collection (which is more than doube the size of mine, incidentally). Oh, and hearty congratulations to you and Vanessa.

Bill, the complete Beethoven set is safe: that's a Christmas present from my wife, so I can spend next year exploring and enjoying it. As for the topics I start, I promise these will be less bizarre/scary than some of those started by Sean.

[Renfield]

As for the topics I start, I promise these will be less bizarre/scary than some of those started by Sean.

I believe that is not very difficult.

Apart from this, I'll second the comments on a balanced solution possibly being a better idea, but wish you the best of success with "The Experiment" nonetheless!

[Mark]

Apart from this, I'll second the comments on a balanced solution possibly being a better idea, but wish you the best of success with "The Experiment" nonetheless!

Thanks.

[Florestan]

Mark, good luck! You might want to try my own strategy: I never buy new CDs before listening to all of the last purchase. So, if you have 200 unopened CDs this should keep you busy at least the first 200 days of 2008...

(As an aside, for me this trick doesn't work with books: having some 30 still unread books did not hinder me from buying last Saturday 22 more. )

[Mark]

(As an aside, for me this trick doesn't work with books: having some 30 still unread books did not hinder me from buying last Saturday 22 more. )

Y'see, books hold little interest for me - I can manage maybe two or three A YEAR and be quite content.

[Great Gable]

(As an aside, for me this trick doesn't work with books: having some 30 still unread books did not hinder me from buying last Saturday 22 more. )

30!! Blimey - you have done well - I bet I easily have 500 unread books. That goes along with my CD and DVD habit!

[Harry]

PS: I do have about 30 CDs in my shopping cart. And I know that anything from Harry's refusal bin does NOT count against me since they are free. I may start sending Harry my wish lists!!!

[Harry]

30!! Blimey - you have done well - I bet I easily have 500 unread books. That goes along with my CD and DVD habit!

I simply stopped reading, apart from Shakespeare, Dickens, a couple of Russian writers, some poetry from Donne,......

[Mark]

I simply stopped reading, apart from Shakespeare, Dickens, a couple of Russian writers, some poetry from Donne,......

... and CD liner notes, eh, Harry.

[Great Gable]

I simply stopped reading, apart from Shakespeare, Dickens, a couple of Russian writers, some poetry from Donne,......

Well Harry, reading is almost as important to me as music. The trouble is, my eyes are not what they used to be and I can only manage 10-20 pages in one go before it strains too much. Imagine only being able to listen to half an album before listening fatigue kicked in - not good.

[Florestan]

I simply stopped reading, apart from Shakespeare, Dickens, a couple of Russian writers, some poetry from Donne,......

When I'll stop reading, I'll also stop listening to music or doing anything else, for I'll certainly be dead.

Well Harry, reading is almost as important to me as music.

Same here, but without "almost".

[Grazioso]

"fast" you are going to have the year from Hell.

You all should step back and think about what you're saying: Mark is talking about a year without buying new CD's--not giving up listening to music, and apparently he already has a huge collection, plus he's still going to be downloading new stuff. Only to a hopeless shopaholic consumerist would that be torture or deprivation.

Mark, I'm with you and understand. There's no point in just buying stuff to have it. Acquisition is one of the flimsiest and most fleeting of pleasures. It tends to be addictive and degrading, too. Listen to and really enjoy and study all those CD's you already have. If you have 300+ unheard discs, that makes one a day to listen to for nearly a year. (And just listening to a classical CD once will barely scratch the surface of the music/performance.)

Good luck and happy listening!

[Harry]

Well Harry, reading is almost as important to me as music. The trouble is, my eyes are not what they used to be and I can only manage 10-20 pages in one go before it strains too much. Imagine only being able to listen to half an album before listening fatigue kicked in - not good.

Reading to me is also important, but apart from the financial times, and a local newspaper, I stopped doing that, because music is priority, and all what I have to read about that, I read, but then it stops. I can live without reading, but not without classical music.
Mind, from 15-till 45, I read some 7 books a week, so I had my share.....

[Harry]

When I'll stop reading, I'll also stop listening to music or doing anything else, for I'll certainly be dead.

Well now my friend, take it easy, living is hard, dying harder, because of the lack of literature.....