Tuesday, September 19, 2006

I don't think we're typical media consumers

According to this interesting article about media trends in PW, on average people spend $97.04 a year on books. And they spend 107 hours per year reading books.

Yeah, I'm definitely not the average person. I wonder how many hours I spent reading last year? 107 hours a year is only 2 hours a week. I might average more like 2 hours a day. Actually, probably more than that once you figure in weekends.

And $97 a year for books? Ha! Though I have instituted a monthly book budget, which I probably won't be able to stick to.

Compare to TV: people spend $306.70 and 1,673 hours per year on the boob tube. *sigh*

11 comments:

CindyS said...

97 bucks in one year. Ouch. I think I spend that almost every two weeks. Yeah, so not normal.

CindyS

C2 said...

Well, here I am...joining the not normal group. Like that's news. :o)

But, hey...let's put a different spin on this! We are ABOVE AVERAGE! Go us!! LOL

I probably am about average with TV viewing, though...somebody want to do the math for me?? No? OK...that comes out to about 4 1/2 hours a day. I wonder if they mean really watching or just having the TV on?

Dev said...

Nope, I'm not normal either. I admit it. 2 hours a week? Try 2 hours a day (at least), and then abundantly more on the weekends.

As far as TV, what if I TiVo and then fast forward through the commercials and all the parts I don't like? I can whiz through a show that would normally be an hour in about 10 minutes.

nath said...

that's interesting numbers. they should do a study with ppl that read as much as us :D

by the way, $97.04 ?!? that's a ridiculous number... I think I join Cindy, as I too, spend about $97.04 per two weeks...

by the way, 306.70$ for TV?!? isn't that a bit low too?

Kristie (J) said...

Good thing we are a group!! $97 a year??? That's less than what I spend a month! And reading? Normally 2 hours a day or more for me too. I had a neighbour over the other day to show her my library and she was telling me she's read maybe 4 books in the past 10 years. I just shook my head to myself.

Jennie said...

Cindy--I know! $97 a year is only about one book a month. I don't think so.

C2--Yeah, we're totally above average! That TV number blows me away. But then I guess a lot of people do just have it on in the background a lot. I can't do that. If the TV is on, no matter what is playing, it could be an infomercial, I'm RIVETED. It's awful. I have a serious one-track mind. So I don't even turn it on unless it's a show I REALLY want to watch.

Devonna--I want Tivo! Think how much time I could save. More reading time, eh?

Nath--Someone should do a survey on us! Show the world how the should be spending their time. ;) And the money numbers are all US dollars, remember, so maybe that's why it seems low to you?

Kristie--It's incredible to me how many people don't read for fun at all. So sad. They don't know what they're missing. :)

Mailyn said...

Maybe you read it wrong. I'm pretty sure they said 97 a day. They'd have to be. I don't think I spend less than 100 dollars a month on books.

God I need to cut back the spending!

nath said...

Jennie... do you really know how much you spend on books per year? cos... now that I think about it, I'm not sure I want to ^^; Just knowing "A LOT" is enough for me I think...

Mailyn said...

LMAO Nath, so there with you!

Jennie said...

Yeah, I don't think I want to know how much I've spent on books. But I really can't help myself most of the time. And I'm not really much of a shopper for other things, so I figure I can splurge on books. :)

CindyS said...

I don't regret the money I spend on books. I don't drink or smoke or gamble or go to the movies or, well, you get the picture.

I think if books start to get to the 15 dollar point (they can be up to 10.99 for a paperback up here) then I will definitely not buy willy-nilly.

The other thing is that even though people think I would rather have something else, I always insist that book gift certificates are always a good thing. Always. Luckily, my cats and dog listen ;)

CindyS