Why Buy?

I’ve asked, in the past, about whether you more often buy your books, or get them from libraries. What I want to know today, is, WHY BUY?
Even if you are a die-hard fan of the public library system, I’m betting you have at least ONE permanent resident of your bookshelves in your house. I’m betting that no real book-lover can go through life without owning at least one book. So … why that one? What made you buy the books that you actually own, even though your usual preference is to borrow and return them?
If you usually buy your books, tell me why. Why buy instead of borrow? Why shell out your hard-earned dollars for something you could get for free?

I LOVE books! I have used libraries in the past but even then when I have borrowed something and really enjoyed it I will go out and buy a copy! As I have said before our house is full of books, they are in nearly every room of the house, including the bathroom. I think that I like to own them so that I can go back to them whenever I want and also share them with other people, I couldn't really do that with library books. I'm not fussy about the book being brand new either, I buy a lot from the lovely second hand book shop at the top of my road although I will never turn down a brand new, shiny copy of something! I do buy books and then think that I will probably not read it again so I make really good use of a website called Readitswapit where you can list your unwanted books and people can browse and say which one they would like then you can read their list and see if there is something you would like to swap it for. I have found so many lovely books this way and all it costs is the postage! Embarrassingly as well; I think that I don't use libraries as I am too forgetful and don't take my books back on time so then I get a fine and may as well have bought the book anyway!