I've been unemployed and broke as fuck for months now,and living in various undesirable places. The only time i lived near decent record stores was when i was in amherst and in boston for a while. generally my album buying method is that i like a varying amount of groups in various genres. I walk into record store. I spy an artist. In this case, Ornette Coleman. I see "Free Jazz". I have heard Free Jazz on mp3 format. I dislike. However, mp3 format is of the lameness. So I buy album. And enjoy.

I enter record store again with cash in hand. While browsing, I see Big Black "Atomizer" for 10 bucks. I have the 10 bucks. I buy. Enjoyment.

Repeat.

I always have a mental want list, but I rarely go out looking to buy a specific CD. If there's something particular I want I'll generally buy it online. Going to a physical record shop is always an occasion for browsing and impulse buying.

I buy what baby Jesus tells me to buy.

I know what you mean, I've been there myself. I ended up having to sell a huge slab of my record collection to pay off some of the debt. I could almost weep at the thought of some of the stuff I sold.

You have a lot of Klezmer in your collection then?

You know, he's actually a big Priest fan.

Godflesh too

Huuuuuuge.

I mainly impulse buy, but there are times when I plan on purchasing a particular CD.

MP3 format IS OF THE LAMENESS! I AGREE!!

I usually do that as well.

I definitely impulse buy.

i have this huge textfile on my computer of all the shit i need to buy. there are some cds and such but mostly stock for my distro and money for putting stuff out for the label + more gear. like this bitching oscillator ive been wanting. i spend hours bored as hell budgeting out... but then come paycheck, budget gets pretty well fucked. although im 99% sure im atleast buying the oscillator.

as for personal music, there is stuff that mailorder that is planned but i usually go to record stores with nothing particular in mind.

It really all depends on what I buy and when I buy it. Sometimes I buy impulsively and other times I save my cash and buy items that I have planned on buying. Just like everybody.

Mostly plan. I have a bunch of albums and stuff I want to get.

I usually impulse download something and if I like it I put it on the list to be mail-ordered.