S/O paper stacks vs. loose sheets

I buy both, it really depends on what is in the stack though before I'll commit. There are a lot of lines I like that don't sell in stacks so those I buy in single sheets. If the stack has enough sheets in it that I'll use for the money, I'll buy it. I was pretty excited to find a stack of the Yearography paper from Simple Stories not too long ago since it was already discontinued in the regular line. I knew I would use most of it, and also liked that it was single sided so I wouldn't have to sacrifice the design on the back when I use a sheet.

For me I have to see it to remember to use it, and it's easy to shove the stacks on a shelf and forget about them. In the Scrap Rack organizing class, Tiffany (the owner/designer) labels the spine with a Sharpie and stores them on a shelf along with her other paper. That's probably what I'll do too once I get my stuff together and organized better.

I usually buy single sheets. I have bought just a handful of stacks that are 12 x 12.

Single sheets only. I actually dislike 6x6 pads even, since there's no choice but to pay for something I might not like. I, too, would rather pay more for single sheets than end up with paper I don't want. That's also why I don't buy collection packs and won't shop at stores that don't sell loose paper. I usually only want 3-4 papers from a line, so pads/collections/stacks just don't work for me at all.

I only own four 12x12 pads, and they're the only four pads I've EVER bought, in all of my 14 years of scrapbooking. I just don't tend to use them, so I stopped buying them. The 6x6 pads, on the other hand, seem to multiply by the day. Lol. I much rather buy my paper by the sheet because I rarely want more than half of any collection. With the smaller pads, though, between scrapbooking, PL and card making, it's just so easy to use them up.

I try to stay away from the huge stacks that are the lightweight paper because I find the lightweight paper very hard to deal with when using pocket pages. I try to stay away from cardstock stacks before I tend to tire of them before I use them all and they take up a lot of room.

However, I do love 6x6 and 8x8 paper pads. I have a small scrap budget and I devote most of it to paper. Before, if I loved a line, I would buy 1 or 2 sheets of each paper, but the lines I just really liked I would have to choose between.

Now, with the combo of using pocket pages and the availability of so many of these small pads, I can sample lots of lines, and I love that! I mean for 6 bucks you can have every paper in an entire line. Sweet! So those are a hit for me.

Even in lines I love, I now sometimes buy a small pad, and then only full sheets of my absolute favorite sheets.

I only buy single sheets or collections in 12 x 12. I find the pads usually have flimsy paper and I like the paper thick. But I own too many 6 x 6 pads. I use them to make cards and it's easy to do with all the papers coordinating. Plus, I find those papers are usually thicker. And if I really like a collection, I may buy the 6 x 6 pad just to pet all the pretty papers.

Single sheets mainly but I do buy the odd collection or stack here and there. When I first stated scrapbooking there was no stacks available and when they finally made it to Australia I can remember them being about $50 at my LSS, way to pricey for my liking. When stacks became cheaper and more readily available thanks to the big box stores and craft stores I bought a few but they are all still sitting in the shelf hardly used, I struggle to use a whole sheet of paper and when you have two or three of the same pattern I get bored easily with it.

I never buy pads.  

I do both.  I held off on pads for the longest time, but I'm finding I like having lots of choices that have the same colors.  I'm not good at mixing & matching patterns, so I like that they've done it for me.  Is it worth it in the long run to buy a pad and not use every sheet?  Probably not, but I won't think about that today.  I'll think about that tomorrow.

When I had LSS to go to I never bought paper stacks. I had 3 fairly close by and all of them were amazing when it came to their paper supply so I always purchased single sheets. But, sadly, now that there are no longer any stores around and I have to buy 99% of my supplies online I have found that I have purchased more paper stacks - mainly when I go over the US and can shop at Hobby Lobby, Js, or ACM (which is usually a couple of times a year). Luckily there is a WONDERFUL scrap store that I am able to visit on my trips to the US as well and I still pick up individual sheets of paper there too. I'm not a big fan of paper stacks because I find that there are a lot of sheets in them that I will never use. 6x6 or 8x8 paper pads... that's a different story! Those I hoard!

I hate the pads...I can never get the paper to come out without ripping a little.

use to buy stacks....found out I only used a few sheets and never killed a pack. I recently got rid of all of them. I only buy individual sheets now. Working much better for me.

I have to get a really good deal on the paper pads now before I'll buy them. Interestingly enough, I've been on a Dear Lizzy paper pad using binge lately. I might be at a point where I can RAK the remaining sheets to someone else. My box of 6 x 6 pads is overflowing. Time to purge it as well. I used quite a bit when I took the classes from Scrapbook Generations. Recently joined Studio Calico and Hip Kit Clubs so no need to buy much paper (says the woman who just placed an order at Scrapbook.com).

Long answer to say - I generally prefer buying by the sheet.

I buy both.  I used to get excited about just about any paper pad and then buy it.  My stash got to be a bit overwhelming so now I'm more careful about what I buy.  When I'm looking at a paper pad I have to really love the majority of the papers before I buy it.  And it has to be on sale.  The DCWV paper pads at Joann's don't appeal to me at all anymore.  In the past year or so I've bought a couple of Heidi Swapp paper pads and some rebranded MME at Michael's.  I've also bought a few at Hobby Lobby.  
I haven't lived near a scrapbook store in quite a long time, but when I'm near one I'll stock up on individual sheets. 

Mostly single sheets.