[ProDigit]

maybe so.Then just spend a week on bread and water and save the money you'd spend on rich food or going out, to buy one! (I've done similar in the past for other gear).
In the long term you're benefiting from it; it's like BUY BIG when you go shopping.
I'm not an avid reader; just an occasional reader, but on a timespan of 3 to 4 years I easily topple 80 books.

Many on the forum read more then 80 books per year,some even close to 10 books per month!

If you don't have the money to purchase a reader, but do have the money to buy (or rent)a large house hosting a closet or two to books something is off...

Besides you can't guarantee all books you buy are $3 or $4. There'll be times your books will cost you $7 or perhaps $15, regardless. Unless you only set yourself to buy 3 to $4 books, but you might get disappointed in the gamma you can buy.
An ebook reader only adds to that gamma.

It's all about handling money. Those who can't get to save $250 in a couple of months,and have no legit reason (like newborn babies, being handicapped or having a family member that's in need of lots of medical treatment, just lost a job, or paying back of emergency loans (not the mortgage on the house or car),or something in the likes of being serious) are seriously living wrong!
It shows there's something deeper that's wrong.

Every regular person should be able to save 250 in a couple of months time, or should at least have the sense to save up for things like this (or other gadgets,whatever one wants to save up for) in a longer period of time ; though I can understand with the current economy not many are prioritizing an ebook reader,or even understand the importance on prioritizing one, that if one reads books lots, in the long run one benefits financially from buying one!

If you plan on buying many books anyways,I'd recommend to do the stretch,and buy yourself one that's cheap (the Sony PRS reader),and allows you to read free ebooks (like books that can be downloaded from this site).