The books I got from bookstores were freebies. I got them from two different German bookstores (the big chain ones, with muliple B&M stores in every city).
I am a member in two libraries and have applied for a third one. As the third library is in a different county it is not sure they will accept me.
I used to buy a lot, but since my monetary downfall (doesn't this sound way more dramatic then being broke
) I found I don't need to buy. The libraries have everything I wanna read and wait time is no problem when I time the books I put on hold wisely.
When I got my first e-reader I was a patron of two libraries and bought books, too. Then it moved to buying only and now I am at lending only. It makes no difference in getting the latest books, just in my wallet. ;-)