How much have you saved by buying an ereader?

[Anabana]

I've definitely saved money. My husband and I are both avid readers; we live in the 'sticks'. 18 miles to the nearest library, 20 to the nearest ubs/thrift stores.
Before buying our ereaders (less than 2 years ago), I spent an average of $10 per week on used books which were then bundled up and donated back to the FoL bookstore. That was in addition to the books borrowed from the library.

We have a bit over 800 ebooks in our collection, plus we've read an additional 100 or so from our public libraries.
I've only purchased 6 ebooks - all less than $5. So deducting the cost of the readers (cheapies) and the 6 books from what I would have spent, I've saved about $600. This isn't even considering gasoline consumption, etc. Now I feel totally justified to invest in a new device - maybe the Nexus 7 ....

[laughingdragons]

Getting an ereader has cost me a LOT more. Before it I probably read 1-2 books a year.

Now I read at least 2 a week. I do read a free book once in awhile, but not that often.

[danskmacabre]

I spend more on my Kobo Touch than I did buying physical books as it's more convenient for me to read now (I have 200+ books on my Kobo touch).
Books ARE actually cheaper for me though as I tend to avoid the big name authors whose ebooks are the same or greater prices than their pbook equivalents and buy books from lesser known authors whose ebooks are cheaper.
It's just I read more and buy more books.

So at the end of the day, sure I spend more on books, but I get more enjoyment from reading now.

[Chi Cygni]

Saved. Ha ha. 4 ereaders, 4 covers, 7 skins (I like to change them) kandle, battery for said kandle... ebooks not included. But truly, for expats it is the only way, as has been said before.

Not to mention adequate handbags to hold ereaders.

[emoorman]

I'm probably spending about the same or maybe a little more, but I am reading more books. I would normally buy my favorite authors in hard bound. Now, with ebooks, I can buy them and a couple of the low price, unknown authors that Amazon publishes. I have found some really great reads in the low price books. I'm 74 years old, so I have been emailing these authors to write more, write more, write more faster. I've even rediscovere sci-fi after 50years or so.

[covingtoncat73]

Actually, I can think of a couple of instances where I bought the eBook, then bought the hardcover once one was available inexpensively from Amazon Marketplace.

[Ginwen]

I spend less per book, but I'm reading a lot more, so I spend more total (not even counting in the price of the readers and accessories).

Before I got my K2, I would still read when something I really wanted came out, and on vacation, but I wasn't reading that much the rest of the time. Now very few days go by where I don't read.

I still spend a lot less per book, since a lot of times I would buy the hardcover (since I didn't want to wait). Even though I'd usually sell them when done, that's basically pennies on the dollar.

[DarkScribe]

I am very enthusiastic about eReaders. I can load several files that I need to review or edit and use the highlight feature (plus an audio note-taker) to indicate where revision is needed. I am no longer tied to a computer in order to function. It makes my worklife more relaxing. I can be sitting in my boat fishing or lazing on the beach and still be reviewing submissions. To my wife's chagrin, if I wake early and cannot get back to sleep I will continue to work in bed.

I also use it to read for pleasure, I am reading new writers and re-reading old favourites when I feel a need to relax. I doubt that an eReader has saved me money, but it has made life more relaxed.

[mediax]

It seems that (in the UK, at least) ebooks are broadly priced at a similar level to pbooks (some less, some more), but don't qualify for the 3 for 2 offers and loyalty points I used to get when I bought pbooks from Waterstones. Plus, I need to re-purchase those books from my library I wish to keep on my reader.

What is this "saving" thing of which some speak?

[HomeInMyShoes]

^Agreed on the where's the savings sentiment.

Right now, I'd be losing money and quite a bit on every title I bought in e-format over paper. Convenient yes and I like reading on it a lot, but I'm carrying a lot of paper books around for my budget. Unless Overdrive library lending for Kindle to my country sometime, my e-reader is pretty much a dust collector right now.

[pagansoul]

I tend to keep things so in the last 15 years I've been trying to get rid of some of my collections. I stopped buying comics and getting magazine subscriptions. I donated all my National Geo to Goodwill (over 30 years worth) many, many, many paperbacks also donated. I used to pay $2 and fill a large paper bag with them at street fairs and go to used book stores weekly. Before I even got my reader I was reading more on my computer and less as pbooks. By the time I did get my first reader I had CDs full of ebooks and comics just waiting for a nice mobile reader. Now I have most of my old books in digital form. My home is a lot less cluttered. Money saved, I don't think so, I have the same budget as before. I just spend it differently.

[theducks]

In the hole.

Back when paperbacks were under $3, I used to get 4 to 6 a month.
Then they help my (shelf space) budgeting by raising prices , I spent the same $.

Now, with an e-reader, Baen sells more books, since I don't have to get shelves (or drive to the book store) I get tempted easily.

[shanghaichica]

It hasn't saved me money. Granted, most ebooks have cost me less than they would have in physical format. I've bought and read a lot more books than I used to. It's all to easy to buy books and store them on a device because they don't take up physical space.

[DarkScribe]

An enthusiastic reader would very likely buy a lot of secondhand books. Even at reduced pricing, eBooks cannot compare to books from Op Shops, yard sales, Secondhand bookshops and swaps. It would be cheaper to continue to buy second hand books and have them scanned by the 1dollarscan outfit. A group of us have formed a "co-op" and sent bulk books to 1dollarscan to save on shipping costs. Currently we have had more than one thousand books scanned - all at the the one dollar price.

Recent best sellers from top authors (recent being over the past decade or two) at a dollar plus a copy beats even most Amazon Indie prices. We usually pay a dollar or less for the book - most of the Op/Charity shops locally will sell a large plastic carry bag of books at two bags for five dollars - so the total price comes in at well under two dollars.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by DarkScribe

An enthusiastic reader would very likely buy a lot of secondhand books. Even at reduced pricing, eBooks cannot compare to books from Op Shops, yard sales, Secondhand bookshops and swaps. It would be cheaper to continue to buy second hand books and have them scanned by the 1dollarscan outfit. A group of us have formed a "co-op" and sent bulk books to 1dollarscan to save on shipping costs. Currently we have had more than one thousand books scanned - all at the the one dollar price.

Isn't it $1 per so-many pages? I looked at it once and it seemed that for a large book it worked out at several times that. Perhaps it's changed since I looked at it?