Loans 2 Go: Summer reading on a budget

Whether you are going on holiday this summer or enjoying a staycation, many of us like to spend time reading all the kind of books we don’t normally get time to read. For some of us this means the latest bestsellers, others may chill out on chick lit, yet others prefer biographies or other thought-provoking non-fiction.

Whatever you like to read, it can quickly become an expensive hobby. Yes you can also use local libraries and a swap books with friends, but you may not always be able to get exactly what you want and so can begin to run out of essential reading just at the every time you have a bit of extra time on your hands to read.

One ideal solution to the holiday reading dilemma is to get a kindle. Not only does this mean that you can create your own mini library of things you actually want to read, but if you are going away you will have all of those books readily available without them filling up half your suitcase.

But aren’t kindles expensive?

There are now a range of kindles available, from basic touchscreen models at around £60, to the newest Kindle Oasis at around £320. A mid range Kindle Paperwhite sits somewhere in the middle of these two. To complicate things even further, there are multiple different options for each model of Kindle.

So yes, there is certainly an upfront cost, and you need to research the different models and decide which features are important to you and how much you are prepared to pay. All models have the following features in common:

• Full access to the entire Amazon Kindle Store
• Wi-Fi connectivity
• 6in touchscreen e-ink display
• The ability to take and share notes within books

So over and above this you need to decide which additional features – such as length of battery charge, additional storage, backlight, 3G/4G connectivity, Bluetooth and waterproofing – are important to you.

What about the cost of books?

It is usually a similar price to load a new book onto a kindle as it is to buy it in paperback version, though can  sometimes be considerably cheaper. But you will definitely get good value in browsing through existing titles, some of which are incredibly cheap to load onto your Kindle.

Amazon also runs a scheme called Kindle Unlimited where you pay a monthly subscription then have unlimited access to over a million books and audiobooks and also a wide range of current magazines. Kindle Unlimited costs £7.99 per month or is free if you already have Amazon Prime membership.

So overall, a Kindle can represent much better value than buying physical books. So if you enjoy reading and want an easy and stress-free way to devour lots of books this summer, do think about getting a Kindle. It can save you pounds in the long term.

If you would like to get a Kindle to save money, but money is already tight then you may want to consider an unsecured personal loan from Loans2Go. This would enable you to invest in a Kindle then repay the loan with the money you are saving from not having to buy books.

An unsecured personal loan from Loans2Go can be for any amount from £250 to £1,000. It’s easy to apply online, and if your application is approved the money could be yours within 60 minutes. So do get in touch if we can help.