I can't afford new ink for my Canon MP530 just yet, but want to still use the scanner? Is this possible?

Hello,
yes it is possible, you have 2 solutions for your problem.
1. Refill the cartridge and use it refilled.
2. Dont refill the cartridge and use it like that. BUT when the erro E 1 6 appears you will find on the printers control board you have a buton that is called Resume/Cancel, it is the buton near the copy black and copy color butons. You can recognize it by the red triangle in a red circle.
Press this buton for at least 10 seconds, if the error is not gone from the first time press and hold the buton for at least 10 seconds for the second time.
Now the printer will have the ink level counter disabled but do not worrie it will worj just as well.