I've got a game plan

[Rickstilwell1]

It is December now so I thought it would be a great time to start a new year's resolution. Next month I get back the caregiving job I had before this last one I was let go from. Since I cut through most of my saved up funds and credit I will have to start from scratch and work every day to build it back up. At least I didn't have to sell anything this time and have been having an enjoyable what will be 3-month vacation. If I can possibly handle taking care of this guy every day for a year and don't buy any non-necessities during that time, I could end up with a savings of anywhere between $20,000-$30,000 from just that year. The question is can I keep myself restrained enough to entertain myself with what I already have? I have a girlfriend too so during my off hours I can spend time with her too.

The answer should be an obvious yes considering just how many games are out there for play on old systems with flash carts and modchips. Not to mention my tape-transferring and editing audio project for my band network and my media chronology database in wordpad.

I just got this idea about how to best minimize the amount of stuff I keep with me at work but stay focused. I'm going to call it the "1 different console each month" plan.

Every month I will try out all the games I can for a system while attempting to complete the ones I really liked. The ones I complete will of course get added to the beaten in 2014 list and get noted on my "games to buy for collection" list. I'll make a note of which game I left off on if I can't try out the whole library in a month, then when I get a chance I will come to my apartment the next month and swap out my console for the next in line. Rinse and repeat. There are enough games for every system that I haven't played as well as a constant supply of music and videos that theoretically I should never run out of stuff to do without buying things. If I get bored of said system or plow through it too quickly (not likely), I haven't even factored in my handheld systems so I will supplement each console with a similar handheld. This activity could be the best way to finally experience all a platform has to offer, save me some money, fully educate me on what is around and best of all extend my list of favorites far beyond what I have already played and completed.

I also got to thinking about how to save the required money to support a family and live comfortably. With my girlfriend talking about marriage lately I believe it's time I started getting ready for doing big things. If I play my part and set an example to her on how to really save money, she should be able to follow and maybe even add half of what I'll add to the year's savings.

That said here's my game plan for next year:

January - NES
February - Sega Master System
March - Sega Genesis
April - Super Nintendo
May - Sega Saturn
June - Sony Playstation
July - Nintendo 64
August - Sega Dreamcast
September - Playstation 2
October - Xbox
November - Gamecube
December - Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Wii (by then I'll have a ton of money saved up and games will be super cheap due to PS4, Wii U and Xbox One being full blown I hope)

If I still have my job and full hours by the next year and am buff and healthy because of it rather than falling on the floor and more backaches than a chiropractor can deal with, maybe I can get some more systems like the ones I used to have and rinse and repeat with those and loop back to my currently owned systems if I don't like those as much. (CD-I month? I don't think so!!!)

Have any of you collectors ever tried to do something like this? Does anyone want to join me on this journey of seeking the gems of a different console each month?

I can't amass a greatly sized collection consisting of only good games if I don't save money and eventually buy a house / rent multiple apartments to put it all in.

Oh yeah and this month I don't have money but I just got an Ouya, so I'm thinking of making this month "Arcade game month" where I decide which arcade games from the matching MAME set I enjoy or not.

[Cornelius]

The video game side of this plan sounds great! I take it you have a lot of down time at your job to play games? Sounds cool, though don't forget that time could also be used to train new job skills or take some courses towards a degree or something.

As for the financial side? I really think to be successful managing money you need to have a serious budget. At the least you should have your paycheck direct depositing into several accounts (e.g. Roth IRA, 401k, savings, checking). But you didn't post here for financial advice, so I'll just leave it at that.

[Rickstilwell1]

The video game side of this plan sounds great! I take it you have a lot of down time at your job to play games? Sounds cool, though don't forget that time could also be used to train new job skills or take some courses towards a degree or something.

As for the financial side? I really think to be successful managing money you need to have a serious budget. At the least you should have your paycheck direct depositing into several accounts (e.g. Roth IRA, 401k, savings, checking). But you didn't post here for financial advice, so I'll just leave it at that.

It's kind of tough to go anywhere for too long with this job because he needs help for a little while at a time broken up into parts. I'm basically going to be staying in the spare room at his place while my apartment home will be a place for my girlfriend and I to come back to as needed and to keep all my stuff where it is. My boss's apartment isn't that big so I can't bring a lot of stuff over like I did with my ex boss. I did get halfway through getting an associates degree for audio production but I got kind of hung up on the mandatory writing class as I was uninspired for anything to write about. I learned a lot of audio basics though and I am always practicing mixing audio tracks.

I actually have 3 different banks (one with checking and savings) as well as numerous credit cards that I revolve often to boost their limits for whenever I am in financial need (such as the last 2 months thru January.) My credit limit expended on 2 of the cards just this month even though I had to make smaller payments on them this time around. You are right that putting the money in separate accounts makes it look like you visibly have less and resist spending more easily. It also makes it so you can withdraw from more possible ATM's anywhere without that $3 fee. I had been doing the multiple account thing for a while, but this guy letting me go and telling me to go back to my old boss who still needed help came unexpectedly. He didn't realize my old boss was in the hospital for a surgery and couldn't go back home yet so I was stuck with 3 months of no work. I'm glad I saved money like I did even though I had only just gotten started.

[Neb6]

I would do the 'different system every month' thing, but my attention span is too short. I keep hopping from machine to machine within a single week.

Of course, I'll still continue to post my observations as I play games that I've never played before. Which reminds me, I have to update my opinions on what home ports of arcade games are the best ones.

As for money advice. Well, I know three things:

1) Squirrelling away money in multiple accounts works well (just be sure that there are no monthly fees for simply having the accounts).

2) "A penny saved is a penny earned." Avoid too many 'treats'. These add up fast (e.g. the mega-coffee super treat that people crave daily). That and pack a lunch.

3) Pay off credit card debt within the time limit (usually it's around 25 days). Upping your credit limit isn't always the best thing to do. Best to keep the slate clean and NOT pay interest.

I have to keep reminding myself that there are oodles of games that I already have stacked up -- waiting for me to play them through.