How much do you spend ?

[lkermel]

I realised I was spending nearly $200/$300 a months in my video game collection. And this sounds a lot to me.. I've decided to slow this down.

How much do you spend each month in your video game hobby ?...

[Kemp175]

Well, I just started collecting games about a month and a half ago, and only buying SNES games at that. In that time I've spent $500+ and that equals to 160 games i've collected, we will see what next month holds in store.

[PapaStu]

For about 2 1/2 years or so I was dumping between 400-600 a month in games (mostly new, but a good amount of used, all were current gen things PS/PS2/XB/GC/GBA). It pretty much stopped when my local indy shop shut down. I still bought, but never as much or as frequently.

[roushimsx]

depends...sometimes only $100-200 a month and sometimes up to $600 a month. Typically after the $600 months I lay low for a little while and barely break $100 for a while :)

(i love the living hell out of the bargain bins and used games)

[Damaniel]

Too much! LOL

This month, between buying from other DP members and eBay,and all the new releases that have been coming out (Magna Carta, DQ VIII, Mario Kart DS), I'm quickly approaching the $1000 mark. That's pretty unusual for me -- most months I'll spend between $200-$300.

[CosmicMonkey]

Not that much to be honest.

Everytime I've got a new system over the past few years, I'll go on a mass Ebay assault getting the main games I want along with the system itself. Once I've got, say, 5 - 10 of the best games then I calm down for a bit and actually play my games. These have been expensive months, going from about £200 on the PCEngine mission (Duo-R, 10 free games!! and brought a few more), upto £500+ for the now Legendary 'f**k me, I've got a NeoGeo, let's get some games' mission.

On a normal month, I'll probably spend as little as £20 on one game, sometimes nothing. Other times, loads of stuff comes up at once, and I'll do £100 or more.

But then, I have more to worry about before I go off spending cash on games - House, Bills, Missus, Child (plus another one very soon), Car, Life etc......

[Haoie]

I'd think it'd be several hundred per year, which amounts to the dozens per months.

Too expensive a hobby.

[Kuros]

Honestly, I don't know. The thing with me is that with how much I spend, I usually make it back by selling.

[icbrkr]

At the height of my insanity, I was spending $200 every 2 weeks on my collecting. I think I'm down to $50-75 now.

[MrSmiley381]

It varies, really. I think maybe $75 a month, although I sell a lot out. I can't bespending much more than $800 a year. Even then, the number of games I plan to buy is slowly decreasing. Hell, if I can sell my Kirby's Dream Land 3 and spare NES, I can buy a bunch of cheap yet sweet games anyway. Plus, I invest. In and out with profits. Things are going to slow down in the next couple of months anyway, since my flea market will be all but dead.

[TEND]

Around $400 a month, I try not to spend that much I'll spend maybe $100 from a check and try and hang on to the rest, but you know, I'll be walking past the game store, with $20 in my pocket and just thinking, maybe I'll see if they've got anything good. Five minutes later they're holding $150 worth of stuff for me while I run home and grab my wallet. Entirely worth it though.

[club210]

No flow. Zero $$$ lately.
:(

[Mianrtcv]

There is how much I spend. Then there is how much I admit to the wife ;)

It varies. The bug gets me and the cost is high. Generally not a month goes by without a few purchases. Tryin g to keep it low. $100 or so.

[Icarus Moonsight]

I've budgeted $100/month but most of the time I spend less. Some months my game purchases are under $20. Recently though, with all the xmas hub-bub I've shattered the budget on gaming purchases. I'm well over $500 by now... and I still have to pick up Animal Crossing on the 5th.

[Icarus Moonsight]

There is how much I spend. Then there is how much I admit to the wife ;)

LOL That was me also... once upon a time. The budget was a compromise of sorts. :)

[goatdan]

It totally depends with me.

This month, I've probably spent about $200. That doesn't include the use of credit that I built up. This is a by far high month for me, believe it or not. The reason that it happened is because I caved and bought a DS... and have been having insane amounts of fun with it.

In October, I don't think I bought much of anything gaming related. I got some Kay*Bee deals (that was October, right?) and traded with some DP people stuff, but I didn't buy anything beyond that. I think my total Kay*Bee haul was about $25.00.

In December, I predict that if I can hold off buying Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time like I think I can, I will be surprised if I buy anything. While I really want that game, other than the Dreamcast, Jaguar and Neo Geo Pocket I'm a gamer first, collector second. Of those three systems above, I am missing only like three things for the Dreamcast, and nothing for the other two. So, unless a must-have is released and I somehow plow through a bunch of my backlog, nothing is planned.

That's just how I seem to do it though. I get the system after it has been released for a while, and then pick up all the games I really wanted to play for it, which usually is like 20. For the DS, I got "lucky" and it was only about 10 since the system was the newest one I've ever purchased (within the first year of release!) By using my in-store credit from selling Xbox and GameCube titles, I was able to get all the games that I wanted for it. Now, I'll have a slow trickle when I find deals.

Sorry for the long explanation... I guess I haven't thought that through, but it was good that I just did :)

[SlayerX]

Well, I have 3 deals of 50 NES games lined up for $120 each shipped, so that's $360.

Then I have another deal for 120 NES games lined up for $300 shipped.

That right there is $660 just on NES games...

DVD's however... I bought over 30 DVD's last month, cheapest being $9.95 without tax.

I NEED to start limiting myself. Im thinking $30 a month on DVD's, $70 on Video Games.

[Tron 2.0]

$100.00-$200.00

Thanks to my NeoGeo&PCE habits please @_@

Can't say i've spent much on my current console's though.

I realy need to cut back on my VG spending, due to medical bills pileing up etc :embarrassed:

[wrldstrman]

depends on what I find If I find a bunch of stuff at a flea market or yard sale and spend 50 dollars on it and sell it on ebay and make 250.00 dollars I spend 200.00 dollars..recently I sold a large lot for 1250.00 dollars so I spent close to 700.00 the last month or so.I just spend what extra I make from selling.

[NESaholic]

I used to spend alot on games when i started collecting about $200-$500 a month.Nowadays i spend less a month cause i only buy what i really want to own,at first i would almost buy anything nut i became more picky,i think i spend about $250 tops now.

[VG_Maniac]

Probably about $100 - $150 a month.

[Austin]

It rises and drops, depending on how much I'm making an how much I'm playing.

I haven't spent much at all during the last couple months (maybe $30 a month) as I'm currently backlogged on games. But, I had a period where it was about ten times that last spring, mostly getting games I'd missed out on for the PS2.

Budget is limiting me right now, but as soon as I get back to work there is a big pile of stuff I'm planning on picking up. My to-buy list is closing in on a page long. @_@

I spend significantly more on DVDs than games, though, in any given month.

It makes me appreciate the good, long games now. I picked up Disgaea during the summer and didn't have to purchase any more games for a couple months, mostly because I was too wrapped up in it.

[Felixthegamer]

I am in a trasitional stage right now with my collecting trying to figure out what I want to collect. I have too many games collecting dust on the shelf and I don't like that. I want to try and get back to the basics of what I like and what I will play. I spent maybe 100 the last three months on games

[Ulticron]

It varies for me. Some months I spend absolutely nothing at all, especially this time of year. The summer months I generally go crazy though. I've actually spent more than I make in a month, and turned around the next month and paid off the credit card bills. I think the most I've ever spent is somewhere slightly above the $1000 mark.

[gepeto]

Right now I am at about 100.00-150.00.
It funny Some peoples with huge collection don't spend alot per month. They are just savy hunters and have great restraint. We relentlessly hunt to exploit game sales loopholes.

My biggest expenses go to hyped new releases like guitar hero/ half life 2. I just don't have the restraint to wait for a used copy on severely hyped games. I will mostly wait for price drops for all others or used bins or buy 2 get 1 free.I am getting better. I also like to support good companies that put out a thoughtful creative product not just updated sequels.

Over time you have a room of doom then you start to look at yourself like you are crazy. Start feeling grownup. sell it for less than you put into it and then regret selling it. Then buy it back. It's the circle of gaming life.

[Sylentwulf]

On my actual collection? Probably less than $10-$50 per month right now/last few months. There's not much more I need that I'm willing to shell out for. If I come across any games, I buy them, but there isn't anywhere within 30 miles that carry ANY videogames (aside from walmart) let alone used or classic games. The only place I EVER even check in person is a goodwill once a week, 30 miles away.

Modern games, probably $30-$50 per month is my average. 2-3 games.

[Jumpman Jr.]

Like most people, it varies.

If I broke it down into 'how much I've spent'/'how long I've collected for' it would work out too somewhere around $1000 a month... which is a freaking lot of money.
However, in the month of November, I bought about $100 worth of games. Whereas in October, I think I spent over $1000.

[Nez]

About 200+- a month, with my current Neogeo addiction that mean one or two games a month. O_O

[vintagegamecrazy]

I was spending over $500 a month for the last several months. I have cut down drastically as I want to buy a house and need to save much more, I spent about a hundred to 125 in november, which is not bad for me.

[christhegamer]

I used to be so cheap, that I shuddered to pay $5 for anything. Since my recent acquiresation of a large cash reward, I've been a little more loose with it. However, I never go above $35 :) .

[darknut101]

For awhile I was going all out and spending at least $250 a month. Lately I haven't had much extra money to spend so I've slowed down quite a bit. I haven't bought a new game in a few weeks.

[DreamTR]

When I am not buying/selling, $300-600 a month on games, but sometimes this hits $1000 a month depending on what I am collecting.

When I AM buying for selling purposes, like I have been the past three months, I spend $3500 a month on games.

[EricRyan34]

I spend roughly $100-$125 a month, NONE are new, to expensive. Mostly the games are SNES/NES/PS1, and maybe a couple of used PS2 games

[Howie6925]

Depends how the month went with all the bills and such, but I would say 100-150 in cash and 100 on the old visa(god I hate credit cards) :)

[drewbrim]

Everytime this sort of thread is brought up I never know how to answer. If I buy 4 games for $5, and sell each one for $15 and then use that money to buy Dragon Quest 8, how much did I spend? Obviously only $20 out of pocket, but it doesn't change the fact that when I'm balancing my checkbook that it reflects as $80 spent at store X.

This is the only way I buy anything, my whole collection has been built this way without a single dollar from my salary. Well I shouldn't say that, but if I dip into my "regular" money I always put it back.

[Mianrtcv]

There is how much I spend. Then there is how much I admit to the wife ;)

LOL That was me also... once upon a time. The budget was a compromise of sorts. :)

In truth... my friends now call my wife "the enabler". She will say the hobby is getting away from me, yet she buys me things she knows I want. Life is good!

[videogameking26]

Really just depends on that particular month and it's releases.

Usually between $100-$350 a month

[Zilla]

I try to limit myself to 100-200 a month if there are good deals to be had but in the last 3 months I've only spent 50. I have to many games to play so I havent tried to buy more.

[syd]

When I was collecting cartridge based games I was probably spending roughly $100 a month. Now that I have a modded PS2 I only spend money on blank media, which evalulates to maybe $25-$50 a month. Much cheaper in the long run! :D

[rjohnson]

There is how much I spend. Then there is how much I admit to the wife ;)

It varies. The bug gets me and the cost is high. Generally not a month goes by without a few purchases. Tryin g to keep it low. $100 or so.

ALWAYS tryin to hide that $ amount from the wife...

funny, most wives that i know are the financial brains in the family...

i spend ~probably between 100 and 300 a month... but that includes anime dvds... beats drinkin it up in some yuppy pig bar... i do my drinkin at home and eatin too, to justify my gaming madness...

i love junkin' for games!

but as to the actual cash per month... that is hard to say no to in a pawn shop / or garage sale / thrift store...especially when a big batch of games best when they are.... nes/snes ...



@_@

[rjohnson]

When I was collecting cartridge based games I was probably spending roughly $100 a month. Now that I have a modded PS2 I only spend money on black media, which evalulates to maybe $25-$50 a month. Much cheaper in the long run! :D

what is black media?

emulators suck btw...

[johno590]

Over the summer I was spending WAY too much. I dont really know how much but I would say 100-200 something a month which is too much for me.

Lately I have slowed down ALOT. Since its winter I dont have my other job, so that is one reason.

Mainly instead of just buying a few games here and there, Ill put down 50-100 dollars and get a ton of stuff and then sell what I don't want or need, and keep what I do want.

[marcus12024]

When I was collecting cartridge based games I was probably spending roughly $100 a month. Now that I have a modded PS2 I only spend money on black media, which evalulates to maybe $25-$50 a month. Much cheaper in the long run! :D

what is black media?

emulators suck btw...

I'm guessing he meant "blank media", which would be dvd-r/cd-rs.

And as to the topic, I've spent way too much this whole year on games. I got a nice job last year, and ever since have went a little wild with the game purchases. On average, about $500/month since January. This month is particularly nasty due to buying a DS (finally!), DQ VIII, and several older games.

[rjohnson]

speaking of money spent.... i am looking for a ds pink or teal for my kid for xmas... a nintendogs version i guess it is...

any ideas where to get one?

She is a budding gamer... and getting bubble bobble advance for xmas.... possibly animal crossing ds as well...if i can find a ds...

MORE money spent...

@_@

[fishsandwich]

depends...sometimes only $100-200 a month and sometimes up to $600 a month. Typically after the $600 months I lay low for a little while and barely break $100 for a while :)

(i love the living hell out of the bargain bins and used games)

I come and go like you... I bought a CD32 recently and I've been scavaging for games to play on it. Luckily those games are cheap!

Unfortunately, some of your finer SNES games are NOT cheap. Dammit.

I'll spend like a madman, then realize I'm going overboard. Then I slow WAYYYYY down. For awhile. Maybe.

:/

[syd]

When I was collecting cartridge based games I was probably spending roughly $100 a month. Now that I have a modded PS2 I only spend money on black media, which evalulates to maybe $25-$50 a month. Much cheaper in the long run! :D

what is black media?

emulators suck btw...

Yup I meant blank media, as in dvd-r's. Emulators aren't all that bad. If you haven't already, go out and buy a dreamcast and get a few emulators for it. I'm willing to bet you'll be pleasently surprised! :D

[rjohnson]

I have ~6 DCs, and over 100 real games... one of my fav systems... cheap too before the game stores stopped carrying the games...

i have all legit games... emus... not quite the same...

[GameSlaveGaz]

It varies for me, but I think I keep it under $100. I should actually keep track. I usually avoid buying games over $20. If I need to have a game right away, I avoid paying large sums of money all at once and reserve it and pay it off a little at a time so it's less bad. The only time I really buy games is when there are deals and then I'll splurge and buy a bunch of games for like $40-$50, or I'll grab one or two random used games for cheap whenever I have spare cash. Sometimes though, I get impulsive and charge purchases I shouldn't charge. Like when I had no money and a decent sized credit bill and I bought a $40 Saturn and a $15 game LOL. But, compared to a lot of people (including my boyfriend and his brother, who have less money than me but work at GameStop so have a hard time saying no when great games come in...) I am very conservative w/my purchases. I just can't pass up games under $10 or 2-for deals LOL

[TurboGenesis]

Spending can vary month to month. I have spent as little as $10 and upwards over $500 on video games in a one month period. Last month was probably one of my most expensive months ever with several new releases that I picked up, Xbox 360, Guitar Hero, and then I paid a premium for a Dynastic Hero. Its Christmas season now so now I have slowed down but sure enough in January who knows....

I really should settle down to be honest.

[Truffle]

At the most I spend around $200 a month on my collection.

[cyberfluxor]

I'd have to say I spend no more than $25 in any week (Unless I'm buying a new release I must have). I've only gone over $25 may 6 or 7 times. Last week I dumped $10, the week before $8. I collect but slowly so I can spend my money on some other things like gas, school costs, gifts, trips, ect. Right now I'm trying to get a boost in my Saturn collection; last game was Tetris Plus for $5 after trading in 4 duplicate games that I could have gotten more for selling on my own, but I wanted them off my hands. I'm due for a pawn-shop run tomorrow morning/afternoon so we'll see what happens there.

[Luke]

As with most responses - it depends. For me it really comes down to whether any good deals, recents finds or rarer stuff have surfaced. This month was big as I got a sealed copy of Sonic CD and a Midnight Blue BB PS2 (JP).

Luke