What's your monthly budget to spend on classic games? [Archive]

Jumpman Jr.

05-31-2006, 01:25 PM

Hey everybody,
I've been thinking about this for a while, and I've been wanting to create a thread asking this question, but I just never got around to it. I did a quick search to see if a topic like this has been done before, but couldn't find anything. I think I remember seeing one asking how much you've spent in total on games, but that's it.

But yeah, how much do you spend on your games, per month (roughly). Do you allow yourself a certain amount of money that you can spend on games for a months time?

Or do you just spend your money on the games that you want, when you see them up for sale? And if you do this, what would be an average month of spending for you?

I ask this becuase what I have been spending per month has changed considerably since I started collecting. When I first started I would barely spend anything thinking that if I spent more than $100, I'd be in over my head. Then, I started to get a little bit more serious and started to spend a few hundred dollars a month. I remember the month I bought Congo Bongo for the Intellivision, I spent like $250 on games, and my girlfriend was really mad at me.

At that point, she said to me "Okay, what you should do, is allow yourself a certain amount per month that you can spend on games. That way, you'll never spend too much." I sort of said 'Yeah, that's a good idea, but I don't know.'

Since then (that was about a year ago), I've been spending increasingly more on games, per month. And, as of recently, I've been spending quite a lot.
In March, I spent about $1,000
In April, I spent about $1,400
And in May, (assuming I win the Hot Slots for the NES on ebay right now), I've spent about $1,800.

Granted, these past three months have been out of the ordinary for me, as most of the money I spent was used to get all the hard-to-find NES games I needed for my complete collection.
I don't know, what does everybody else spend?
Jumpman Jr.

Vectorman0

05-31-2006, 01:50 PM

On average, I would say $125 or so. That doesn't count the money I spend from selling old stuff I'm not interested in anymore, or trades.

Here's one old topic, but I could have sworn there was a more recent one:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=46508

Slate

05-31-2006, 01:51 PM

Right now i can say less than $100 per month, So far i've spent about $315 this year on my collection, That is including current generation games.

It's also counting dollars i got from selling games i have duplicates of, or just don't want or need.

I rarely buy games on ebay, I've bought fewer than 30 (20?) lots of game related stuff on ebay.

WanganRunner

05-31-2006, 02:05 PM

Last year I was spending about $300-400/month on games, but that has recently dropped to near zero, well under a hundred bucks.

I've been directing cash at other pursuits recently, most notably a business venture which, I would hope, would allow me to buy a lot more games in the long run.

Jumpman Jr.

05-31-2006, 02:11 PM

Here's one old topic, but I could have sworn there was a more recent one:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=46508

Thanks, I guess there is an older topic. Mods, feel free to lock this one if you think it's too similar (which it's pretty much is, sans the poll).

Damaramu

05-31-2006, 02:30 PM

Probably about $150 - $200 a month on games. I try not to go overboard with that amount. :D

Nukie

05-31-2006, 04:18 PM

I generally try to stay around 100 unless I see that gem come out that I might not have another chance at for a while.

Steven

05-31-2006, 04:32 PM

It also depends on how much $$ I have in my paypal account from selling games. One time I had $417 or some ridiculous amount... and I used it all on video games within a month probably, or month and a half. I had a huge $295 order I remember, for several SNES games including Chrono Trigger the two Lufia's etc.

Right now, I'd say $150-ish. This month I've spent well over 200 however....

I don't place a limit on myself other than under 300... I just buy as I see good deals and whatnot. if it's too good to pass up... it's too good to pass up ;)

I'm narrowing the want list down though, and Thank God I don't think I can keep this crazy pace up... I just want to relax knowing I got all the games I ever wanted. :)

hezeuschrist

05-31-2006, 04:48 PM

Wow, I'm kinda suprised by the low numbers.

I'm an impulse buyer, so before easter I spent very little on games of any kind, but after Easter I've had a hardcore feening for complete NES titles. I spent over $200 in Ohio at CCAG last weekend, and right now I'm thinking about a big purchase ($100+) over the boards.

But, I really don't have THAT many games I want, and if I see them complete in good condition it's hard for me to pass them up. I also get quite bored at work and constantly check ebay, which is never good.

I tried to limit myself to $100 spending cash a week (games, movies, music, concerts, whatever), but that's not enough. Sometimes it is, but not usually. Now with the Gamestop B2G1 sale coming up and the impending release of the DS Lite, that $100 a week isn't going to last me squat.

I'd guess around $300-400 a month goes straight to games.

cyberfluxor

05-31-2006, 05:51 PM

I've actually been debating about if I should start really hardcore playing my older video games and as I beat them, write it down on a list and sell them off, keeping only the great games. I've been slowly digging deeper into my pockets each week and it's going to start hitting harder if I don't figure out some sort of change. Collecting is fun and everything but it may be about time to start selling back slowly and not buy classics for awhile. Also my spending habbits are about to change with getting a DS, like I've already gotten 2 games for it and don't even have a Lite yet.

But to more so answer the question, around $10-100+ a week. It all depends on how often I end up going to the pawn shops. Because I work part-time and do full college that's a lot of spending.

Damaniel

05-31-2006, 05:55 PM

In my case, the amount varies wildly from month to month. I've spent over $1000 some months, and next to nothing during other months. Recently, I've only made a few small purchases -- maybe $80 over the last two months or so (almost half of which was used to buy one sealed NES game).

MagicMajenta

05-31-2006, 06:22 PM

For me it depends if I have the money at that time and also if while I have money I think of something that I want to get. This goes for anything video game related either classic or current. So some months I might spend quite a bit and other months I may spend hardly anything.

Darren870

05-31-2006, 06:37 PM

Its all random, depending on how much money I have to spend. Could be $1000, could be $50. May was over $1000, june will probably be the same. They are just better months for me in terms of the money I make at my job.

Fighter17

05-31-2006, 06:53 PM

$100 thru $150 per month.

slip81

05-31-2006, 07:17 PM

Does anyone here save money, donate to charities, the homeless?

I'm sorry, but $1000+ on games each month is rediculous, I don't care who you are or how much you make.

alec006

05-31-2006, 07:18 PM

Last year i counted all of my recepts for the whole year i spent $478.91 on video games for the whole year,so on advrage i spend $39.90 a month. Once i get a job those number should go up a little.

smork

05-31-2006, 07:24 PM

I'd say on average a cuppla hunnerd a month -- call it $300 or so. May be more than that.

exit

05-31-2006, 07:24 PM

I always buy things on a whim, so I really don't have a set budget. The ironic thing is these random events are usually when i don't have money to spare and I usually buy the game knowing I won't be able to find it for that price again.

Slate

05-31-2006, 07:32 PM

Just noticed something..

Jumpman Jr, I think you made a mistake in the subject title.

What's your Montly budget to spend on classic games?

Darren870

05-31-2006, 07:35 PM

Does anyone here save money, donate to charities, the homeless?

I'm sorry, but $1000+ on games each month is rediculous, I don't care who you are or how much you make.

Yes, Yes, No

gepeto

05-31-2006, 07:42 PM

I am good for between 100.00-200.00
This past year I have made a promise to wait until prices drop. I has worked out well. I can't tell you the amount of games I purchased at used prices only to see them drop to 15.00 or less in less than a few months. Ex half life 2 and dragon quest at circuit city 10.00 apeice. I know all prices drop but the hype got me.

The monthly spending involves both classic and current. The thing that gets me is the X factor. example I was going to buy a sega cdx for about 75.00 plus shipping. I was beat to the punch by someone else. 3 months later I pick one up for 10.00 mint condition.

Even though I was bummed at missing the cdx for 75.00 I would have never thought I would have gotten it for 10.00.
that is one of probably 100 examples of wammies that I have experianced.

I am impressed at your attempt at finishing the nes collection. mighty impressive.

The one thing I have learned about collecting is to stop overhyping a rare item in my mind and just wait in time it will come to you at a much better price.

Another wild thought is I am willing to bet that there are two people on this site with nearly an identical collection where one paid two to 3 times more than the other. The other saved by being fiscally conservative an patient.

Kid Ice

05-31-2006, 07:50 PM

coz

05-31-2006, 08:08 PM

I spend less than $100 a month, and I make practically all of it back selling my extras on ebay.

Since January I've spent less than 400 bucks, gotten well over 2 dozen games, + a genesis, Dreamcast and multiple NES's, and my paypal balance is positive, meaning...I'm ahead, probably way way ahead since I've used some of my profits for food, rent, etc.

Bratwurst

05-31-2006, 08:24 PM

The one thing I have learned about collecting is to stop overhyping a rare item in my mind and just wait in time it will come to you at a much better price.

This is very true and some of the best advice to be dispensed on this website. I spend less than 100 a month on average myself. Sometimes 130-ish. I also have a framework in mind that if I can't get X number of games within Y dollars shipped, I don't go for it.

CreamSoda

05-31-2006, 08:34 PM

I would say about an even $100.

It's not because I'm poor, but right now all my money is going toward...

-Fixing up my truck('94 Ford F150)
-Saving up for a Hyundai Tiburon(don't laugh I love this car)

I do often go over my gaming "budget" though. LOL

keiblerfan69

05-31-2006, 08:54 PM

Less than 100 a month. No job so that kinda kills the buys. But once I get a job almost all my money is going to games.

cyberfluxor

05-31-2006, 08:57 PM

Does anyone here save money, donate to charities, the homeless?

I'm sorry, but $1000+ on games each month is rediculous, I don't care who you are or how much you make.

I'm in the same boat with Kid Ice for posting that response. I'll just say that my family is quite generous and we donate things from food, clothes, money, computers, and all types of other materialistic things. My parents donate to college funds and universities to assist in research and others to get an education. In addition, I add money to my bill when shopping at thrift stores to donate more and put my change in donation jars at 7eleven and other places like IHOP.

Lets leave it at that because I can go on for pages, matter of fact I wrote several large paragraphs and deleted it because I figured it wouldn't be wise to submit so much. Plus it may inflame this tangent debate.

Darren870

05-31-2006, 09:12 PM

mmm agreed on that question. Anyways, my $1000 does not include the games I wind up selling. I could sell $1200 worth of stuff and wind up saving money that month.

It just tends to be around that high (a grand) without that factored in.

bangtango

05-31-2006, 09:33 PM

swlovinist

06-01-2006, 01:26 AM

Unless it is a convention, I spend less than $50 a month. I use Ebay to make my game money, and recently I have been crippled with not being able to find a stable job. I usually spend $50 to $150 a month, while a convention I spend more like $300 to $400 for the month of the convention(NWCGE or CGE). I am currently spening less than $50 a month, but have still managed to get within 40 games for my 8th complete collection....Sega Genesis!

slip81

06-01-2006, 08:29 AM

Does anyone here save money, donate to charities, the homeless?

None of your business, actually.

This could become a long and potentially thread derailing argument, and I'm awful tempted just to close this window and move on. But something about statements like this really gets to me.

I guess the question I would return is, how do you know everyone on these forums so well? How did you become aware of all our charitable activities and incomes? Why are you in a position where you can comfortably question the spending habits of others?

For what it's worth, if anything, your're on my A-list of DP contributors, slip81, but dammit this is so offensive.

You guys (also aimed at cyberfluxor's responce) are right, and I apologize if I offended anyone. Everyone here seems pretty cool, and I had no right making a comment like that.

I'm not sure what I was thinking, but I was probably just a little annoyed at first because I was thinking about how hard most people have it, and then saw a thread where people were talking about thousands while some have nothing.

In the end there is no excuse, and I should never try to impose my opinion on anyone. I enjoy being a part of this comminuty, and wouldn't want to be blackballed for one ill thought out comment.

Again I'm sorry if I offended anyone.

That said I'd say I spend less than $100 a month, June being an exception because I'm using some graduation money to get a DS lite.

jdc

06-01-2006, 09:18 AM

THE coolest thing about classic games in the wild is that they can be had for very little. I don't set a budget and don't always find something.....but yesterday I was in the Cash Converters shop that is on the same plaza as our bike shop (SO handy :D ) and found a just-traded-in super clean copy of Medal Of Honor PSX for $8 Canadian. I wasn't about to leave it there.

I enjoy the surprises of stumbling onto a classic game rather than actively "going classic hunting" for the day.

Poofta!

06-01-2006, 10:59 AM

i brought up this exact point in the ps3 price thread i believe. when i first started i spent about 200 a month, went up to 400-500 at one point for a couple months. now i vowed to keep it at 50-100. not a penny more unless its something unbelievable. a big reason for this is that ive acquired 80-90% of what i wanted for my gaming collection. sure there are games left but they are ones im not as passionate about buying or are very expensive (psx valkyrie profile, suikoden 2, chrono trigger snes).

now that im nearing completion, i see my interest dwindling, not in gaming, i stopped being a hardcore gamer when i started college, but in buying. i love every one of my purchases and i am very proud of my humble collection (only about 300 games) but that fact that they are all MIB and games i like, makes me love it. i dont plan on ever selling it, unless somethign comes up, but i definately no longer have the same spark and enthusiasm as i had before when it comes to buying games for my collection. regardless i reckon i will be complete within the next year.

cyberfluxor

06-01-2006, 12:16 PM

That said I'd say I spend less than $100 a month, June being an exception because I'm using some graduation money to get a DS lite.

No problem. I'm trying to do the same thing for a DS lite, but might have to wait for the color I want to come out.

All Things Sega

06-01-2006, 03:56 PM

I'd day around $100 a month roughly. Some months more and some less. All depends on the deals I may see. A few months ago got great deals at Sam Goody and Suncoast stores in the nearby towns as they were going out of business. Nothing like swooping in to get games and movies for 70 - 80 % off. That blew my budget a little since I bought in bulk alot of itemns I needed. Usually I can resist impulse buying unless its a great deal.

Coleman

06-01-2006, 04:27 PM

Usualy i spend less than a $100 per month but last month i went a litle bit overboard. I think i spent around $1500 all together but that includes a new -360. Typicaly i buy NES games and i spend about $2 - $5 ea. Although it is getting harder and harder to find the games i need at that price!

Steven

06-01-2006, 04:56 PM

I try to avoid spending more than $50. Since I currently have all the systems I want at the moment, I buy games to play and not to collect. It means I might get only one or two games a month or mostly lots of sports titles or "bad" games (that I happen to like well enough) off of places like Ebay or these forums.

haha, like $2 for my copy of Nolan Ryan's Baseball ;)
I will try to get it out tomorrow if I can, Monday at the latest.

This month I hate to think how much I've spent. It's been pretty bad. A couple $80+ orders. Total for the past four weeks, maybe... oh... 300+ easily. Hell I just received a package in the mail for 8 NES games, but damn I got them so cheap.

Code Name Viper
Trog!
Darkman
Totally Rad
Gauntlet II
Vice Project Doom
Guerrilla War
Day Dreamin' Davey

for $22? And they wonder why I can't pass it up. :P

bangtango

06-01-2006, 05:04 PM

haha, like $2 for my copy of Nolan Ryan's Baseball ;)
I will try to get it out tomorrow if I can, Monday at the latest.

Thanks, Steven. No rush. No sports games for my SNES, whatsoever. Needed a baseball title. Never played it before, you had an extra copy. Viola.

It helps my budget that I am one of the users on this board who actually buys those old sports titles :D My favorite genre, overall.

steveant1636

06-01-2006, 05:13 PM

about $50 a month

jcalder8

06-01-2006, 05:20 PM

Normally it is under 50 Canadian because that is how much I have in my budget for it, however that has gone way over a couple of times which I am still paying off which is why I still need 5 items to finish my NES Dragon Warrior collection.

Aussie2B

06-01-2006, 05:28 PM

On average, definitely under $100, but occasionally I'll go higher (this month just importing the Valkyrie Profile 2 limited edition is going to set me back about $180). Most of the year I tend to do my shopping online since there really aren't many places around where I live in NYC to hunt for games (and I'm too busy to do so anyway). Looking through eBay for April and May, I spent around $140 on game related stuff. Add a little bit from here and elsewhere, and it's probably fairly close to $100 for each month. I've been actively collecting the TwinBee series, so I've probably spent more than I normally would other months. I only have one game from the series left to buy, so I have less that I'm keeping my eye out for now. I did some selling during that time period, though, so things are balancing out pretty well for me.

Since I only work my job during the school year, I won't be getting paid again until September, so I got to cool it for the summer. I got to save for my vacation, and then I'll probably do a little hunting in the wild. I never seem to do much online shopping during the summer.