Didn't see anyone say this. Add up how much you've spent on games, a sum. It shall be a higher sum than you think. Put this in your wallet, take it with you. When you want to buy more games, look at the sum and think, "I could have this much in savings now. It would be enough to buy me a _____ ". Do you still want to buy the stuff after that? Think of all the other things you could get for the same amount of money; heck, think of the other games you could get. Still want it? Then buy it, and update your sheet for the new price.
For me having been at it decades and just not having the time or money for much of it anymore it's a struggle. I've sold off a lot of systems from various makers, some entirely from some hardware companies. I've never went into it before but invested so far into 3 sd/microsd using kits too as well. I make it a goal and stick to it to not buy games online for various systems, others only from a concise list, and in some cases for the online ban only local if I really will play it and if it's a solid deal. I've gone now years without buying a game or no more than 1 or 2 for a few that I've kept. Even then I don't feel the best as I think I still have lots of shelf rot that could go to a happier home but you can only pull the trigger so many times.
Patience and self control. Otherwise, try playing some of the games you own. Can't browse ebay while playing!
This is actually really good advice. I wish more collectors would appreciate what they have before simply rushing collection without a sense of personal curation. Playing the games will teach you which angles to approach while looking for new items to add that aren't driven simply by value.
For me, it's the fact that I have a wife and kid. And another kid soon. When it was just me and my wife, I spent a decent amount. And then after the first kid, every few months I would make decent game runs. Now, having a retropi is the biggest deterrent. I was upstairs tonight playing legit games on legit consoles (and an emulator doesn't come close) but when I'm out and can buy games... I just think I have this for free at home right now.
This is a hobby, buy things that you enjoy. Self control is part of life. Take a step back and ask yourself if you really NEED something before you buy it.
Also getting a "deal" on something shouldn't make you spend more. Seeing Samson for $100 instead of $900 (or whatever it sells for) buy it. Seeing Samson for $775 instead of $900, ya it's a "deal" but it's still $775 you probably don't need to spend.
Oh and wife, kid, mortgage, car payments, bills etc. MUST come first
Personally, I justify the purchase. I don't buy something without the intent of playing it. If I can't see myself playing it within two weeks, I pass and wait until my backlog is more managable. I do have exceptions. For example, I like game demos. If I see one that I want for sub-$15 I buy it. But this is a little rarer because There's not a whole lot that I would go out of my way for. I also budget myself. I only can spend so much a week (~$20 or $30). That way I can still pay expenses if I have them.
When you just limit your self to a few libraries. For me it's just collecting snes and sega genesis, everything else WILL be emulated.
I've seen some here finish collecting a game library and just go collect another library, later seeing them sell their previous collection because they need the money.
I live alone and have to pay for all my bills myself, so there is a pretty hard limit to how much money I can actually spend on games. It's very easy to not buy old games because I just avoid eBay completely knowing that they are always gonna be floating around. I avoid going to my local game store unless I set aside money for it, because I always find something I want when I go in there. It is much harder, however, to avoid buying new products that are limited edition and will sell out if you don't preorder. The good thing about those is that you know when they are going to release, and you can budget accordingly.
I've avoided buying a lot of new (standard edition) games by forcing myself to play through my huge backlog. There are some exceptions of course, can't wait to play the new Mario tonight and I have the new Star Wars preordered. But since new games go on sale so frequently, I've gotten to the point where I won't buy it unless I know I'm going to play it immediately.
Yeah, it can be difficult for sure sometimes. I've been sitting for the past few weeks without buying much of anything, game wise, after going crazy in Japan a few weeks earlier. But do I really want to find myself eating instant noodles and boiling water to survive (you have to boil the water in Taiwan before you can drink it), and then make up some hokey excuse about why I don't want to hang out with my mates on the weekend? Of course not. Been there, done that, years back due to having to host my brother for a three month stint, having to stretch my income two ways, at a time when I was already severely underpaid. Fond memories now, but I swore to myself afterwards that I never wanted to go through that crap again. So anytime I am running over budget, I just think about those times, and it instantly gets my head screwed on straight.
For more expensive items (let's say $15 and over), now I am in the habit of thinking about the purchase carefully before making it, whether at home behind the computer or in the shop, asking myself why I want to buy the game what I want to do with it, if I actually want it, etc. This has helped to cut back on shitty impulse purchases.
Finally, if my alloted cash is running short for the month, I look at the big picture, calculate how long it is until pay day, and then plan how to best allot things. I'm at the stage where I'd much rather go out and do something fun on the weekend than to purchase a crappy game I would just shelve, and then have to stay in.
The big problem is being of the mind that "If I don't get it now, it'll cost more later" I've just made peace with that. No sense going bankrupt because I don't want to spend 30 more on a game next year. Most games don't go up that fast, it's just the odd one here or there that jumps.
Yes this is a big part of the problem for me. As I said, I don't have this issue with anything else except my game collecting hobby so I know it has a lot to do with the fact there's always that worry about rising values. Just something that we need to accept and live with, and be able to pass on those good deals when its not in the budget. But I can totally see how this hobby could consume some people with more serious self-control problems and throw them into debt.
Its been interesting to hear everyone's take on this, thanks. Should probably also clarify a few things about my buying habits.
Even though this is something I say I struggle with, its not at all a serious problem for me. I have a strict monthly budget and I do stick to it, and its not cutting into my normal living expenses. I do game a lot, and only buy more games right when I want to play them. Also I am really tough on myself whenever I want to buy something, and agonize over it for a good while before finally deciding to pull the trigger, and I never make impulse purchases. what I buy is always from my want list that I'm waiting for deals to pop up on. What I'm mainly talking about though is the constant nagging feeling I get after I've hit my monthly budget limit and stopped, but still want to buy something else because I see a good deal. THAT's what drives me nuts and the thing I really want to find a way to squash. I'm inherantly frugal, which probably is cause for the struggle I feel. Like its been pointed out, simply comes down to self-control and this is the one thing I have control problems with. Pretty much anything else I can easily say no to when its time to say no more, but I find it hard to stay away from browsing Ebay and game trading forums. Its my weakness.
I might try just doing a hard block of all game buying websites when I hit my limit until the next month starts again. Just completely remove myself from being tempted by a new listing.
I have this issue as well. I asked PayPal (Synchrony) bank to lower my limit to $500. This way when it's gone it gone. Then at the end of the month I pay it off and start again.
The big problem is being of the mind that "If I don't get it now, it'll cost more later" I've just made peace with that. No sense going bankrupt because I don't want to spend 30 more on a game next year. Most games don't go up that fast, it's just the odd one here or there that jumps.
Yes this is a big part of the problem for me. As I said, I don't have this issue with anything else except my game collecting hobby so I know it has a lot to do with the fact there's always that worry about rising values. Just something that we need to accept and live with, and be able to pass on those good deals when its not in the budget. But I can totally see how this hobby could consume some people with more serious self-control problems and throw them into debt.
Its been interesting to hear everyone's take on this, thanks. Should probably also clarify a few things about my buying habits.
Even though this is something I say I struggle with, its not at all a serious problem for me. I have a strict monthly budget and I do stick to it, and its not cutting into my normal living expenses. I do game a lot, and only buy more games right when I want to play them. Also I am really tough on myself whenever I want to buy something, and agonize over it for a good while before finally deciding to pull the trigger, and I never make impulse purchases. what I buy is always from my want list that I'm waiting for deals to pop up on. What I'm mainly talking about though is the constant nagging feeling I get after I've hit my monthly budget limit and stopped, but still want to buy something else because I see a good deal. THAT's what drives me nuts and the thing I really want to find a way to squash. I'm inherantly frugal, which probably is cause for the struggle I feel. Like its been pointed out, simply comes down to self-control and this is the one thing I have control problems with. Pretty much anything else I can easily say no to when its time to say no more, but I find it hard to stay away from browsing Ebay and game trading forums. Its my weakness.
I might try just doing a hard block of all game buying websites when I hit my limit until the next month starts again. Just completely remove myself from being tempted by a new listing.
I think patience and self-discipline are virtues you NEED to have if wanting to collect for a long period of time. However, one can better improve their method of collecting by better education/understanding of what they're buying.
For instance, the mindset of "if I don't get it now, it'll cost more later" is a very misleading thought, and a thought that will inevitably get you into more trouble in the future. The assumption is that EVERY game you collect will cost crazy amounts by the year 2025-2030. Which is most probably untrue. Some may cost a lot more, but some may dip in price. There is no guarantee that prices will go crazy, crazier and craziest as time passes on. Furthermore, just because you have bought a bundle at a "bargain price", with all the time and effort you need to do to resell/flip, when you put it all in one big equation, then is it really that much of a bargain?
I think patience and self-discipline are virtues you NEED to have if wanting to collect for a long period of time. However, one can better improve their method of collecting by better education/understanding of what they're buying.
For instance, the mindset of "if I don't get it now, it'll cost more later" is a very misleading thought, and a thought that will inevitably get you into more trouble in the future. The assumption is that EVERY game you collect will cost crazy amounts by the year 2025-2030. Which is most probably untrue. Some may cost a lot more, but some may dip in price. There is no guarantee that prices will go crazy, crazier and craziest as time passes on. Furthermore, just because you have bought a bundle at a "bargain price", with all the time and effort you need to do to resell/flip, when you put it all in one big equation, then is it really that much of a bargain?
Right, and these are things you learn with experience. One game I want is a CIB Earthbound, but Earthbound has been around the same price since I started collecting. So I'm in no rush. I can think of ten other titles I want that are around that price and would be better buys, in terms of saving money in the future because their price is more likely to increase
I don't have much self-control so have been spending way too much. Though I keep on telling myself that I almost have everything I want (retro) so it will get better (only need to keep up with games on switch that interest me).
The thing is though, I keep on finding new consoles / games that I want to collect :-) I am now building up a small vita library. Just until a few months ago I never thought about it.. fortunately it's quite cheap.
I try to stay out of Mega Replay, but that's not easy since it's right down the street from me. Once I get past the initial want, usually around launch day, I try to go back to a game that I haven't played for a while, and I get more enjoyment out of rediscovering it. Case in point: I haven't picked up Mario Odyssey yet, but I've gotten back into Mario + Rabbids since I haven't played it for a month.
Comments
Common sense?
We're collectors. That doesn't enter the equation.
Patience and self control. Otherwise, try playing some of the games you own. Can't browse ebay while playing!
This is actually really good advice. I wish more collectors would appreciate what they have before simply rushing collection without a sense of personal curation. Playing the games will teach you which angles to approach while looking for new items to add that aren't driven simply by value.
You'll still be you. You'll have the same life in every way possible. Unless, the games really set you back. Then your life might actually be worse.
Also getting a "deal" on something shouldn't make you spend more. Seeing Samson for $100 instead of $900 (or whatever it sells for) buy it. Seeing Samson for $775 instead of $900, ya it's a "deal" but it's still $775 you probably don't need to spend.
Oh and wife, kid, mortgage, car payments, bills etc. MUST come first
I've seen some here finish collecting a game library and just go collect another library, later seeing them sell their previous collection because they need the money.
My current lack of funds and free time has been able to keep me under control.
Can i join the club
I've avoided buying a lot of new (standard edition) games by forcing myself to play through my huge backlog. There are some exceptions of course, can't wait to play the new Mario tonight and I have the new Star Wars preordered. But since new games go on sale so frequently, I've gotten to the point where I won't buy it unless I know I'm going to play it immediately.
For more expensive items (let's say $15 and over), now I am in the habit of thinking about the purchase carefully before making it, whether at home behind the computer or in the shop, asking myself why I want to buy the game what I want to do with it, if I actually want it, etc. This has helped to cut back on shitty impulse purchases.
Finally, if my alloted cash is running short for the month, I look at the big picture, calculate how long it is until pay day, and then plan how to best allot things. I'm at the stage where I'd much rather go out and do something fun on the weekend than to purchase a crappy game I would just shelve, and then have to stay in.
The big problem is being of the mind that "If I don't get it now, it'll cost more later" I've just made peace with that. No sense going bankrupt because I don't want to spend 30 more on a game next year. Most games don't go up that fast, it's just the odd one here or there that jumps.
Yes this is a big part of the problem for me. As I said, I don't have this issue with anything else except my game collecting hobby so I know it has a lot to do with the fact there's always that worry about rising values. Just something that we need to accept and live with, and be able to pass on those good deals when its not in the budget. But I can totally see how this hobby could consume some people with more serious self-control problems and throw them into debt.
Its been interesting to hear everyone's take on this, thanks. Should probably also clarify a few things about my buying habits.
Even though this is something I say I struggle with, its not at all a serious problem for me. I have a strict monthly budget and I do stick to it, and its not cutting into my normal living expenses. I do game a lot, and only buy more games right when I want to play them. Also I am really tough on myself whenever I want to buy something, and agonize over it for a good while before finally deciding to pull the trigger, and I never make impulse purchases. what I buy is always from my want list that I'm waiting for deals to pop up on. What I'm mainly talking about though is the constant nagging feeling I get after I've hit my monthly budget limit and stopped, but still want to buy something else because I see a good deal. THAT's what drives me nuts and the thing I really want to find a way to squash. I'm inherantly frugal, which probably is cause for the struggle I feel. Like its been pointed out, simply comes down to self-control and this is the one thing I have control problems with. Pretty much anything else I can easily say no to when its time to say no more, but I find it hard to stay away from browsing Ebay and game trading forums. Its my weakness.
I might try just doing a hard block of all game buying websites when I hit my limit until the next month starts again. Just completely remove myself from being tempted by a new listing.
Patience and self control. Otherwise, try playing some of the games you own. Can't browse ebay while playing!
This
Be a man and exhibit some self discipline.
Also this.
The big problem is being of the mind that "If I don't get it now, it'll cost more later" I've just made peace with that. No sense going bankrupt because I don't want to spend 30 more on a game next year. Most games don't go up that fast, it's just the odd one here or there that jumps.
Yes this is a big part of the problem for me. As I said, I don't have this issue with anything else except my game collecting hobby so I know it has a lot to do with the fact there's always that worry about rising values. Just something that we need to accept and live with, and be able to pass on those good deals when its not in the budget. But I can totally see how this hobby could consume some people with more serious self-control problems and throw them into debt.
Its been interesting to hear everyone's take on this, thanks. Should probably also clarify a few things about my buying habits.
Even though this is something I say I struggle with, its not at all a serious problem for me. I have a strict monthly budget and I do stick to it, and its not cutting into my normal living expenses. I do game a lot, and only buy more games right when I want to play them. Also I am really tough on myself whenever I want to buy something, and agonize over it for a good while before finally deciding to pull the trigger, and I never make impulse purchases. what I buy is always from my want list that I'm waiting for deals to pop up on. What I'm mainly talking about though is the constant nagging feeling I get after I've hit my monthly budget limit and stopped, but still want to buy something else because I see a good deal. THAT's what drives me nuts and the thing I really want to find a way to squash. I'm inherantly frugal, which probably is cause for the struggle I feel. Like its been pointed out, simply comes down to self-control and this is the one thing I have control problems with. Pretty much anything else I can easily say no to when its time to say no more, but I find it hard to stay away from browsing Ebay and game trading forums. Its my weakness.
I might try just doing a hard block of all game buying websites when I hit my limit until the next month starts again. Just completely remove myself from being tempted by a new listing.
I think patience and self-discipline are virtues you NEED to have if wanting to collect for a long period of time. However, one can better improve their method of collecting by better education/understanding of what they're buying.
For instance, the mindset of "if I don't get it now, it'll cost more later" is a very misleading thought, and a thought that will inevitably get you into more trouble in the future. The assumption is that EVERY game you collect will cost crazy amounts by the year 2025-2030. Which is most probably untrue. Some may cost a lot more, but some may dip in price. There is no guarantee that prices will go crazy, crazier and craziest as time passes on. Furthermore, just because you have bought a bundle at a "bargain price", with all the time and effort you need to do to resell/flip, when you put it all in one big equation, then is it really that much of a bargain?
I think patience and self-discipline are virtues you NEED to have if wanting to collect for a long period of time. However, one can better improve their method of collecting by better education/understanding of what they're buying.
For instance, the mindset of "if I don't get it now, it'll cost more later" is a very misleading thought, and a thought that will inevitably get you into more trouble in the future. The assumption is that EVERY game you collect will cost crazy amounts by the year 2025-2030. Which is most probably untrue. Some may cost a lot more, but some may dip in price. There is no guarantee that prices will go crazy, crazier and craziest as time passes on. Furthermore, just because you have bought a bundle at a "bargain price", with all the time and effort you need to do to resell/flip, when you put it all in one big equation, then is it really that much of a bargain?
Right, and these are things you learn with experience. One game I want is a CIB Earthbound, but Earthbound has been around the same price since I started collecting. So I'm in no rush. I can think of ten other titles I want that are around that price and would be better buys, in terms of saving money in the future because their price is more likely to increase
The thing is though, I keep on finding new consoles / games that I want to collect :-) I am now building up a small vita library. Just until a few months ago I never thought about it.. fortunately it's quite cheap.
The threat of physical harm really does it for me
Lol! Funny
Common sense?
We're collectors. That doesn't enter the equation.
Video games... or food. You're right. Video games.