Saving Money with Video Games, Part 1
Financial Security
At $14.99 a month, World of Warcraft is a wonderful money saving strategy. Just think, all those nights spent barely sustaining a pulse, parked in front of your computer completing quest after quest, those are nights spent not buying expensive dinners or drinks. By balancing your gaming addiction and your checking account, you can live a fairly frugal lifestyle without being bored. Read more to find out how.
The stereotypical video gamer is not a responsible person. People view video games as a waste of time and those who play them as socially inept. To most, these are people who’s every energy is spent on calculating, in their minds or with expensive calculators, their next upgrade for their off-hand weapon.
But the truth is, video games are a great hobby, if you do them right. Here are some tips at making video games your secret weapon in saving money.
When Funds Are Low, Play Video Games
I just got back from a lengthy NYC vacation where my girlfriend and I decided to stay in a hotel night after night instead of staying with friends. My checking accounts “safety cushion” is all used up and I am in a little credit card debt. It is very clear I need to get out of the red and rebuild my cushion. This is the perfect time to reactivate my world of warcraft account. Instead of spending money going out to dinners and drinking with friends, I’m accomplishing things and having fun with friends in World of Warcraft.
Substitute Expensive Hobbies with Video Games
Do you go out drinking with your friends a lot? Maybe you really enjoy golfing or another expensive hobby or sport. Replacing these hobbies with video games can give you the savings you need to get out of a slump. Alot of times people who are in debt spend time doing very self-centered hobbies that cost the most (like drinking or shopping). World of Warcraft or video games can feel like a self-centered hobby but actually cost less!
Frugal Hardware
If you are going to play console games, don’t collect! Sell hardware as soon as you are no longer interested. A lot of hardware loses value very quickly. If it’s collecting dust, get rid of it. If you have a computer, find social, multiplayer games. See if you can borrow games from your friends for added value. Constant upgrades can get expensive so don’t forget there are tons of older games that are great time sinks or have existing online communities.
Get Your Friends to Play
Your friends are just like you, they want to have fun and video games are even more fun when accomplishing things with friends. Recruit your friends, especially if all of you recently just blew a ton of money in Napa Valley.
Always Cancel Your Account When You No Longer Play
This goes along with selling hardware. If you aren’t using something, sell it. If you aren’t playing World of Warcraft, cancel your subscription. With most games, after you cancel your subscription, your character will persist for years and be there waiting for you the next time you need to hunker down and save money. This goes for Xbox Live accounts as well.
There are some starting steps to developing a money saving hobby of video games. In part 2, I’ll cover what specific games are best for saving money and offer a wide range of types of games on various levels of hardware.