Good afternoon! Everything is so expensive in today’s world, given inflation, the pandemic, trade wars, and other issues. Gaming is a pricy hobby, but it’s more accessible than you might realize. It doesn’t have to be an exclusive hobby for rich kids and people with six figure incomes. Paradoxically, gaming can also be a cheaper hobby in some ways. Are you short on cash for the weekend? Just grab a game from your shelf and play for several hours. A decent video game library can keep an individual entertained for days, weeks, months, or even years. The majority of modern games also have excellent replay value. Retail can be intimidating with prices of $60 or even $70 per game, but you can work the system. Here are my suggestions for playing video games on a budget.
Watch for Digital Sales Many gamers are ditching physical copies in favor of digital downloads. Many online game retailers have frequent sales, specifically the PlayStation, Steam, and Xbox stores. I recommend checking their websites on a monthly basis. Huge price drops aren’t uncommon. I’ve seen digital games for as cheap as $5 and $10. Join a Subscription Service You just can’t beat Xbox Game Pass. It’s like Netflix for gamers. Xbox Game Pass costs $14.99 a month and gives players a huge library with more than 300 games. It adds new games every month, although a small number of titles leave each month as well. You can download these games directly to your Xbox or PC and play them any time. This streaming service has a big variety of games, including brand new and older releases from every genre. Check Out Less Expensive New Games Believe it or not, many new games aren’t expensive. I’ve seen a number of new games that range between $20 and $40, which is quite reasonable in the gaming world. A $30 game is obviously cheaper than a $60 game. Check out the video game sections on websites like Best Buy, Target, GameStop, and Walmart. If you’re a PC gamer, take a look at the Steam and Epic Games stores. You’ll probably find a number of brand new games that don’t cost an arm and a leg. Trade in Your Old Physical Games, Consoles, and PCs For those of you who still collect physical copies, you can get cash back by trading them in at GameStop and similar retailers. It’s not a whole lot of money, but you can get rid of unwanted games that are taking up space. Save a handful of games that you’ll never play again and trade them in as a group for a chunk of cash. You can also trade in old game consoles and PCs as well. Let’s face it. Are you really playing your old PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, or six year old gaming laptop again? Probably not. Just sell them and reap the rewards. Keep an Eye on Amazon I’ve had remarkable success on Amazon. You can easily find new and used games, many of which are included with Prime’s free two day shipping. Seriously, I found new copies of Dragon Age: Inquisition, Until Dawn, and Doom for $15 a piece. You just never know. The inventory changes frequently, but it can be a real gold mine. Wait for Price Drops All games drop their prices eventually. If you don’t mind waiting, it might be worth holding out several months to a year for certain games, especially the pricier ones at $60 or above. This scenario includes both physical and digital releases. I know patience can wear thin, but your current gaming library should keep you entertained while you wait for prices to drop. Preorder Games for In-Store Pickup at GameStop Here’s a strategy that works for gamers who still purchase physical copies. You can preorder games to pick up in person at GameStop retailers. They only require a $5 deposit when you preorder a game. Truthfully, most games are available for preorder several months before their release dates. That means you can drop an additional $10 or $15 periodically until you pay off the game. That’s another good strategy for more expensive releases. A $60 or $70 game can get paid off in a few months. Turn on Twitter Notifications I have a tendency to follow Wario64 on Twitter, along with Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo because they advertise sales on a regular basis. If you have a Twitter account, turn on notifications for certain individuals because they might reveal deep sales for popular games. In fact, I see incredible sales through Twitter every day. Take Advantage of Black Friday, Prime Day, Cyber Monday, and Similar Shopping Events As expected, certain holiday sales can also provide good opportunities for gamers. Most people are spending their money on Christmas shopping for relatives and friends during these seasons, but it’s okay to tuck something away for yourself at a reduced price. There you go! I hope this post was helpful. Most people are probably looking for ways to save money and I don’t want anyone to feel left out. Do you think video games are becoming too expensive? Are you finding effective ways to play games on a budget? Leave a comment. Thanks for checking out my blog. Be safe and I’ll see you again next week.
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May 2019
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