Maybe you have noticed that lately costs have been rising across the board when it comes to our lives. When things like this happen, some people need to create a tighter financial plan to continue affording basic needs or even reduce your wants category. Because of this I thought of ways I can personally focus and narrow my picks when it comes to purchasing games with a lower spending amount within my entertainment bubble.    

• Give yourself an allowance.  At work I receive monthly vacation time and I get to choose how I take that vacation throughout the year, so in a similar fashion, I feel you can set aside some money for entertainment in your life and apply it according to how you purchase your entrainment. Whether that is used for movies, music, or gaming is entirely up to you since it’s your money and you usually make that decision. Just make sure to spend responsibly.

• Make a list. Create a list of your most anticipated top 5-10 games that are coming out in the next fiscal year to make sure you get the games you truly want. By writing these down or placing the release date on your calendar, you can better plan for the game releases if you are aiming to reduce overspending on games. 

• Wait on third-party purchases. Usually, third-party games tend to go down in price especially on multiple platforms with-in a year of release. If it is a game, you are not certain about or know it will go on sale during certain times such as Black Friday or Cyber Monday, it may be best to wait 3-12 months after it releases to get a fair price for something you are not entirely sure if it is for you.

• Swap physical games. Make it an opportunity to trade games you have played with games that you have not with friends and family. This reduces the cost as well as eliminates the chance of not liking a new game or IP that you were not sure you would like.

• Borrow from the library. I’m not sure what your local libraries capabilities are for what it can let its patrons borrow, but my local library allows you to check out games from a few different consoles. Make sure you check with your local library and if they don’t offer games to borrow make sure to suggest it. You can even start a fundraiser to help the library reach this capability.  

• Subscribe. Try out Microsoft Game Pass, PlayStation Plus Extra or Premium tiers, Nintendo Online Expansion Pack, etc. By purchasing one of these options, you can try many different games from a larger catalog, and you may find a lot of value in a service like this. This may also lead you to new experiences or genres you may not have known you enjoyed.   

• Research. Check reviews and watch gameplay videos to determine if it is something you want to play. Do your due diligence to reduce unhappy purchases that you may regret later.

• Learn from the past. Check the publisher and/or developer and see if it is a company, you have previously enjoyed playing a past title. To make the publisher and developer easier to sift through you can create a spreadsheet. I personally created one to keep track of my games as well as map out the developers and genes I tend to gravitate more towards to help better predict games I may like down the road.  

• Demos are your friend. Anytime you are not certain about what a game you are interested in is like, make sure you check to see if a demo is available to play. This is a quick way to determine if you want to continue with this type of experience and potentially save you money if it is not something you would enjoy.

• Leave room for a new experience or two. Remember to still try new experiences and stray from your normal and safe path, you may miss something special.

Reducing the games, you purchase will create a few new opportunities that I have come to experience. You tend to choose better quality games, you save a little bit more money when thinking about or limiting your spending habits, and you seem to get more out of games when you have fewer to bounce around to, which tends to add more value and create more fun for the player.

Saving money is a great goal to have and strive for. As a gamer remember to still have fun and enjoy life inside and out of the digital world. Hopefully, some of these suggestions you can put into practice and help you streamline your gaming needs and weed out your gaming wants to help you in any situation you may come to face going forward. Let us know your tips on saving money and selecting your games. Happy gaming everyone!

Share your reactions below or join the conversation on the Boss Rush Discord.  

Shane Kelley is a Senior writer for Boss Rush Network, as well as a writer for Another Zelda Podcast. His favorite game is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. You can find him on Twitter to talk video games, Marvel, and axe throwing.

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