how do you set limits for yourself?.are you obsessed?

[kizeal]

Originally Posted by AJLareneg

I pretty much only buy CEs for games I like as well. Most of my collection spending goes on things related to said games I like. And that sometimes can be a problem. I mean, you'd think something like inFamous, it has no real merchandise, so it shouldn't be hard to collect for!

........yes well. i am still finding new things. ive been buying inFamous things for almost two years..........and there is still new things popping up.

there will never be an end. XD;

Another thing that makes it quite unfortunate when a CE for a series I really like isn't available in my region. Or there's like five of them. All different, and all really cool.

Well.even if it does end..you know you will start a new one soon after..its a collector's habit..

[vhal_x]

I'm obsessed. I'm constantly thinking of ways (or, trying to think of ways) to work my money to get as many CEs out of it as possible.

I buy pretty much every CE that comes out (if I can afford to) as most games I like, and if I don't, chances are my boyfriend does, so with him being a collector too, we pick up most CEs there is.

We've had to miss out on a few CEs already this year, not major ones, but still ones I'd have liked to get (Rayman, LOTR, etc), but as we were not prepared (this is my first year of collecting, so have never experienced the sudden extreme influx of games in this short amount of time (Mid-August to December), so had no savings put away, ready for the CEs.

However, next year, I have a game plan. Myself and my boyfriend are saving up from the start of the year, up until September (since August only has a couple, we'll be able to get them AND save) and then, from September, we will buy CEs like we did this year, out of our money (not the savings), but any ones we can't afford, we will just dip into the savings to purchase

This may sound extreme, but I really am caught in the grip of collecting. To the extent where we are looking for a bigger house, simply due to the fact of "the CEs don't have enough room"

Also, next year, even if we don't save, we'd be able to afford more than we can this year, as this year I've had to pay off debt to the damn electricity company (their fault, not mine ) and we've also had to buy lots of things for the house (it's our first year in our own home, also). Oh, and my boyfriends tattoo has used up quite a bit of money (over a grand!) and I've had to owe my mum a bit of money too as she has helped me out with buying things when we've not yet been paid/whatever

Ah, I'm rambling. But CEs are a big part of me now, and they always will be, so as long as I'm happy collecting, I'm fine with being "obsessed", I look at it in the sense of, I purchase CEs with money, not by using Credit Cards.

I know some of you have admitted to using Credit Cards, and I think that it mainly where the problem lies, as it spirals out of control (and it does for most of us), you realise, "oh but I can just get that on credit, oh and that one too, oh, might aswell get that one aswell" and then you just put yourself into debt doing something you love, and the debt will turn it into something you hate.

Just my opinion on it, but if there's ever a point when I need to get a Credit Card to fund my CE habit, then I think I'll force myself to quit completely, because as much as I love CEs, I do not want to get myself in debt over them.

If I need a credit card to get myself a "holy grail" CE on the other hand (like if I hadn't yet been paid and I figured it was my only chance to get it), fair enough, I'd probably get one then, pay it off within the month, and then cancel/close the credit card, to ensure I don't use it for anything else.

Phew, I wrote a book... But yeah, that's how I feel. A bit rambly and shit, but yeah, that's my take on my "addiction".

[RyT]

Had credit card once, almost couldn't pay off. Never by any chance have any credit cards again. It's either I pay off with cash, pay off at higher price on ebay or just totally don't get it

[vhal_x]

That's exactly what makes me so against credit cards, I mean, if I had the chance to get the Fortune Hunter edition, and hadn't yet been paid, I'd get it on a credit card (if I could dive out and sign up for one before the auction ends or whatever), then when I've been paid, pay it off instantly (before any interest is added) and then just shut it down.

I keep getting offered credit cards from banks and all the shops I go into keep offering me store cards (which are essentially the same) and everytime I'm like "NO!" xx

[Dreamcazman]

I have a pretty well paying job, both myself and my wife run a small computer IT business and I'm making a lot more than I used to when I was employed.

Money really isn't an issue, but I don't go nuts, I have many other important things to take care of first (mortgage, two young children, etc) and as long as that's all sorted first, then I can spend some of what's remaining on fun stuff!

I only buy the CE's of games I want to play, this year especially was costly. Too many must haves released in a really short space of time. I can understand how some people had trouble affording everything.

The only CE I preordered, then cancelled was Skyrim. I have too many other games that I haven't played yet and was only really going to get it because I thought I might be missing out on something. I thought afterwards that I probably will never get around to playing it (time is precious atm) and after getting bored with Oblivion & Fallout 3, I decided to give it a miss. Don't really regret it either.

I'm also dead set against credit cards. I use a debit card (ie. my own money) and don't plan on changing.

[kizeal]

Originally Posted by Dreamcazman

I'm also dead set against credit cards. I use a debit card (ie. my own money) and don't plan on changing.

Yup..i plan on using debit too even when i am employed..at least that is some way i can restrain myself..

[SquirrelRaper]

I dont have any real limits. I haven't been skipping many CE's in the last few 6mths or so, except a couple I know will be really cheap soon or a franchise I really hate and plan on getting it cheap as well, lol. Though, I plan on buying lots more games very soon since my funding is about to dramatically increase.

I have credit cards but I only use them to gain stuff from them and pay them off before the month ends, so I don't have interest to pay on them. I have probably 10k in credit cards and a credit line for 5k. Besides, it has gained me a good credit score from having them, haha

Obsessed? Yes, but I think it's a good thing as long as it doesn't drive you into the hole.

[Onyxia]

I mostly just buy games I like. I don't bother with CEs of games I won't play. I also try to give myself a budget and not go over it. Keyword: try. But I always make sure to not go overboard. I don't have much time to go out, so I usually spend that money on video games. Sometimes it does get a little more crazy (like November), so I try to spend less the month after. I ask myself if it's something I REALLY need (some CEs are rather... lacking).

I use a credit card. I use it like a debit card online (as I can't use my actual debit card). If I buy something, I pay it off RIGHT AWAY (literally the moment it's paid for in PayPal). I only buy something if I can afford it. Like SquirrelRaper said, it also helps you build good credit! I've never been tempted to just buy something without paying it off. I tried once... ended up paying for it 5 minutes after. I'm not using my CC the way it's meant to be used, I guess!

[mawa]

I never use my cc for buying games
I always do banktransfer or paypal or pay it cash

I have a bankaccount where i transfer evry mouth cash to to buy all i want to have.
Some mounths i spent only 400 euro but this mounth i have spend about 1500 euro whit all the things coming out

But like i told before i always safe first the money before i buy

[AJLareneg]

Originally Posted by vhal_x

I know some of you have admitted to using Credit Cards, and I think that it mainly where the problem lies, as it spirals out of control (and it does for most of us), you realise, "oh but I can just get that on credit, oh and that one too, oh, might aswell get that one aswell" and then you just put yourself into debt doing something you love, and the debt will turn it into something you hate.

Just my opinion on it, but if there's ever a point when I need to get a Credit Card to fund my CE habit, then I think I'll force myself to quit completely, because as much as I love CEs, I do not want to get myself in debt over them.

If I need a credit card to get myself a "holy grail" CE on the other hand (like if I hadn't yet been paid and I figured it was my only chance to get it), fair enough, I'd probably get one then, pay it off within the month, and then cancel/close the credit card, to ensure I don't use it for anything else.

Phew, I wrote a book... But yeah, that's how I feel. A bit rambly and shit, but yeah, that's my take on my "addiction".

Only collection item I have used my credit card on is buying my replica amp, but seeing as how I got it for less than half the selling price as the one that recently sold....I think it was worth it.

Also, in an ideal world I wouldn't have a credit card. I don't have much savings, and unfortunately thousands of dollars in car repairs (which ultimately ended with me buying a new one ) and medical bills these past few years have dumped a lot on me. I could probably be using more collection money to pay it off but.... i like things. lol.

so yea. i'd prefer not to have a card, and i never ever use it except for emergencies (...and cole's amp counts ok) or in instances when i can save some money using it, and then i just pay it off at the end of the month. (like my amazon card sometimes :I)

otherwise i'd try to recommend avoiding them if at all possible but its not always possible for everyone.