Save Money on Video Games
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As you read every day that you need to save money, very few places will tell you that its ok to indulge. Granted, we are guilty of this too…sometimes I feel like everything I say is a huge hammer coming down on indulgences left and right but sometimes we have to be realistic. Video games are a perfect example.
So how do we save money on video games?
For starters, Gamestop’s Trade Ins has a deal where you can trade in games for some moolah as well as get older games at an awesome price. To make this work for you, you need to really be on top of what has come out that is worth spending the time and money on. The other important thing is wait.
Why wait? There is a wave that is constantly rolling along there is a point where the latest game is coming out and its going for full price. If you wait and allow that wave to pass you can scoop some great deals.
Beaware. In any market, when someone is selling something for less, it might just be that. This is where the research comes in and allows you to see what is going to be fun for you to play. You should already be reading and watching reviews: I like IGN.com for this. They have been an industry leader for just over a decade in this genre and usually are pretty accurate.
Make a list. You knew this was coming. Keep a list to remind you of what game(s) you might be interested in and take it with you to the store. I often do this everytime I go into a Barnes and Nobles: I take down the ISBN number and then take a look at Amazon to find the book at a huge discount.
Rentals? If your hunger for gaming cannot be satiated and you plow through all kinds of games you might want to forego the purchases and rent them through Gamefly. It works very much like NetFlix but its for games. Oh yea, and ther are NO late fees…keep the games as long as you want. To see if its cheaper for you, do some quick math and compare how much you pay per month on buying games that you never play again versus the monthly subscription fee. Then extrapolate to a year and see wher you stand. Or you could go mow the lawn once in a while, take up a cheaper addiction or simply cut back you maniac. 
Remember Gameboy? Well there is a 75% sale going on…
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Comments
I suppose it can be like a lot of things. Just don’t buy them when they’re fresh on the market and high priced.
They are always cheaper than new games, and many stores will have a gunarantee that if the game doesn’t work, or is scratched they will replace it. (using a company here in California, Game Crazy, which can be found in Hollywood Video stores, they have a lifetime guarantee on their used games)
@colormist: Amazon might also be a great option, I know they are growing more and more everyday. Their CEO is a really smart guy.
@Trevor: I too am somewhat behind and to be honest I like it. I enjoy reading about the new stuff almost as much as playing so to constantly have that to look forward to is fun as well, and cheaper 
ReplayGamez is also an option to consider. They are on online trading site that is only $2.99 per trade. They validate each traded game to ensure you get the game you want.
I haven’t tried this myself (I usually trade in at a locally-owned independent store to support local businesses), but Amazon does trade-ins for video games now. I’m not sure what the trade in rate is, but you might want to check both locations so you can get the most for your games. Amazon gives you credit in the form of an Amazon Gift Card.