Gaming Is Expensive. Here’s How to Make It More Affordable

It has never been more expensive to be a gamer. Prices have gone up for everything from games to consoles. Sadly, there doesn’t seem to be any indication that this trend will be slowing down anytime soon.

However, there are a few things you can do to help lower the financial burden.

One of the easiest ways to save money is to not buy games when they first come out. Generally, you can start seeing sales on new games within the first 60 to 90 days of release, sometimes sooner. Waiting can help you save substantially. The hardest part about this one is potentially missing out on the initial launch gossip, but your wallet (and budget) will be thanking you later.

Another way to save is to buy a used copy. It doesn’t take very long for a game to appear on the used market. Right off the bat, you can easily save 10 to 25 percent by simply waiting for a used copy to show up at either a pawn shop or your favourite video game retailer.

You can save money by trading in older games you no longer play for store credit. Then, use that store credit to buy the latest and greatest game. Unless they have specific trade deals, avoid the big national chain stores, as they will often give you lower trade values (especially on older titles).

eBay is also a great way to find games, but there are a few tips to make your purchases worthwhile. All of the previously mentioned rules still apply, but there are a few tricks you can use to minimize the cost.

First, ensure you are buying from a seller in your country (or region) to save on shipping costs. A modern game can fit in a standard media envelope sold at many post offices. These media envelopes usually have a set price that includes shipping at an affordable rate within the country of origin. Those savings are generally passed to the buyer.

Avoid the “Buy It Now” link. You can sometimes save a lot of money by bidding on an item when it appears in an auction. If the seller gives you the “Make an Offer” option, make a reasonable offer in order to open up a dialogue with them.

You can also get seller offers by either adding the item you’d like to your watched items or by adding it to your cart without committing to the purchase.

Bidding is one of the best ways to try to obtain an item at a fair and reasonable price. Start by determining the maximum amount you are willing to pay for it, then find an auction that is still within your means and take note of the listing’s closing date and time.

Don’t bid just yet.

On the closing day, set an alarm for three to five minutes before the auction ends. Once the time arrives, enter the maximum amount you are willing to pay and place your bid during the closing moments of the auction. eBay will automatically increase your bid as necessary (by proxy), up to your maximum amount if another bidder drops an offer.

The advantage of waiting is that it gives other bidders less time to react to your bid. It doesn't guarantee that you will win, however. Someone else may already have a higher maximum bid, or another bidder may use the same strategy.

If you don’t win, try the strategy on another auction. Eventually, you will be rewarded for your patience with a transaction that is within your means.

If you are looking for a more obscure item, use eBay’s “Saved Searches” feature. Eventually, the item you are waiting for will show up, and you can use your newfound knowledge to try to get the win.

Another way to save money is by using reward points (or cash back) obtained from loyalty services. These services may have what you are looking for in their rewards catalogue, or you can redeem your points for gift cards that can be used toward the purchase of whichever title you are looking for. 

As alluded to previously, the most rewarding of all these options is simply waiting. Save your money, then wait for the perfect opportunity to grab the item you’ve been waiting for at an amazing price.

Not only are you getting something for the best value, but you are getting an item that will be worth gloating about, or at least worth enjoying for your own internal satisfaction.

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