Do You Get The Most Out Of Your $$$?

[Jetfire]

Have you ever spent alot of money on stuff like music, video games, movies maybe an online service and rarely enjoy them???

I spent alot of money on things like this in the past but hardly enjoy them anymore...sometimes it feels like it was a waist of money.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

You're probably right -- it sometimes takes me a year or two to get around to watching a DVD that I've bought. If I never watch it more than a couple of times, I probably should have just rented it. I wonder how those people manage who downsize their number of personal possessions (including household items and clothes) to less than a hundred items. Perhaps their philosophy is sound, although they're completely at odds with the consumer society.

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

I've dropped most entertainment expenses.

I don't rewatch movies enough to buy DVDS of them. I haven't rented a movie in years. Either I see it at the theater, usually second run, or I catch it on cable. If I do put a movie on, I get bored or fall asleep.

If it's a t.v. show I haven't seen in years, that I remember liking, then I might get the dvd. But usually I don't.

I tend to play the same computer games over and over. Used to play old emulated arcade games on my old pc.

My vehicles only has a now-broken tape deck, so I just listen to the radio. Hardly ever listen to the CDs I have at home.

 

[TheBrew]

I pretty much do; I really only have two things left on my plate that I have to get to: Munich on DVD and Dead Space for the Xbox 360.

 

[iguana_tonante]

I hardly spend any money on home entertainment: my biggest expense is my DSL connection, and it allows me to enjoy all the entertainment I need. I have no qualms about spending my money going at the movies, dining out, etc. But in a world of fast Internet connection, hoarding stuff like DVDs sounds pointless.

 

[Diddle]

When I had a job I used to spend all my money on comic books, DVD's and cigarettes. Every now and then I'd spend some of it on action figures and video games. It's all part of collection and I really enjoy almost everything I bought, I don't really regret having bought them.

 

[Jetfire]

When I had a job I used to spend all my money on comic books, DVD's and cigarettes. Every now and then I'd spend some of it on action figures and video games. It's all part of collection and I really enjoy almost everything I bought, I don't really regret having bought them.

When I was working I spent all my money on Superman/Supergirl/Legion Of Superheroes comics, DVD's & Liquor. I also get Transformers & Superman toys...it has been a while since I spent money on video games...mostly online games in the recent past.

[edit] I also payed alot for mp3's.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

I hardly spend any money on home entertainment: my biggest expense is my DSL connection, and it allows me to enjoy all the entertainment I need. I have no qualms about spending my money going at the movies, dining out, etc. But in a world of fast Internet connection, hoarding stuff like DVDs sounds pointless.

I agree. I'd much rather watch stuff on demand and free up space. However, even now, very little of what I have accumulated on physical media is available -- legally, that is.

 

[Yeoman Randi]

I guess I'm the odd person out here. I don't spend a lot of money to begin with. I'm rather cheap that way. I love to "rent" (for free) from the library...books, cds, movies. I also buy probaby 50% of everything (well except for food of course) at yard sales, estate sales etc. Our home is done in "shabby chic" and so much of what we have was bought for pennies on the dollar. I have an exquisite marble top side table that i paid $5 for.

Which is a good story as to how cheap i am. They had another of the exact same table (for $5) and i didn't buy it because i "didn't need two". Talk about stupid and cheap!!

I've purchased many of our dvds for $1 at yard sales, thrift stores etc. And i really only buy the ones i want. I can watch a movie a million times. I can read the same book a million times too. They are like "comfort foods" for me.

I sense though, that some people buy things with the subconcious hope that the things will "fill them up" or make them happy, when what they need is something so much more on a deeper level.

 

[Mr. B]

I don't think I waste much money on entertainment. Food is where I spend irresponsibly. Regarding movies, I watch them all the time but I only own a couple dozen. I make good use fo Netflix.

 

[Diddle]

When I had a job I used to spend all my money on comic books, DVD's and cigarettes. Every now and then I'd spend some of it on action figures and video games. It's all part of collection and I really enjoy almost everything I bought, I don't really regret having bought them.

When I was working I spent all my money on Superman/Supergirl/Legion Of Superheroes comics, DVD's & Liquor. I also get Transformers & Superman toys...it has been a while since I spent money on video games...mostly online games in the recent past.

[edit] I also payed alot for mp3's.

Every comic I bought was either Batman or Justice League related, or things like encyclopedias (DC Encyclopedia etc). I also always loved video games, but preferred old ones for the NES, SNES, Genesis etc, I don't have either console so it was pretty hard for me to expend money on games for PS2 since almost none of them really interested me. I did, though, bought several stuff just for the kick of having it, like the Marvel DVD Boxset for instance.

 

[Jetfire]

Food is where I spend irresponsibly.

Same...I became ridiculous with spending money on food...a luxury I no longer have.

 

[Warp Coil]

I've spent more money than I needed to, and I regret a few purchases (there are some DVDs that I own that I just don't watch), but I have gotten much better. I'm getting more selective about what DVDs I buy. Partially, it's because my bookshelf is filling up and I'm running out of space (I have an unhealthy obsession with TV on DVD, and those boxed sets take up a lot of room!). I'm looking to Netflix and online streaming as ways to watch TV and movies. There are only a few "must buys" that I will go out and get myself. Otherwise, I wait for holidays like Christmas (and let others buy things for me) or wait for really good sales from retailers like Amazon.

I just cancelled my cable subscription. That saves me roughly $80/month. I am hoping to NOT divert that money into other wasteful things. If I stick to my guns, I'll throw the money in the bank.

I'm a casual gamer. Video games can last me a good, long while. I don't sit in front of a console for 8+ hours at a time, refusing to put it down until I've played through the entire game. As a result, I only own a few titles and most of them have been gifts.

 

[MollyWuzHere]

If I enjoyed it and got any satisfaction out of it for any amount of time, then it was worth it. Even if I get bored with it later.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I have been collecting a lot of baseball games on DVD. I have every one that I am aware of that's been released (13 complete World Series, and a few best-of-stadium collections). I consider that money well spent.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

I used to spend a lot of money on entertainment I just didn't need. Nowadays, I'm happy with what I have, and spend money only on the things I feel I need or which continue to entertain me today (which is not much).

 

[Holdfast]

I don't really pay for multimedia entertainment - I don't buy music, video games or subscription TV services and hardly go to the cinema at all. I used to buy quite a few DVDs, but over the past couple of years, it's barely been a trickle (mainly because I now own the ones I wanted and rewatch). I do view spending money on these things a bit of a waste, so don't do it.

My disposable income goes on other luxuries - clothes, good food & wine, a somewhat flashy car, etc, etc, etc. I don't consider that money wasted.

 

[TorontoTrekker]

I own a lot of DVDs - and a significant fraction are still in their cellophane wrappers. I just haven't had the time to watch any of the stuff I've been buying, but there are a number of TV series I'm collecting. I'll watch them eventually.

I have a bad habit of buying shows I haven't actually seen, not knowing whether I'll actually like them, based on recommendations from friends. That's why I own all of Six Feet Under. (And I paid a lot for that... I really should watch it some day.)

Alternatively, some of them I've bought because of the feeling that I should have seen them, usually because it's hard to run a programming department at a convention if you haven't seen what other people are watching. (Primary examples: Babylon 5, Stargate: Atlantis - though I've caught occasional episodes on TV - Superman Returns, Batman Begins, X3: The Last Stand...)

There are even some that I want to get but haven't because I figure I'll never get to watch them, like Alias (at least I saw that one on TV!) and Numb3rs (which I haven't seen - but I have a math degree, so a show in which math features prominently appeals to me). Farscape is another one - I've seen some of it, but not all. The only reason I hadn't bought it anyway is because a) it's very expensive, and b) it's hard to find the full season sets, at least around here. But I hear that the whole series is being released...

Some of these I could probably rent, but the rental places around here make you jump through far too many hoops if you don't have a driver's license.

This thread reminds me... the first half of S1 of FlashForward came out yesterday. Argh.

 

[Timby]

Phil Jackson, the coach who led the Chicago Bulls to six world championships and the Los Angeles Lakers to four, wrote in his autobiography (The Final Season) that he always told rookies, who were experiencing fame and gigantic sums of money for the first time in their lives, that they needed to follow one rule: If you can afford it twice, you can do it. If you can't, have a sandwich at home.

I've followed that idea for more than a decade.

 

[Mallory]

I'm on disability, which about half of what I was making when I was working. I have a daughter and wife in college and a son in high school. You bet your ass we get the most out of every dollar.