How Going Broke Playing Games is Surprisingly Easy
Who knew that playing games could be so expensive? You’re probably shocked to hear this, especially if you haven’t played games in a while, but the gaming industry has changed tremendously over the past few years. Developers are now consistently pumping out high-quality titles that are as engrossing as they are immersive. Gamers also have more choices than ever thanks to the proliferation of affordable and accessible platforms like mobile devices and PCs. If you enjoy playing games, then congratulations – you’re in an enviable situation!
Introduction
For most of us, being able to go broke playing games for a day and then recovering is something we can accomplish. But for others, the unfortunate truth about this addiction that all but destroys lives is that it doesn't take long before going from just not having money to not having any means of acquiring any. When I was young and dumb and getting in over my head with cards or online poker, I never understood what the big deal was - they're just games! Now looking back at some of those reckless periods in life, I know the risks associated with gaming too hard and too fast.
There's a sense of accomplishment when you're down to your last dime at the poker table and manage to grind it out until finally emerging victorious after waiting hours for your opportunity. You'll feel like you've really accomplished something because sometimes winning $5 on a game of blackjack feels better than making $5 an hour working. The euphoria of victory is usually so intoxicating that it masks the reality of how much time has been wasted and what could have been done instead with that time spent on anything other than gambling. Even if you win, ultimately you lose because it becomes such a large part of your daily routine and identity as well as taking away time for family and friends (or even other interests). Eventually it starts to chip away at who we are deep inside as we give up more things in order to gamble more often. We start to cut ourselves off from society, withdraw from loved ones and neglect our responsibilities. And eventually the game takes everything: our finances, our relationships, our mental health and worst of all - hope. So be warned: if you find yourself unable to stop playing games despite warnings by loved ones or threats by financial institutions, get help now before it's too late. Go to Gamblers Anonymous meetings, talk to your therapist or contact a treatment center. Remember: there are always options available - no matter how bad the situation may seem. It's never too late to change course.
Watch your spending
Easier said than done, right? One of the easiest ways to stay on budget and in control of your finances is to get a handle on how much you are spending on frivolous items. Though it can be difficult, once you realize that every dollar wasted creates another problem and stressor in your life, you'll want to take back control. Here are some tips to help keep you in check:
• Get a journal or notebook and start writing down where you spend your money. Include anything that you spend money on each day – even if it's something as simple as coffee with cream. You might not think about this purchase, but small expenses add up over time!
• Keep track of what percentage of your income you're spending on different categories. For example, 50% for housing costs, 10% for entertainment. Once you know what percentage goes to which category (and whether it's more than you can afford), adjust accordingly.
• Set up a weekly allowance for yourself for each category and stick to it! You'll find out quickly whether this new system will work for you or not because there are no more excuses when there is no room in the budget! If you set aside $200 per month for entertainment, at least one drink here and there won't make much of a dent in your funds; however, if you only allow $5 per week, then spending any extra means having to do without something else. If these changes seem like they would be too difficult to maintain long term, try implementing them incrementally so that they become second nature after a while. You may have never realized how much fun those little things cost until now! Consider taking the following steps to regain control:
• Track your spending for a few days by keeping an expense log in order to see where you're going wrong. Write down everything from eating lunch outside the office ($8) to browsing Amazon before bed ($4). At the end of 3 days, look through your list and ask yourself Am I happy with my purchases? If not, why? Would I have been happier buying myself some flowers instead of impulse-buying an expensive lipstick online that I really didn't need? In order to answer these questions objectively, try adding up how much money was spent on total luxury items versus necessities. How does the balance shake out between needs versus wants? What other goals could you achieve if you spent less on luxuries?
Have a Budget
Gambling, like any other activity, can be very expensive. The key to winning is knowing when to stop before you have gone too far and all of your hard-earned money is gone. One way to keep from going broke playing games is by making a budget for the gambling portion of your trip. At the end of each day spend 10% of what you've spent on food and entertainment at the casino for that day towards gambling. Don't go over this amount or else you'll find yourself in deep trouble before you know it. It's important to note that even if you're not spending money gambling, if you're eating or enjoying any of the amenities provided by casinos then those costs should be included in your budget. If you follow these simple steps then hopefully you will go home with more money than when you left! As always, don't forget to wear plenty of sunscreen while outside so you don't get sunburned on your vacation. When you head out tomorrow make sure to pack extra cash because we all know how much fun blackjack can be! I hope that this information has been helpful and please stay tuned for next week's blog post about: How Being Poor Playing Games is Surprisingly Easy
Keep track of your finances
Keeping track of your finances might not sound like the most thrilling activity, but it’s important for staying out of debt. When you make money and spend it on necessities, you want to keep a record of what you spend your money on in order to maintain good spending habits. You also want to periodically check these records to see if you can find ways that you might be able to cut back or save more. It’s just as easy going broke playing games as any other way! Whether it's online gambling, video game consoles, arcade machines or poker chips, nothing stops people from maxing their credit cards when they're feeling flush with cash. Sometimes we have no control over our urges to buy even though we know we don't need whatever it is we're about to purchase. Many compulsive shoppers report being addicted to buying things, which causes them not only financial problems, but mental health problems too. Some studies show that around half of compulsive buyers are clinically depressed or have social anxiety disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). For many people, shopping becomes an addiction where they never get enough of the high that comes from purchasing new items. The act of buying makes them feel good temporarily, which is why so many of us do it at all costs. They feel unhappy and unfulfilled until they can shop again. Shoppers who may be living paycheck to paycheck will often pay off one card with another card or take out loans to pay for what they bought because they were confident that they'll earn enough money to afford paying those debts off later on down the road. Even when these customers know deep down inside that this isn't a sustainable way to live, there doesn't seem to be anything else that will satisfy their desires besides shopping excessively.
Binge, but don't buy the whole season
1) Binge Game of Thrones. Something as simple as watching all of the episodes of a TV show you enjoy can make you feel like you're really getting something done. A lot of people will buy a game to play through it in its entirety, but if you want to conserve your money without sacrificing the thrill of having something new to play, binge on Netflix instead.
2) Play slot machines at the casino while drinking. Video poker might be more fun and offer bigger payouts, but if you're looking for an adventure with low stakes and high excitement, there are few options better than trying your luck on the slot machines at a casino. Drinking alcohol before playing slots is optional, but not recommended since that makes winning seem even more likely. 3) Take advantage of free trials: You know that thing where when you download a trial version of some program, after 10 minutes or 10 uses or 10 hours or 10 days, it tells you that you have to buy the full version? What do they think we are? Just because we don't want to spend $100+ right now doesn't mean we never will! The moral of the story is this: take advantage of those free trials whenever possible. There's nothing wrong with letting someone else foot the bill for stuff like Spotify Premium or Twitch Prime! It feels good to get things for free sometimes, especially if they'll help you avoid wasting your hard-earned money on games you won't actually beat. That's why I love using those free trials from time to time--you might end up paying for them anyway down the line.
Immerse Yourself in Content, Not Just Play Time
If you want to make playing a game your main activity, it's not enough to just play. You'll also need to read about the game and its lore, watch videos of other people playing the game, and look up videos from expert players who do cool tricks and show their setups. This can be an addictive cycle that will sap your time (and potentially lots of money) if you're not careful. Read this blog post for some tips on how to stop before it's too late. - Make sure your favorite games are still enjoyable: When I find a new game that I love, I often spend so much time in it that I burn out quickly. - Figure out what type of player you are: Do you enjoy competitive games? Play solo? Either way, figure out which style best suits your interests and goals, then choose which types of games you like most. It can feel like being trapped in a quicksand of gaming content sometimes but with these strategies we can get back to what matters most: having fun! - Change Up Your Tactics: Figuring out your strategy as you go along might sound like a good idea, but when done poorly it can lead to serious frustration. Choose one strategy at the start and commit to it until you master it. - Avoid Distractions: Try removing any distractions while playing and focus only on the task at hand. Remove chat windows or turn off notifications until you've reached your goal. Shut down any apps or programs that take over your screen after a certain amount of idle time. Or use apps like SelfControl, Freedom, FocusTime for Mac/PC, iOS Focus app, Gameguardian for Windows 10 Xbox One Serenity app and ZenTao app for Android devices to help block distracting websites such as Facebook and Twitter. Finally, avoid hyper-competitive games where you have no chance of winning. Even if they are interesting from a purely intellectual perspective, losing every single match will cause unnecessary stress over something completely out of our control. Remember that even in competitive games there's plenty of room for socializing and learning. Once you know what your goal is, it becomes easier to stay on track.
Balance Your Time With Other Hobbies and Interests
Video games can provide entertainment for a few hours but many gamers end up playing for days and weeks on end. But once the initial novelty of playing a new game wears off, these addicts can start feeling bored, anxious, or depressed and turn to their favorite game again to help them feel better.
Playing too many video games may also be hurting your social life. Spending so much time in front of the screen means less time to interact with people in person or on social media. And while you may think the people you meet online are just as good as meeting someone IRL (in real life), they actually might not be someone that you would want to know personally, or spend much time with if given the choice. For example, some people use online gaming as an escape from reality, which could lead to depression. If you find yourself spending more than four hours per day gaming and it's becoming a problem for you, try switching back and forth between playing your favorite game and something else such as reading a book or watching TV. You'll have plenty of downtime when you're not actively engaged in a game and will prevent burning out. Finding ways to balance time spent playing video games will not only make your experience more enjoyable but can also prevent serious health consequences like high blood pressure, obesity, sleep deprivation, and diabetes. Try to limit your playtime to about two hours at a time, four times a week. Make sure you're taking breaks every 20 minutes by checking in with friends or family members and don't allow yourself access to electronics during this break! Your eyes need rest from staring at screens all day long!
Don't Fear The Grind
Some people may say that if you work hard and stick to a budget, you can't go broke playing games. That's not always true. As with any hobby, people spend lots of money on their interests; sometimes it's difficult to pull back the reins once they start blowing through cash left and right. There are plenty of ways gamers can get themselves into serious debt without realizing it. For example, many believe trading cards are easy-to-obtain items because they only cost $1-$2 per pack. However, some packs come with five or six cards which means you could be spending anywhere from $10-$50 for one pack of cards! And don't forget about booster packs that have 10 random card instead of 6. With these prices, it doesn't take long before your bank account starts shrinking. If you're looking to buy anything in bulk, make sure to find out how much each item costs individually so that you know how much each purchase will end up costing you when all is said and done. Also keep in mind that there are different types of collectible cards: there are common ones which are worth just a few cents each, rare ones worth around $5-$20 each depending on what type they are (e.g., Pokemon), and ultra rare ones worth over $100! Even if you're careful and stay within a budget, it won't take long for your wallet to run dry. You may think this doesn't apply to you since there are no video games involved here. Well, think again! Whether it's going deep into PUBG loot crates trying to get an elusive weapon skin or wasting tons of time grinding away at an RPG game like Final Fantasy XIV, buying things in bulk can quickly add up. The key thing is finding a balance between having fun while being responsible. A good rule of thumb is making sure every single purchase doesn't exceed more than 10% of your net income. Another tip is setting aside a certain amount of money for gaming purchases as well as saving enough funds to cover regular bills and other expenses.
Maintaining an emergency fund can also help if you lose your job or something else unexpected happens in life - it'll give you peace of mind knowing that should something happen, you'll have access to additional funds for emergencies such as medical bills, car repairs, etc. It's best not to borrow too much by taking out loans or credit cards - borrowing money makes it even harder to save. And remember - gambling also comes with risk. It might seem like you can't afford to gamble with $200 but that's still $200 worth of money you can't use for anything else. So is it really worth risking that money? Gamers are often lured in by the thrill and excitement of betting on professional e-sports matches, as well as rewards given to those who play casino games online. When they win, they feel an adrenaline rush and want to do it again. But gambling has a way of enticing gamers, luring them in with tantalizing rewards until they're addicted. Suddenly, they're faced with a mountain of debt and a lack of opportunity to pay it off. If you find yourself losing control, cut your losses now! If you're out of money, set a limit on how much you can spend in a day. Try to restrict your hours on games to the evenings or weekends and turn off your phone for the rest of the day. Put reminders throughout the house where you'll see them to encourage self-control and better financial habits. Play less, live more!
Get Out of The Credit Card Game, Unless It's A Long Term Goal That You Can Afford
It's easy to think, 'I'll just pay this one off next month', but if you keep getting deeper into debt with your credit card, it will be too late to get back out of it. The same goes for game currency. With this in mind, we want you to be mindful of how and when you buy game money on credit because spending can become a quick addiction. Not everyone can afford $20+ a month and there are many ways around spending - like earning in-game items by leveling up or selling them on the market - so we encourage you to save up and pay cash instead if possible. You may also want to talk to a therapist about any potential mental health issues that could lead to addictive behavior. Remember: You're never too old for video games! Keep these tips in mind to make sure you have a good time without going broke! -Know how much money you can spend on games each month
-Have fun playing video games for free online (and not only spending money)
-Earn in-game currency and buy those high end packs from the store instead
-Learn from your mistakes (like forgetting to unlink your credit card) -Keep all of your account information and passwords somewhere safe, preferably not on your phone
-Don't buy more than you need; don't fall into the trap of thinking you need to collect everything
-Talk to others about their gaming habits and what they do for funfunfunfun
Set Limits with Yourself and Stick To Them, Even if it Seems Impossible
There are a few rules to follow when you decide to start gambling. First, it’s important not to go over any limits that you set for yourself. This can be difficult, but there are plenty of things that could happen as a result of gambling – and going over your limit won’t help with any of them. Second, play conservatively and learn as much about the game as you can before you start. Don’t bet on anything until you know what each possible outcome would mean for your betting budget. Once those rules have been set, following them will prevent mistakes and make the experience more enjoyable. Plus, it may even save some money in the long run! The best part about setting limits with yourself is that by doing so, you give yourself an opportunity to change course if things aren’t going well. Even if it seems impossible at first glance, just stick to your guns and keep at it! If you don't want to be stuck spending every last penny of your savings on bets, it's important to set strict limits with yourself and try not to break them. You'll never regret playing fair.
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