Economics of a Gaming Family- Jo Sue Castellanos

I?m a gamer and have been since the days of Atari. I enjoy coming home from a long day and killing a few zombies or saving the world before bed. It?s relaxing, entertaining and in my home it is a family activity. It?s a hobby and like most hobbies it takes money, loads of money I have come to realize.

I was doing some research on the timeline of the next generation of gaming consoles and began to think; when they are released I will need to upgrade three gaming consoles in my home. With little quick estimating I figured I will need at least $ 1200. I was taken aback because that didn?t include any additions like games or extra controllers. So the price will possibly be $ 2000 in one hard financial hit.

If I don?t buy them my family would never let me hear the end of it not to mention I will want one too. The new consoles are going to be a large expense when they are released and I already spend a lot of money on gaming.

Every time a game is released that my family all wants to play, especially together online, we all need our own copy. Three games at $ 60 a pop is a big chunk of a weekly paycheck. If I do this several times a month it really adds up quick. Don?t forget about subscriptions, downloadable content (DLC), and expansion packs. I spend another $ 200 a year on subscriptions and another $ 50 a month on DLC and expansion packs.

Then there is the gear one never thinks you need for gaming like headphones. When I want to play a game at 3am it?s not like I can just turn the volume down so I don?t bother others. How would I hear the guy trying to sneak up behind me or the car trying to pass? I also need them to talk to my teammates or talk trash when warranted. An okay pair will cost $ 50 but a high end pair will come in excess of $ 300.

I have bought many other items over the years like special chairs, steering wheels, console stands, and larger better televisions. It perpetually adds up.

It is hard to think about what I have spent over the years. It?s enough to make my head spin around, kind of like a video game. I have always had a philosophy of spending money on what I use most and my family and I definitely use this. I do wonder what if I saved this money or invested it. Would my family and I be better off? But I think of the great times my family and I have had, and are still having, playing video games. It has kept us together in a way. It has given us something to do on a long snowy winter day and something to always look forward to as a family. What is that worth?

Source: http://www.josuecastellanos.com/economics-of-a-gaming-family/

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