Gaming certainly isn’t the most expensive of hobbies, after all, some people collect cars, ride polo ponies, or buy rare sneakers. With that said, there are some people who wouldn’t mind saving a few cents here and there on their gaming hobby. It could be that you want to save up to buy a brand new gaming rig, or just to have a little cash left over for the weekend. Whatever the reason for you wanting to save money, there are plenty of ways that you can enjoy all the best bits of gaming, without sacrificing any of the fun that you take from your hobby. So, if that sounds like a savings plan that you can get on board with, here are our best tips.
Watch Out For Sales and Bonuses
Looking out for bonuses is one of the simplest ways to save a little money here and there. Those who enjoy playing games of chance should see if there’s a new site that they could sign up to. There are many bonuses available at some of the best online casinos in Canada, for example, that can only be taken advantage of by new players. Vegas Slots Online reviews lots of Canadian casinos, giving information not just on the bonuses that you can claim, but also on the variety of games available. Whilst claiming these bonuses isn’t going to make money magically appear in your bank account, some bonuses, like free spins or deposit bonuses, will enable you to play for longer even though you’ll not have to deposit extra money.
As well as bonuses for games, there are often sales too. If you’re planning on buying a new game soon then be a little patient. Sites like Steam offer regular sales on all kinds of games, both new and old. Sometimes you can save up to 70% on a single release, so it really can pay dividends to hold out until a sale. You can put sale alerts on any game that you want to get your hands on through Steam or any of the other game providers. It might not be the most exciting tip, but it really does pay off in a big way if you can conjure up some willpower.
Become a Games Tester
If you really can’t wait then one of the things to consider when you begin saving is that you might need to be a little creative in your thinking. Those that can’t wait until a sale to get their hands on the latest game could instead get their hands on it before anybody else does. Game developers are often on the lookout for people to test games out to ensure that they’re good enough for release. Some want people to do it on a paid basis, which will involve more repetitive work, ironing out any glitches in gameplay. Other developers want people to play beta versions of the game for free, allowing the testers access to the content and receiving information on anything that isn’t quite working as it should in return. The type of tester you want to be will depend on your experience, the amount of time you have to devote to testing, and what your favorite development companies are looking for.
Revisit Old Favourites
Remember when you used to have to go to the video game shop to buy a game, back in the days before downloading online was a thing? Well, it might be time to revisit those days. There’s a real boom in nostalgic and retro gaming and one of the best things about it is that those looking to save money really can save a ton. Rare releases are going to be super expensive, but picking up a copy of that old Spyro game that you used to love, or a beaten-up old Game Boy is going to be seriously cheap. Playing games that are nostalgic is a lovely feeling and you’d be surprised how much enjoyment you’ll get out of replaying your way through a classic.
There are lots of ways that you can get your hands on classic games. For the best prices visiting your local Goodwill is probably the best route, but there are bargains to be had online too. Reselling and auction sites like Amazon and eBay often have great deals on older games, but for the games that made it as far as digital downloads then still sites like Steam are the way to go. Make a morning of trawling goodwill shops and garage sales, you might surprise yourself at some of the bargains you can get.