One for the guys....
Being a teenage boy, our hobbies can be (but nearly always are,) expensive.
The prices of the latest technology or games are always on the up and knowing that the newest instalment of FIFA is a must have, this can be a nightmare to finance.
We've all gone down to the shops and shelled out up to £60 for a game, that (let's face it) will get replaced anyway but it's so unnecessary.
Below are ways that you can avoid depriving yourself of your tech but also not spending a fortune.
1. The best tip I can give first of all is simply checking online. This can save you anywhere up to £30 so it's worth having a look for sure. Comparison sites are a big part of consumerism nowadays, and they exist, for nearly everything. Sadly, not many people know they exist for video games, DVD's and even consoles, to help you chose the best bundle for that Christmas deal.
One of these I've found useful is www.postabargain.co.uk. They host a strong community of members who search sites to find the best offers available for all the new releases.
Another few examples are frugalgaming.co.uk
and reddit.com/r/gamedeals , again all hosted and posted by users.
The first two sites are also on twitter and regularly post new "hot," deals that are featured on their sites.
(Note: While community posts do come with risks, the comments and rating sections puts our minds at rest, especially as the majority of the sites are well-known: Amazon, GAME etc.)
2. Get paid by others buying games
A clever way to make money -and is popular among online personalities such as YouTubers- is by referral links. This is super easy and requires minimal to no effort on your behalf.
Referral links are unique links belonging to you, and when someone clicks on it, makes an account and then a purchase through that site, you will receive around 5 or 10% of the total purchase.
An example of one I use is CDKeys.co.uk .
They don't deal with physical copies, only sell CDKeys, but these can be redeemed on services like Xbox Live, PlayStation Network and Steam.
This has been a popular discussion in the game community so maybe do some research and see if it's for you. In over two years though, I personally have never had an issue.
GAME also offer their loyalty card with sign up bonuses for referring new customers.
(Note: These sites often have following requirements, which is why it's especially used by famous YouTubers or those popular on Twitch etc.)
3. Sell your old/unwanted games
Not only is it a good way to earn money, but it's a good way to make room for new "stock." Whether it be selling that new release for £30 that has been beaten in 2 or 3 days and will collect dust, or the ones that sit at the bottom of the drawers and haven't been touched for ages.
As always the big high-street names like GAME and CeX will gladly take in your older unwanted games. They will often do a price match on other stores, so don't be scared to shop around and ask, and will offer more store credit than cash. They will also accept consoles and tech, such as iPads, tablets and phones for that new big Christmas purchase.
4. Don't think it's "uncool" to look for deals (cause you'll be the clever one)
For PC gamers, they know it’s much easier to find that extra deal, with games already being released at up to £10+ cheaper than a standard console release.
Steam -the most popular online retailer for downloadable PC games- eliminates the extra cost of printing disks and passes the extra savings onto you.
As well as this, they host deals that change daily, and host "milestone events," twice a year.
In summer and winter, they give up to 90% savings; this can be the perfect times to get those gift cards for your mates or for yourself, as you'll get a lot more for their money.
A key feature of Steam is library sharing. This feature allows players to share their full game libraries with each other, meaning if they have that game you would love to play, then you can do so without spending that extra cash.
{So today somebody very close to me (kinda obvious if you know me) decided to show off his knowledge (of which I have known of) on being sensible with money in a world of technology that is becoming ever more expensive.
I hope you guys and girl gamers enjoyed this and found it helpful!}
The Frugal Teen
Private joke that I just couldn't resist>>>