"Price of Gaming vs Other Hobbies..." Topic

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One of the questions that got me to thinking was in the statement "The Wargaming Hobby IS expensive!"…

So I started fiddling with some numbers and figured out that in the long run, compared to my other main hobby, it really isn't so…

It takes approx $1,500.00 USD USD to basically equip (decently), a CW reenactor, (and not with the Paki- crap either)….

1500 bucks will buy me 280 packs of Peter Pig 15mm figs at 5.35 each….or 2,280 figs….

So is gaming the most expensive hobby you have?

Golf

Gameing is the only hobby I have

Golf CAN be more expensive, but I'm using used clubs and will buy a new CAR before I spend 3 bills on a driver

"Gaming will get you through times with no money better than money will get you through times with no games"

Wargaming is relatively cheap compared to some past times. Of course it matters how you game and what you actually consider to be an 'expense'.

I spend a minimum of $100.00 USD a month on my hobby which comes to about $3,500 USD a year. If you throw in the fair rental value of my hobby room you are probably talking another $500.00 USD a month or $9,500.00 USD a year.

That's a bit. But compared to what?

mjc

Yes, but only because (1) it is the only hobby I have unless you count reading in which case (2) I don't mind using a library for the really expensive books.

Gaming is cheaper than an insane asylum or therapy (due to work related stress) so I will call it a bargin and leave it at that.

No time for gaming anymore much less anything else, so only the one hobby at this point.

Jeff

Of course, the gaming is just about free. It's collecting the armies and scenery that gets pricy.

Like Flyfishing, the initial sticker shock can be a little daunting. Rules, figs, paints, stands, tokens, dice, etc. can add up if someone jumps on in. Like flyfishing, the rod,reel, waders, flys, tools, etc.

If you take it at one bit at a time, it isn't that bad. Especially if you join a club and everyone pitches in. Great social times.

Most expensive hobby may be restoring vintage aircraft or tanks. Compared to that, wargaming is really cheap…

I probably spend as much on guns ammo as I do on gaming, although after Historicon I now need to buy a new rifle to catch back up.

My other hobby is the piano. Only about $200 USD a year for tuning and music. If I could take it at school without majoring in it that would add a few thousand a year…

My other hobby is bicycle riding. If I collected bikes like I do Armies it could be way more expensive. However at $800.00 USD to $6,000.00 USD a bike it's easier to control impulse buys.

A round of golf at a good club . and when your done You have a score card and some missing balls . Any Hobby you are passionate about is going to cost . Chess can be a 3.99 set .to a 5000.00 dollar antigure gold plated set . its reletive , But games allways ask for more money

I used to smoke, I was paying $3-$4 a day for cigs. So that was $1,100 USD or so a year with nothing to show for it but health problems.
Now I have that towards gaming and have loads of figures to show for it.

I collect and shoot NFA (National Firearms Act) items.

My last big purchase was coverting an AR-15 into a short barreled rifle with a suppressor. After the tax stamp, etc that was $3,000. USD The purchase before that was sear conversion full auto mini-Uzi at $6,500. USD

Add in ammo, a couple of training classes per year, etc and I probably spend $15-20K per year.

My number 1 hobby (and I suspect it is everyone else's number past time as well) has turned into browsing the internet posting on forums about Toy Soldiers. $50.00 USD a month plus electricity.

Murphy said "1500 bucks will buy me 280 packs of Peter Pig 15mm figs at 5.35 each….or 2,280 figs…."

My hobby is cheaper than yours Murph.

Shooting is definitely more expensive. The cheap 7.62x51 rounds are $1 USD per and the 5.56x45 are around $0.60 USD per, 9mm Parabellum at around $0.25 USD per round. Ammo to fill one magazine for my M1A is $20, one AR-15 magazine $30. USD And I definitely use up more than one mag each when shooting.

Rob

The collecting component for me is where it gets expensive. Who an stop at one army? Or one rules set? Or one brand of paint etc etc.

But I love it none the less.

Collecting vintage movie posters from the '20s. Starting at about $1,000 a pop for movies no one has ever heard of and God help me if I get my hands on a Pickford. But they're pretty and shiny ……

Shooting here as well – my gaming budget is a fraction of the cost of ammo each year

Restoring vintage cars has cost me a lot too!!!!!!!!!
Women are very costly.
Gaming is downright cheap in comparison.
My minis have never begged for a vacation in Aruba, or birthday dinner at Gladstone's for Fish with a bottle of wine to boot.
With gaming as with reenacting, after the initial investments, maintenance can be really small.
On a side note, I was quoted in the Norfolk, Va. paper years ago, that a 6 pack of beer and a 6 pack of Ral-Partha cost the same. The only difference being that the next day I still had 6 minis left, and the beer was gone.

Only hobby except for sports (watching, can't play anymore), and reading. Damn expensive. But that's only because I have EVERY scale for EVERY period, by EVERY manufacturer EVER!

I try not to think about what my golf habit costs. But I know for sure that it is WAY more expensive than my gaming habit. A good round of golf costs $25 USD – $50 USD and I play two to three times a week. Lessons: $85 USD an hour. A new driver $400. USD A box of balls $25. USD New putter $150. USD

Rounds last four hours. The lasting impact of lessons can be measured in weeks. I lose at least one ball per round. I get tired of the driver and the putter fairly regularly.

But the fantasy miniatures I bought 30 years ago are still good if I ever get them out. And the Stone Mountain ACW miniatures I bought 20+ years ago see regular service.

And I thought golf was expensive until a buddy of mine who is into fishing outlined his expenses for me.

Miniatures are my only costly vice… no smoking, no drinking, no expensive cutting-edge electronics… some people would laugh at how much I spend on 'toys' but I'll happily take those costs over their bar tab.

Running a 25-year-old Porsche and a 15-year-old Ducati cost way more $$ than gaming once the insurance is reckoned in. But they're sooo much fun :-)

Gaming ain't bad, a six-pack a week for the boys when they come over and the odd model, book and terrain purchase… ahhh, who am I kidding ;-)

Cheers

w.

I believe that my weekend at Historicon was a good deal cheaper than owning a Formula One team for a season.

Likewise, my entire wargames collection cost less than buying Manchester City.

#1 Women
#2 Motorcycles
#3 Drinking
(See a pattern here….)
#4 Gaming in all forms…

It takes approx $1,500.00 USD USD to basically equip (decently), a CW reenactor, (and not with the Paki- crap either)…

You'd be in trouble if you change reenacting periods as often as wargamers change periods…

There's only so much CW stuff you need (After the basic setup, you're set for years), but you always need more minis.

Airsoft had a higher initial price tag but it seems to have leveled off. Like reenacting, once I have the gear I'm set whereas with minis it's a constant bleeding of the wallet.

I do PC gaming on PCs that I build myself. For years I said my PCs cost $400 USD but really that's what I would spend to start the build, then I would migrate parts at an average of $100 USD per month, and eventually would retire that one and start a new build. Probably they netted $1,000 USD apiece.

Two years ago I decided I wanted to build with higher quality components, and PC I use now is probably a $3,000 USD unit. Games are $60 USD periodically, say maybe 5 per year, and I'm on several MMOs but usually have suspended at least one, call it $70 USD per month.

Golf … I never have time to play … my dad is an addict and even though I'm in my 40s he still heavily subsidizes the little playing I have time for … honestly don't want to say an amount but I know his membership dues and greens fees are a healthy amount per month and that's above the buy-in to join the country club which he did when I was a kid. Did I mention he's in several golf clubs?

Reading SF & Fantasy and History and Suspense … I used to do comics too but now it's down to just the occasional graphic novel … I probably average $125 USD per month.

Wargaming is probably my costliest hobby, but only due to the fact that it's the one I focus the most on and therefore choose to spend the most on. If I paid the same level of attention to golf as I do to wargaming, I have no doubts that golf would quickly surpass wargaming in expense over time. As someone else pointed out, golf as an active pursuit includes the cost of clubs, balls, green fees (at least $20 USD every time you play), travel to and from the course, golf shoes, lessons, driving range times… it all adds up. With wargaming, while there's an initial expense for figures, rules and paint, and possibly terrain, there's no fee every time you play, the figures don't wear out or become lost, you don't pay for lessons, and a lot of things can be done very cheaply while still giving a very active and satisfactory hobby experience.

What other hobbies are out there?

Boating— extremely expensive
Fishing— ditto (don't forget the cost of the boat, fuel, or travel)
Camping— travel, gear, food, fees…
Hunting— guns, ammo, travel, license fees
Skiing— yowza
Biking— priced a good bike lately? Ka-CHING!
Woodworking— power tools. 'nuff said.

Not to say there aren't cheaper hobbies… of course there are. But wargaming is by no means among the most expensive. Not even close.

Depends of course what you're comparing against. Usually ppl compare against their own age/income groups. In that sense, wargaming can be expensive as a starting teenager, but the costs go down (due to accumulated stuff) over the years.

I used to argue with my SO about the costs of our hobbies. She used to be a basketball coach/player in her spare time. I kept saying she was lucky because the town/school/… wouldn't provide us wargamers with a free sports hall and all sorts of accommmodation (courtesy of the taxpayers), unlike all the sports clubs (even the most obscure ones). If sport club members would have to pay for all that, basketball would be expensive too.

I have a friend who collects old books. Old as in 16-18th century. You can't believe how much money goes around in that market. Another one collects art of beginning artists. Also quite expensive.

On the other hand, my 4-year old nephews are quite happy with free collectible cards featuring Pixar characters they receive as a promotional item at the local supermarket.

"Painting figures kept me from killing my Children ….cheap therapy !!!"
A word of comfort, Koyoteblue: a wise man once said: "Grandchildren are your reward for not killing your teenagers". I have obeyed and not only ended with three great grownups, but also adorable grandchildren. A win-win…

What I have missed in this discussion is the fact that money paid for figures is not "gone". Especially if you yourself have painted the figures (which definitely IS therapy ;-)), it is almost impossible not to have made a profit. That you probably will not REALIZE the profit is neither here nor there.

Wargaming is now pretty cheap – I have about a 70 year painting backlog, which really slows me down on buying new. I have more games than I will ever play, so that really helps too ! getting to this point was quite expensive though.

Gigs (attending) and buying CD's (I know, it's so 20th century, but I'm a gamer and I like pretty packages with shiny things in !) is my current money pit.

1500 bucks will buy me 280 packs of Peter Pig 15mm figs at 5.35 each….or 2,280 figs….

It also depends on what you choose to game, or game with.
2,280 figures in 1/72 scale plastics would only run you about $350. USD

Your $1,500 USD would get you 9,375 1/72 scale figures.
And that's a lot of figures!

Gaming has become a lot more expensive over the last few years if you use certain companies. It amazes me how certain big companies plastics cost a whole lot more than other smaller companies plastics, and it seems to be sci-fi/fantasy is always more expensive than historical…

Mick

A grand army of Foundry Napoleoinc cost $2,100 USD isn't that like 10% of a early salery for an American School teacher

That may be true Gunfreak but one of the advantages of this hobby is that you can scale it up or down and have a good time regardless.

That compares well with some hobbies that require a very substantial investment in time and money before you are even really started.

For the price of a console game you can get yourself something to keep you occupied for quite a while.

Model railroading runs about 100-150+ for an engine (N scale) and 25-55+ per car. If you do a 2 engine, 12 car setup, that's 500-960, for just one train. Add in the cost of the track, controller, scenic materials, etc, and it's pricy.

For 960, I could get a fair amount of minis.

I think financing any hobby boils down to your disposable income…My fellow clubbies and I have cussed and discussed this same subject for years. We try and justify our wargame miniature habit vs. others that we know who hunt, fish, golf, fly or whatever…. the bottom line is that any hobby can be expensive…so can you really afford it? Do you have the disposable income to support your spending or are you overspending beyond your means?

I think what most of us TMP'ers fight is our obsessive nature when it comes to minaiture gaming….you are never finished collecting…there is always one more terrain piece, unit, game mat or whatever, that you just GOTTA have…I just received a note on my paypal account that I had reached my unverified spending limit and that I would need to give an account number to continue…I was shocked at the amount of money i had spent on paypal…thousands of dollars over the life of my account….ouch….

Lets dont even talk about flip flopping on periods, scales, genres 3 or 4 times per year…."Hey guys, Hillbilly Wars, Inc. just released a new line of 28mm figs & rules…" "Oh, cool where do I order from?" "Dang…now I need to verify my paypal account so I can purchase…"

My 19th Century base ball club is fairly cheap for the initial investment, and since the look hasn't changed much, well…

The facial hair's a pain to keep up, of course.

My other hobby is the martial arts and even full on gear will run you about 500 dollars every five years or so and 40 bucks a month fees so it is no more than about a quarter of what I spend on gaming.

If I didn't game though I would likely spend a similar amount on bicycles so it all works out.

I also shoot, IPSC style. That is very expensive here.

Compared to that gaming is cheap. But in gaming it is the steady stream of little costs. Buy figures for 30 USD on monday, need a few bottles of paint 10 USD buy on wednesday. Then the black primer is finished (8USD), buy that on thursday. On the week end you buy som flock (15 USD)and so on. Gaming is a constant drain of small purchases.

That makes it feel expensive. But when you compare that to buying an AR 15 in Sweden (about 4000 USD) just for the basic rifle it is cheap.

So no, for me gaming is not expensive.

I presently spend more $ on golf on an annual basis. When you stop counting individual figures and just count by display cabinets, how much more do you really need? Been slowly shedding the unpainted lead. It's quite liberating. (I know, it's heresy) Foundry figures that I purchased years ago have yielded a pretty decent ROI. About 7% when I ran the numbers. They've paid my convention expenses (including purchases) for the last two or three years.

However considering I've made some really close, lifelong friends worldwide with both hobbies, the cost for either is negligible over the long term when you consider the enjoyment derived from each. Wouldn't change a thing.

Both can be expensive but hey what the heck, you gotta live man!!!!

Don

P.S. Both hobbies are considerably less expensive than flyng. Couldn't believe what friends have spent to obtain their pilot license.

Used to be beer drinking. Now it's shooting.

Wargaming is MUCH cheaper than my other hobby of playing with old cars (or rusty old heaps as my wife calls them!)

So is gaming the most expensive hobby you have?

Oh hell no.

Couldn't believe what friends have spent to obtain their pilot license.

Getting the certificate is the least of the expenses, since, presumably you'd keep flying once you were finished. That'll run you $100 USD an hour if you rent. Of course you could own, probably in a club or partership, which lowers the cost but carries its own set of expenses.

I stopped wargaming in my teens to take on drink,smoking,beer,football and snooker all were more expensive and intermixed with each other to increase the outlay.
Wargaming is a bit of a vice and the vices above were enjoyable hobbies.wargaming is much more cheaper and does not require 'recovery' like some above.
Watching the way my kids and some of their mates are like with video games makes me wonder if wargaming with even GW may be cheaper.

Yea… Does drinking count as a hobby?

Compared to my other hobbies… (restoring a 1974 BMW 2002tii, remote controlled planes, snowboarding, scuba diving, Disney trips…) …
I'd say its about a push.

Less expensive than motor or yacht racing.

More expensive than building models out of match sticks.

I strongly suspect wargaming is much cheaper than golfing, sailing, shooting, fishing, flying airplanes, racing or collecting cars, train modeling, collecting wines, going to the opera…

Maybe the perception of costliness comes from the steady stream of little purchases, as suggested by soledad. But this may be the feature that makes it attractive. Spending $500+ in one purchase would take me some financial planning with the family. On a weekly/monthly basis, the $40-$50 dollars for miniatures, terrain, paints, rules can slip through my budget without a major impact, or too much damage to family finances. I just don't look at the total tab at the end of the year. :-)