BigLee | 15 Jun 2012 2:29 a.m. PST |
I was recently described as a "rich" gamer, a description that made me laugh out loud. I consider my hobby expenditure to be pretty moderate but this got me thinking about gamers hobby expenditure in general. So I've posted a very unscientific POLL on my Blog asking two simple but related questions: Thinking about your hobby expenditure over the last 12 months would you say you have spent More or Less than the previous 12 months? And looking towards the next 12 months do you see your hobby budget Shrinking, Remaining the Same or Increasing? When I go to trade shows I see large amounts of money changing hands, and there seems to be a lot of new companies and products coming out all the time. But is this apparent activity actually masking the reality of our individual Hobby Budgets? Are we spending less but spending more selectively, looking for deals at shows or online as opposed to our local store? Whatever your opinion I'd appreciate your feedback (and votes of course). BLMA BLMAblog.com |
Patrick R | 15 Jun 2012 2:36 a.m. PST |
Goes up and down. I tend to spend a lot at major shows and just hobble along during the year. |
x42brown | 15 Jun 2012 2:42 a.m. PST |
Mine has defiantly been down this 12 months compared to the immediate previous 12 months but this was more due to the previous 12 months being exceptionally high buying rather than a cut back from my usual. Next 12 months is expected to be much the same as usual. x42 |
Raynman | 15 Jun 2012 2:47 a.m. PST |
Mostly down since I deployed to the sandbox. However, when I get home, watch oout! I may melt a credit card!! |
Martin Rapier | 15 Jun 2012 2:59 a.m. PST |
Down on re-enactment living history stuff, mainly as I have pretty well everything I need and I've bene to fewer events this year, athough I'm not sure I really need TWO K98s. Down on sailing as I have everything I need and nothing needed replacing this year. Up on hill walking as my gaiters needed replacing. Unchanged on running. Up on gardening as I've been replacing all the plants killed by the harsh winter two years ago. Up on wargaming as I've had three new projects which caught my interest. Overall down a bit as I spend far more on item 1 than all the rest put together. Daughter number two starts at University in September, so need to free up some cash. |
tima113 | 15 Jun 2012 3:00 a.m. PST |
Way down, but we're organizing for a move and most of my wargaming items are being packed up and going into storage. Placing them in storage made me realize how big the lead and terrain pile has grown. I'm guessing the next 12 months will also be low as we move and the pile emerges from storage. |
streetline | 15 Jun 2012 3:03 a.m. PST |
Down, due to home building works and child
. |
PiersBrand | 15 Jun 2012 3:36 a.m. PST |
Up again this year as Im in my 'horde' phase buying up complete projects
Likely that the next two years will be 'Nil Point' spending as I try and paint the huge reserves of metal
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Frederick | 15 Jun 2012 3:57 a.m. PST |
Up this year – mostly on paying for people to paint some minis that I really want done but can't get the time to finish |
Condotta | 15 Jun 2012 4:02 a.m. PST |
Up. The Perry brothers, Calpe, Warlord, Table-top World, Crescent Root, Caliver, Spirit Games and all others are to blame. I can resist anything except temptation, which means spending will likely increase. |
Cosmic Reset | 15 Jun 2012 4:14 a.m. PST |
My spending this year is already twice last year's total. but only about 30% of it was before mid-2008. |
OldGrenadier at work | 15 Jun 2012 4:19 a.m. PST |
Down. My budget is always slim, and I'm up to my eyebrows in unpainted stuff. |
Gunbird | 15 Jun 2012 4:21 a.m. PST |
Down, been out of a job for 9 months now, so it is a luxury. |
Wargamer Blue | 15 Jun 2012 4:22 a.m. PST |
Way up. Need to slow down. |
Sane Max | 15 Jun 2012 4:28 a.m. PST |
Now I have paid off my Mortgage, and none of my Daughters have reached the 'Cash-Vampire' phase of their life-cycle, way up. I expect in a few years I will be painting the stuff I am buying now while dumpster-diving for food-scraps, so regard it an an investment rather than a foolish spending spree. Pat |
Murphy | 15 Jun 2012 4:30 a.m. PST |
Mostly down
I've been to the SYW con this year, but haven't gamed in a while
purchases are a lot less, but I did get some nicely painted 15mm Union Zouaves from the Marketplace here. I'm hoping to have a little more $$$ at the end of the year to do things with
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Yesthatphil | 15 Jun 2012 4:33 a.m. PST |
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Militia Pete | 15 Jun 2012 4:35 a.m. PST |
Down to 0. Lost my job and prior to that had to make some large purchases for the farm. Start work again next week, and am drooling on getting caught up. |
Timmo uk | 15 Jun 2012 4:38 a.m. PST |
Down to zero. I simply don't have the money to spend on hobby stuff anymore. I hope it changes as I've nothing to paint. |
The Man With Two Bryans | 15 Jun 2012 4:41 a.m. PST |
Up. Buying for new projects |
Tuudawgs | 15 Jun 2012 4:42 a.m. PST |
It depends on what new minis come out in the next year. Right now, I have about exausted the 10mm figs I am interested in so won't be spending much unless new stuff is released. If there is new stuff
anything worth doing is worth doing to excess. |
trailape | 15 Jun 2012 4:54 a.m. PST |
Down. Thanks to Gillard and Team,
But I'n still better off than most in these tough times I expect, so I guess I'm blessed and won't complain too much. Perry's Calpe and Eureka Miniatures seem to still get their pound of flesh out of me. |
20thmaine | 15 Jun 2012 5:02 a.m. PST |
Down – mostly as I already have too much stuff for the amount of life I have left. |
taskforce58 | 15 Jun 2012 5:44 a.m. PST |
Up since end of last year, when I started selling off some board wargames that are unlikely to get played, and use the money to fund more miniatures purchase. |
Buff Orpington | 15 Jun 2012 6:01 a.m. PST |
Going up tomorrow, I'm off to Phalanx and my payrise just came through. |
peterx | 15 Jun 2012 6:07 a.m. PST |
Way down. I haven't had as much money, time to play, or visits to game cons to fuel my spending. So, if anyone wants to donate some cash so I can purchase some minis to support our hobby, I would be open to it. |
rampantlion | 15 Jun 2012 6:13 a.m. PST |
Up this year so far, I went to Scotland on vacation and brought back $500 USD worth of 28mm medievals. Other purchases here in the states as well this year. Allen |
MahanMan | 15 Jun 2012 6:24 a.m. PST |
Down due to health reasons. |
jdpintex | 15 Jun 2012 6:24 a.m. PST |
Up. I finally decided to buy stuff that I like/want/shiny regardless of whether it fits in with any of the groups I game with. After all, it's my hobby and I like to paint. So ended up buying more than a fair amount of ACW naval recently. Plus a whole bunch of "shiny" purchases at Nashcon. |
Delthos | 15 Jun 2012 6:43 a.m. PST |
I actually planned for my spending to be down last year, but I've managed to go up this year instead! |
ming31 | 15 Jun 2012 6:43 a.m. PST |
Down , rotten winter soured business . ( snowy winter = more work) and the spring has not been much better . I pick and choose my purchases . Buying knowing that it is going right to the paint bench rather than the pile . On the plus side I am thinning the pile a little |
John the OFM | 15 Jun 2012 6:45 a.m. PST |
Way down. People aren't buying as much Comcast as they should. |
Pauls Bods | 15 Jun 2012 6:51 a.m. PST |
Definately down.. Cheers paul |
Rudysnelson | 15 Jun 2012 7:00 a.m. PST |
My revenue at every convention that I have attended this year in the Southeast USA has seen a drop in customer spending. For the past few years there was a 10-15% drop but this year there has been a 20-30% drop from last year's lower numbers. So I would say for most gamers yes. The number of big spenders are down as well. |
Saber6 | 15 Jun 2012 7:00 a.m. PST |
Flat or down. A couple large purchases in the last couple of months, but likely to be next to nothing for the next few months (depends on access to stores) |
79thPA | 15 Jun 2012 7:08 a.m. PST |
Probably down so far this year. In 2010 I went to the Chicago Toy Soldier Show and spent a ton of money (a lot of money for me, anyway). I am trying very hard not to buy stuff I don't need. |
Mick in Switzerland | 15 Jun 2012 7:12 a.m. PST |
It will go down but only because I am running out of space. I gave up smoking two years ago and the money saved meant that my hobby spending exploded. For now I have everything that I want
. until I decide on a new project. |
Wildman | 15 Jun 2012 7:13 a.m. PST |
Way down.Don't have the money for hobby purchases due to health issues. |
richarDISNEY | 15 Jun 2012 7:16 a.m. PST |
Down. Not much has really caught my eye for lines I collect and play.
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Ran The Cid | 15 Jun 2012 7:30 a.m. PST |
Hobby budget is up. Busy building the lead pile off of sales and second hand figures. |
Pictors Studio | 15 Jun 2012 7:44 a.m. PST |
About the same for me. Since the plastic historical figures have come out my spending has increased markedly though. I'd say that, for myself, I probably spend about 2-4x as much a month as I did before they were released. |
etotheipi | 15 Jun 2012 7:51 a.m. PST |
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religon | 15 Jun 2012 7:54 a.m. PST |
Down. I've seen a shift in my own interests away from commercial miniature wargaming rules in recent years, and it has impacted my spending. I still collect and write my own games, but last year was thin on releases I cared about. |
BugStomper | 15 Jun 2012 7:55 a.m. PST |
Up. Although I'm more selective about what I'm buying, my impulse purchases are down. |
jefritrout | 15 Jun 2012 7:57 a.m. PST |
Got married 12 years ago and the hobby spending went down a bit, but still spent quite a bit. Had a child 6 years ago and spending went down even more. Bought a house just over a year ago and hobby spending went way down. In fact been doing flea markets selling both painted and unpainted lead and used the money to buy a fridge, washer, dryer, mattress and other items. Will be again flea market at Historicon to try to buy a sofa – and whatever is left over is my budget to spend on miniatures. |
Mako11 | 15 Jun 2012 7:59 a.m. PST |
Down to zero. Out of work here too, for far too long. |
Mserafin | 15 Jun 2012 8:18 a.m. PST |
Mine is suddenly way up, because I jumped into 28mm Napoleonics. Before that it had been down to nearly zero for a long time. |
Who asked this joker | 15 Jun 2012 8:23 a.m. PST |
Down. I've come to the realization that I can't get to everything I would like to. I am practical. I don't like seeing stuff languish in my basement, unpainted and unplayed. Economy has little to do with it. I have been fortunate so far in that respect. Wife and kids come first, then hobby. |
Condottiere | 15 Jun 2012 8:24 a.m. PST |
Way, way up. So much so that it's starting to make me high! |
combatpainter | 15 Jun 2012 8:30 a.m. PST |
Down
Always down
This should be a poll question
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