Yo, what’s up, gamers? It’s GameTomatoes here, and I’m here to talk to you about how to game hard on a student budget.
I know, I know, it’s tough being a student. You’re always broke, and you never have enough time to do the things you love. But don’t worry, I’m here to help.
Here are a few tips on how to game hard on a student budget:
- Be patient and wait for sales. There are always sales going on, so don’t be afraid to wait a little bit to get the best price on a game. You can usually find games for 50% off or more during big sales like Steam Summer Sale or the Epic Games Store Mega Sale.
- Subscribe to a gaming service. There are a number of gaming services that offer a variety of games for a monthly fee. This can be a great way to try out new games without having to spend a lot of money. Some popular gaming services include Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Now, and Nintendo Switch Online.
- Buy used games. You can often find used games for a fraction of the price of new games. Just be sure to buy from a reputable source so that you know the games are in good condition.
- Trade in your old games. If you have any old games that you’re not playing anymore, you can trade them in for credit at a game store. This can be a great way to offset the cost of new games.
- Get a part-time job. If you’re really serious about gaming, you may want to consider getting a part-time job to earn extra money. This will give you more disposable income to spend on games.
- Ask for games for your birthday or holidays. If you’re on a tight budget, you can always ask your friends and family for games for your birthday or holidays. This is a great way to get new games without having to spend any money.
- Enter contests and giveaways. There are a number of websites and social media pages that host contests and giveaways for games. This is a great way to get free games without having to do anything.
- Create a budget. If you’re serious about gaming on a budget, it’s important to create a budget and stick to it. This will help you make sure that you’re not spending more money than you can afford.
- Be mindful of your spending. When you’re buying games, it’s important to be mindful of your spending. Don’t just buy every game that comes out. Only buy games that you’re really interested in and that you know you’ll play.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you’re struggling to make ends meet, don’t be afraid to ask for help from your friends, family, or even the gaming community. There are a number of people who are willing to help out fellow gamers who are on a budget.
There are three certainties in life: death, taxes and the fact gaming has the potential to make you broke. What was once a small niche that allowed people to squander the time between this and that has now become an expensive hobby that can set you back big time. The hardware is expensive and the games ain’t cheap, which is a real bummer for all those students that would rather be collecting victories on C.O.D than improving their grades in class.
Five Best Places to Buy Used Games and Consoles
In short, the cost of gaming is becoming unreasonable for students the western world over.
However, if you know what you are doing, and you are willing to make a few little sacrifices here and there, you will find there are ways to significantly boost your gaming budget. And here is how:
Be Patient
5 Genius Ways to Save Money on Gaming
Resisting the urge to go and spend half your student loan on the latest releases is almost too much to take. But you know as well as we do, if you just wait as little as a few months, you will find there is a Steam sale with a significant discount and a used copy for half the price. It is a sacrifice, but it is also double your budget.
The Classics Are Worth It
4 Classics For PlayStation Now Adoption
Just because it didn’t get released in 2017 does not mean it should be ignored. GTA V. Skyrim. Fallout 3. These are classics that can now be bought for pennies, the kind of game that will keep you entertained for hours and days for a small pinch of the original cost. Now that is good value.
Time To Trade In
10 Ways to Buy Video Games Without Going Broke
A great way to fund your need to have the more recent titles is through trade-ins. Yup, it is time to get into the habit of selling used games and using that money to fund your desperate urge to play the latest releases. We know this can be hard to swallow, especially if they are open-world titles or multiplayer epics. However, story-driven games are pretty much only good for one play, so start with them and see what you can get in return.
Hitting The Hardware
PC Gaming on a Budget: Can It Be Done?
If you are a console gamer then, sorry, but you’re options are limited because there isn’t much chance of you finding a bargain on the hardware front. PC-gamers, however, can save big by shopping smart. Sure, a middle of the range gaming laptop will cost about the same as a top of the range console, but a laptop can do so much more. Go one step further and get a desktop and you can create a modular upgrade system whereby you upgrade parts to save money and not get left behind.
Pull Together
You’re a student, probably living with other students, so utilize that. Sure, trying to convince your pals to chip in for a new PS4 may not be possible, but if they all like the competitive bond that is created by FIFA then ask them to share the burden on that front. $40 spread amongst five of you is a tidy result.
I hope these tips help you game hard on a student budget!
Stay gaming, my friends.
