I can totally relate to this. I try not to look at the deals on CAG that much any more. Ignorance is bliss. In another blog I was saying that I've implemented a $20 rule - if the game is over $20, then I won't buy it until it drops to 20 or lower. I'm so tempted to start a CIB NES Megaman 1-6 collection. But that'd be expensive..I think..ah damn it gotta stop thinking about it. ::eyes bank account:: uh-oh today is payday. ::runs from computer::

I know exactly how you feel. What is funny, when I was younger, I would save my money forever and hardly ever buy anything for myself. Once and a while I would buy something I had been wanting, but for the most part I saved my money and would get most of the things I wanted for Christmas, my birthday, etc. However, as I have gotten older, I have started to have more of an issue with saving my money.

I don't so much have to spend money as soon as I earn it, but I sometimes get in a mood where I just want to buy things and I usually end up buying stuff. Since finding CAG my impulse buying has been worse. Last year, especially, I would buy just about any game that I had the slightest interest in. This year, I have tried to stop that a little as my backlog just got too big. So, now I see a game on sale or clearance and I really try to think about if I want it, if I will like it, if the price is likely to go lower, if I would be mad I bought it at this price and it dropped or if I would be upset that I didn't buy it and the price didn't drop, etc. For example, right now Toy Story Mania is on sale at Best Buy. I'm trying to decide if I want it or not, I'm a big fan of Toy Story so I have been waiting for this game to drop in price and, surprisingly, it hasn't. So now that is has dropped, I'm trying to decide if it is worth $20 to me or if it will likely go lower. Last year, I would have just bought it.

It is fun being able to go out and buy a couple games and spend less than one new release. It is fun adding games to my collection for next to nothing and I think those are the reasons why I started being such an impulse shopper. Last year, was definitely one of my worst years when it game to just buying things whenever I saw a lower price. This year I have done much better, except for those times where I just want to buy stuff. When that happens, I just go out and find a game or something that I want that is pretty cheap because otherwise I will start buying too much stuff

The only time I'm really an impulse shopper is when I am shopping for birthday's and Christmas. I love buying gifts for my family so I see something I think they will like and I buy it. I already like buying things and if I'm buying it for someone else I have an excuse, so I go a little crazy.

One thing I have done though, since I do like to buy things on impulse is I don't open it for a few days (unless it is something I know I want) When I buy games, or just about anything, I don't open it when I first get it. I keep it sealed up so I can think about it for a few days. If I still want it and the price hasn't dropped I can keep it, but if the price goes lower or I decide it isn't something I want, I can take it back.

Nope.. I've always (apparently?) had really good self control about pretty much everything (even being vegan seems easy to me). I hate the feeling of "wasting" money when I could get it for cheaper. I don't even know which week is a "pay week" at work and which isn't, it just goes in the bank and I forget about it.

Just look at my pick-up blogs. I'm very notorious for picking up stuff I see on impulse. My place is full of it. That's why when I work a weekend not going shopping, I spend way less. Thankfully I make more money than I can spend.

You are not alone my friend. I am horrible with money on all fronts, but especially with video games. I would buy a new game or accessory that I wanted every time I saw one, if it were not for my wife. Thankfully she is very money smart and has more self control than I could ever dream of having. She keeps me inline and still lets me get enough toys and games to keep me entertained. In all honesty she is the one that told me about CAG. She found it one day when she was looking to buy me something and said I would probably like it. I don't think she realized what she was doing though because now I know where all the great deals are and I'm constantly going "Hey company X is having a sale!!"

I always know what I'm buying when entering a store.

noone ever plans a backlog. they just happen. Yours isn't the first story and it won't be the last.

I will happily announce a burst of willpower that has me proud. I was planning to head up to a local comic shop that has a horde of the Play Arts figures and get one. As I'm looking at my bank account however I realize that would leave me $5, as well as the $20 in my kids X-Mas account. I need gas and I'm not dipping into savings I have for their gifts to get it. So I'll be doing my overtime and going home. Come payday though it is on!

my will power took a serious dive recently.
There is a store in town that I just found out about called Buy Backs.
lots of used games, and used older games that I like.

Tales of the Abyss, Tales of Legendia, Castlevania Curse of Darkness, and a few others I really really want.
Ugh. I just got paid so now i just have to figure out how to have enough will power to avoid going to the place.