Determine the "Cost Basis" of my Xmas gaming purchases

[cheapfrag]

Hey all,

I've seen a lot of different ways to determine what someone paid for a game. Some people will subtract a Gift Card Bonus from the cost of the game that gave them that bonus. Some people would subtract that bonus from the cost of the next game they buy with that GC. It got me thinking about what was the "cost" of my game purchases from TRU during the holiday season.

I have a TRU credit card and get 1% back on all purchases and 5% back on TRU purchases. I accumulated $40 in these gift cards before November 2010 (on non-gaming purchases for the most part):

I bought FallOut New Vegas and Call Of Duty Black Ops at TRU when they had the buy 1 game get $20 GC or buy 2 games get $50 GC and I used the $40 in GCs.

New Vegas & Black Ops (and free Black Ops T-shirt)
So 59.99 + 4.20 tax + 59.99 + 4.20 tax = 128.38 - 40 CG = 88.38 charged to TRU CC and a $50 GC

Then I used that $50 Gift Card to buy Halo Reach:
so 59.99 + 4.20 = $64.19 - 50 GC = 14.19 charged to TRU CC and a $20 GC

Now the TRU credit Card was offering a double bonus on purchases at TRU during this time so I got 10% instead of 5%:
Credit Card Rewards based upon those 3 purchases: 88.38+14.19 = $102.57 x 10% = $10.26

Also the TRU rewards program was offering 10% back on purchases too during this time (the subtract out the GC from the purchase price):
TRU Rewards program on 3 purchases: 59.99 + 59.99 - 50 + 59.99 - 20 = $109.97 x 10% = $11 coupons

And I have the $20 in GC left (from buring Halo Reach), so I ended up with $41.26 in Gift cards/coupons after the 3 pruchases.

So what would you consider my cost per game for the 3 games I bought? I have my own opinion, what's yours?

 

[giantqtipz]

I swear to ing god this post reminds me of my corporate finance class. I'm done with midterms and I'm on break. you man! nggrrrrrr!!!

 

[donkeydrop]

Your cost is 88.38 + 14.19= 102.57 for the 3 games + $1.26 in credit. You can't subtract the $1.26 in credit you gained because its not cash, you only gain from it if you spend it on something else. The remaining $40 in credit is what you had at the beginning and is irrelevant. So 34.19 per game for now, could be re-adjusted when you spend the credit.

 

[cheapfrag]

[quote name='donkeydrop']Your cost is 88.38 + 14.19= 102.57 for the 3 games + $1.26 in credit. You can't subtract the $1.26 in credit you gained because its not cash, you only gain from it if you spend it on something else. The remaining $40 in credit is what you had at the beginning and is irrelevant. So 34.19 per game for now, could be re-adjusted when you spend the credit.[/QUOTE]

That's exactly the cost I decided on. $34.19 per game including tax.