Can you stick to a budget? The 2015 Budget Challenge!

[kurdt_the_goat]

Thought this'd be interesting and maybe become a regular thing we can look back on.

The idea is that you set a budget amount for the entire year. Then you write down the things you're considering buying & how much it'll cost (or guess/estimate). You can be specific or vague, like $100 for Generation Deluxes since some stuff might not be announced yet. As stuff gets announced you can amend the want list with proper prices. But each time you do, edit your post to track the total estimated spend for everything you want.

Once an item is on your considering list, it stays there, even if you later decide you don't want it anymore. That way, the list of things we didn't buy will be much more impressive to present to our partners at the end of the year :P Maybe just use the strikethough button in the post editor to cross out things you don't want anymore, if you like.

As you actually buy stuff, build your Bought list - edit your post again to track total cost (shipping included) for each item.

No one judge another on the amount they budget and end up spending or what they choose to buy!
It can be TF's only or everything you're interested in, up to you.

The budget amount shouldn't be changed once decided. Everything in AUD!
If you sell stuff to fund new stuff, you can add that amount separate to the budget, but ultimately we're trying to stick to the initial budget amount regardless.

So here's the format to follow and my lists so far:

2015 Budget: $1500
Sold items value: $1000

Considering List:

$15 - Mega Man Amiibo Birthday present from wife
$150 - MP 24 Star Saber
$130 - Unannounced MPs
$96 - Optimus Prime Featuring PlayStation
$150 - XTransbots Apollyon
$60 - Super Robot Chogokin God Sigma
$25 - MOTUC Snakeface
$50 - MOTUC Mantenna
$32.50 - MOTUC Man-at-arms
$32.50 - MOTUC Mer-man
$100 - FansProject not Skullcruncher
$125 - FansProject not Snarl
$130 - FansProject Madlaw Saw video review, don't like enough modes & won't match my displays
$70 - Wii U Bayonetta 2 Birthday present from family
$60 - Wii U Yoshi's Wooly World
$60 - Wii U Splatoon
$60 - Wii U Starfox
$60 - Wii U Zelda
$60 - Wii U Devil's Third
$60 - Wii U Xenoblade Chronicles X
$48 - 3DS Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
$7 - 3DS Afterburner 2 3D Classic Bought with eShop card purchased in 2014
$7 - 3DS Outrun 3D Classic Will buy with eShop card purchased in 2014
$50 - Vita Resident Evil Revelations 2
$20 - Vita Axiom Verge
$20 - Vita Mighty No. 9
$20 - Vita Geometry Wars 3
$20 - Vita Shovel Knight
$20 - Vita Hotline Miami 2 Refused classification :(
$15 - Vita Duke Nukem 3D Megaton Edition
$8 - Ridge Racer 3D & Gears of War (2 for price of 1)
$18 - Ninja Gaiden 3 Razor's Edge
$19 - Luigi's Mansion 2


Considering list total spend: $1787

Bought List:

08 Jan - $15 - Vita Duke Nukem 3D Megaton Edition
18 Jan - $32.50 - MOTUC Man-at-arms
18 Jan - $32.50 - MOTUC Mer-Man
21 Jan - $50 - MOTUC Mantenna
21 Jan - $25 - MOTUC Snakeface
31 Jan - $8 - Ridge Racer 3D & Gears of War (2 for price of 1)
12 Feb - $18 - Ninja Gaiden 3 Razor's Edge
14 Feb - $48 - 3DS Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
14 Feb - $19 - Luigi's Mansion 2
28 Feb - $96 - Optimus Prime Featuring PlayStation
14 Mar - $25 - Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate New 3DS Cover Plate


Actual Spend: $369

2015 Under-spenders

TBA


2015 Over-spenders
TBA

[llamatron]

I think it's important to try and stick to a budget, in 2013 I tracked everything and tried to come in at $20 per week ($1040 for the year). I was on track until December when a bunch of expensive "bargains" showed up and I blew out to $1300 or so. In 2014 I didn't track my spending well but I would estimate a similar level. I'll be tracking 2015 again and should stay below $1000 for the year.

[BigTransformerTrev]

I can't stick to a budget at all. I keep getting pay rises at my hateful job and more and more TF toys keep getting made. This year may be a bit different with the missus taking a year off work and bub no2 just around the cervical corner so finances may be tighter, but on the whole I just buy what I want as long as it's not an unreasonable price.

A budget is a smart idea, but all my self control this year will go towards keeping not smoking and also not throttling idiot coworkers and students from my upcoming lack of sleep. Putting a toy budget on top of that is beyond my meagre skills :o Maybe if Hasbro Tak/Tom tell me every single TF that will be released this year, what their quality will be and what great deals might come along it may then be a possibility :p

[DELTAprime]

My budget amounts to spend less than I have coming in. I couldn't set any type of definitive budget at this early stage. So many toys and games are unannounced.

What I did do last year as I saw games at E3 I wanted was make a list of all the games I wanted in Q3 and Q4 but it was been adjusted till the final game as better and worse than expected reviews kept hitting.

[drifand]

Nope,

I always want to spent less but some good stuff always comes along.
The only way is to sell some stuff to trade up what you want to stay in budget.

[Bidoofdude]

Nope. I've never stuck to a budget in the 3 or so years I've been collecting. It's a lot different for me though, being only 15, there's not much else I can spend money on, unlike the adults here who have to pay bills and stuff.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Actually, cancel all that other stuff I said. The wife just shut me down when I went to buy the first 3 live action movies on blu ray in one pack for $50, arguing I already have 2 & 3 on DVD and 3 different copies of 1 on DVD too.

She is my living budget enforcer :p


Edit: Oh bollocks! I forgot I already have DOTM on Blu Ray - man I would have copped it if I had bought it again because I forgot :eek::o:p

[drifand]

Actually, cancel all that other stuff I said. The wife just shut me down when I went to buy the first 3 live action movies on blu ray in one pack for $50, arguing I already have 2 & 3 on DVD and 3 different copies of 1 on DVD too.

She is my living budget enforcer :p

This ! And if you are not careful it can end real bad.

I try to be more picky on stuff I buy, but its real hard.

[DELTAprime]

Actually, cancel all that other stuff I said. The wife just shut me down when I went to buy the first 3 live action movies on blu ray in one pack for $50, arguing I already have 2 & 3 on DVD and 3 different copies of 1 on DVD too.

She is my living budget enforcer :p

Really, she won't let you upgrade from a crappy, blurry 480p DVD to a pristine 1080p Blu-ray. Thats harsh.

[kurdt_the_goat]

Just realised i forgot to add PlayStation Prime... lol, i'm gonna need a few of these items to get delayed till 2016, or turn out to be shit... to have any hope of achieving this :o

[Trent]

Hehe. A budget. What a novel idea.

:p

[drifand]

Really, she won't let you upgrade from a crappy, blurry 480p DVD to a pristine 1080p Blu-ray. Thats harsh.

You be really surprised the power of women.
I was questioned the other day about my mp 10, is still considered the same action figure to them.

[UltraMarginal]

My budget is a separate account that has a percentage of my income go into it. I can do with it what I like, though I need to make sure I have spare cash for presents for my wife for those special occasions. The big issue for me at the moment is space budget. I'm having to get more and more creative.

I will entertain your budget concept but it's hard to do at this stage of the year as others have said, there has been so little announced, it might be better to wait till after the toy fairs.

I'll give it a go but it'll take me a few days to get around to it.

[Sinnertwin]

Really, she won't let you upgrade from a crappy, blurry 480p DVD to a pristine 1080p Blu-ray. Thats harsh.

Harsh? :D Hardly. Why waste more money on owning a blu ray version of a movie when you already have the DVD?

[janda the red]

Hehe. A budget. What a novel idea.

:p

Lol... Couldn't of put it better myself buddy!

:D

[Ultra Mackness]

Lol... Couldn't of put it better myself buddy!

:D

I was just thiinking the same thing myself! :)

[BigTransformerTrev]

Actually, cancel all that other stuff I said. The wife just shut me down when I went to buy the first 3 live action movies on blu ray in one pack for $50, arguing I already have 2 & 3 on DVD and 3 different copies of 1 on DVD too.

She is my living budget enforcer :p


Edit: Oh bollocks! I forgot I already have DOTM on Blu Ray - man I would have copped it if I had bought it again because I forgot :eek::o:p


Really, she won't let you upgrade from a crappy, blurry 480p DVD to a pristine 1080p Blu-ray. Thats harsh.


Harsh? :D Hardly. Why waste more money on owning a blu ray version of a movie when you already have the DVD?

Well as I put in my edit - I had forgotten I already had DOTM on blu ray so in the end she did have a point :p

One day I'll get the firs two on blu ray - probably just as the next upgrade in format comes out ;)



Hehe. A budget. What a novel idea.

:p


Lol... Couldn't of put it better myself buddy!

:D


I was just thiinking the same thing myself! :)

Lol +1:D

[crankcase76]

Well im in the same boat with the missus,:eek: have to be careful what to choose. But usually i think around the $2000-$2500 mark for me as i do alot of shopping online and attending toy fairs. Which in saying that my MP-22 has come in and with the exchange rate and shipping it nearly cost me $300. So a buget like that might seem alot, but with all that goes with collecting.:rolleyes:

[millhouse]

Why waste more money on owning a blu ray version of a movie when you already have the DVD?]

Why replace your Optimus Prime from Classics' The Ultimate Battle 2-pack with an MP-10? I mean, it's an Optimus Prime that transforms into a G1-style truck...

:P

[Sinnertwin]

Why replace your Optimus Prime from Classics' The Ultimate Battle 2-pack with an MP-10? I mean, it's an Optimus Prime that transforms into a G1-style truck...

:P

:D
I can see where you're coming from with that example, who wouldn't want to upgrade that Optimus, but aren't you just watching the same movie anyway?

[millhouse]

I can see where you're coming from with that example, who wouldn't want to upgrade that Optimus, but aren't you just watching the same movie anyway?

Quality counts. :P

Seriously though, it was the worst cheap/easily accessible OP I could think of, and Blu-ray Disc kicks the absolute sh*t out of standard def.

Plus JB Hi-Fi have movies 1-3 on Blu-ray for only $39.19 right now (20% off).

[Megatran]

I don't have a boo-zjay.

[kurdt_the_goat]

Anyone really on a budget knows the "cheapest" way to get a copy of the movie :D

[BigTransformerTrev]

Why replace your Optimus Prime from Classics' The Ultimate Battle 2-pack with an MP-10? I mean, it's an Optimus Prime that transforms into a G1-style truck...

:P


:D
I can see where you're coming from with that example, who wouldn't want to upgrade that Optimus, but aren't you just watching the same movie anyway?


Quality counts. :P

Seriously though, it was the worst cheap/easily accessible OP I could think of, and Blu-ray Disc kicks the absolute sh*t out of standard def.

Plus JB Hi-Fi have movies 1-3 on Blu-ray for only $39.19 right now (20% off).


I don't have a boo-zjay.

I must admit that I watched the original animated movie on blu ray for the first time a couple of months back and I saw details that I had never spotted before in the few thousand times i've watched the flick (such as Optimus having an Autobot symbol on his steering wheel in truck mode). That said, I never really watch the live action films that often. I'd like to have the first two on blu ray but I think the missus was put off by how many toys Ive bought of late, plus we just reorganized the study and there is a whole shelf on TF DVD/BluRays including this lot:

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b615/BigAngryTrev/P1020818_zps4c3ce937.jpg (http://s1294.photobucket.com/user/BigAngryTrev/media/P1020818_zps4c3ce937.jpg.html)


It may be the fact that I have 4 different versions of the animated movie that gave her pause (reglaur, UK edition, Special Edition & blu ray). So budget wise I think she thought I could forego more :rolleyes:

And to think, in the old days all I had was a VHS copy that I taped off Agros Cartoon Connection one morning :p

[Raider]

Short answer no, I cannot stick to a budget. I try to balance commonsense with how much trouble I would get in with the missus if she found out how much I spent. :D

[kurdt_the_goat]

First spend of the year is in - nabbed Duke Nukem 3D Megaton Edition for Vita. Eagle eyed readers will note that this wasn't on my considering list :D

I realised the 2 $7 3DS games i want... i already bought an eShop card earmarked for those.... last year! So, hail to the king baby!

[DELTAprime]

I must admit that I watched the original animated movie on blu ray for the first time a couple of months back and I saw details that I had never spotted before in the few thousand times i've watched the flick (such as Optimus having an Autobot symbol on his steering wheel in truck mode).

I still wonder why so many people insist that DVD is good. Theres so much more detail in a Blu-ray, and it's not blurry. Every time I sell a DVD to someone at work I want to hit them over the head with it and say "go back and get the far superior Blu-ray".


First spend of the year is in - nabbed Duke Nukem 3D Megaton Edition for Vita. Eagle eyed readers will note that this wasn't on my considering list :D

I realised the 2 $7 3DS games i want... i already bought an eShop card earmarked for those.... last year! So, hail to the king baby!

You didn't pay for Duke did you? It's free this month on PlayStation Plus, thats how I got my copy yesterday.

[Skullcruncher]

No, but I need to. The dirt down each side of myself isn't going to concrete itself. Once I get paid this month I am going to form a budget and try and keep to it...until next pay day :o

[kurdt_the_goat]

You didn't pay for Duke did you? It's free this month on PlayStation Plus, thats how I got my copy yesterday.


Argg i know, i'm tempted every time i buy a game that's free on plus.... But i just hate subscriptions and the idea of not really owning stuff! When plus first came out i already had everything i wanted that was free too... One day maybe

[Skullcruncher]

I must admit that I watched the original animated movie on blu ray for the first time a couple of months back and I saw details that I had never spotted before in the few thousand times i've watched the flick (such as Optimus having an Autobot symbol on his steering wheel in truck mode). That said, I never really watch the live action films that often. I'd like to have the first two on blu ray but I think the missus was put off by how many toys Ive bought of late, plus we just reorganized the study and there is a whole shelf on TF DVD/BluRays including this lot:

**snip**

It may be the fact that I have 4 different versions of the animated movie that gave her pause (reglaur, UK edition, Special Edition & blu ray). So budget wise I think she thought I could forego more :rolleyes:

And to think, in the old days all I had was a VHS copy that I taped off Agros Cartoon Connection one morning :p

Wow and I thought I was variation obsessed :p - 1st challenge to upcoming budget already - G1 Movie on BluRay - thanks Trev! :D

[DELTAprime]

I've just had a think about it and I've decided not really so much stick to a budget, but at least keep track of how much I spend on Transformers this year. I've never kept track so it would be good to know.

For some reason my bank isn't showing how much I actually paid for MP-11SW but he's my only purchase this year so far.

[SuspectimusPrime]

I've just had a think about it and I've decided not really so much stick to a budget, but at least keep track of how much I spend on Transformers this year. I've never kept track so it would be good to know.


It's a good idea. I've been tracking since 2010, and in 2012 I spent an obscene amount on money, mostly because I kept impulsing on eBay to chase back on CHUG releases I missed out on.



I will entertain your budget concept but it's hard to do at this stage of the year as others have said, there has been so little announced, it might be better to wait till after the toy fairs.


That's what I'm feeling this year. Have not yet bitten on the regular Hasbro releases and the 3rd Party stuff I want is slow coming. The only BBTS pre-order I have is TFCC Krok - but man, do I need that!

[BigTransformerTrev]

Wow and I thought I was variation obsessed :p - 1st challenge to upcoming budget already - G1 Movie on BluRay - thanks Trev! :D

Heh - no prob. It's worth having on blu ray for all that extra detail :D. To be fair, I only have the UK edition as it was given to me for Xmas when I was living in Scotland. The other 3 - I have no excuse :p



The only BBTS pre-order I have is TFCC Krok - but man, do I need that!

Krok is the only one of the TFSS3.0 I intend to get too. If ya can manage it, hold off on getting him for a while, I have almost all the TFSS1.0 now and got most of them through BBTS $20+ cheaper than what they had them originally priced at by waiting 6 or so months for them to drop ;):cool:

[Dimi194]

The big issue for me at the moment is space budget. I'm having to get more and more creative.



^This... I really need more self/desk/dresser space... clothes live on my bed because the Autobots have priority :p

[SuspectimusPrime]

Krok is the only one of the TFSS3.0 I intend to get too. If ya can manage it, hold off on getting him for a while, I have almost all the TFSS1.0 now and got most of them through BBTS $20+ cheaper than what they had them originally priced at by waiting 6 or so months for them to drop ;):cool:

Solid advice, but can't risk losing it :p If Shouki ends up in clearance (like pretty much all the CHUG Million Publishing exclusives) I'll probably nab it :)

[GoktimusPrime]

The big issue for me at the moment is space budget.
Speaking of which, I recently purchased a new Billy book case from Ikea, but before doing so, I had to remove two sets of shelves to make space for it, which also means carefully removing and reshelving all those toys. But even after I installed the new bookcase, I put my MPs, BTs, ALTs & Alternities on it; which meant that their former spaces were now unoccupied. The smaller set of shelves that I removed is now permanently out of my TF room (there's no more space for it, and also made redundant by the much larger Billy), so they took up residency in the new spot, but I also decided to move all my Animated toys two 'storeys' up. But there was still remaining space, so I also moved half of my Cybertron Autobots (which was sharing a shelf w/ some Movieformers), and reshuffled those Movieformers so that they're no longer huddled together like penguins. :o I also moved my Power Core Combiners to make room for RiD2015.

So anyway, for the past 2 days, I've moved approximately 350 toys, which is approx. 19% of my entire collection. :eek:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/reshelf1_zps5a368d46.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/reshelf2_zps549a920d.jpghttp://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/reshelf3_zps81a48821.jpg

I've left a few empty spots on my Classicsverse shelves for this year's Generations and Combiner Wars toys. The top shelf is half empty in anticipation of the gestalts. I've also moved my Universe Silverbolt, Onslaught, Powerglide, Drag Strip and Generations Hot Spot there. I doubt I'll be able to sell off any of them with their CW counterparts around the corner, but I might as well have them on the same shelf as I'll be displaying their CW versions in gestalt modes. :o

[Seraphim Prime]

I'm going to say no - I can't stick to a budget! I've already committed almost $500 to sales on the forum!

That said, many of my catch-ups and casual desires almost fulfilled so there shouldn't bee too many more spent in that regard.

And my BBTS shopping has slowed down a bit now that I'm cutting out many third party toys, only picking up the FP f(x) series as they get released.

I think I'm going to do what some others have suggested and actually keep track of how much I spend on TFs this year though, as it's something I've never really done before.

[millhouse]

Short answer no, I cannot stick to a budget. I try to balance commonsense with how much trouble I would get in with the missus if she found out how much I spent. :D

Amen brother, amen.

[DELTAprime]

On the subject of games. I put together this years watch list. I did the same thing last year at E3. If everything comes out this year and doesn't get delayed this year will be bad for my wallet. So far I have.


DI Green Goblin 22/01

DI Ronan 22/01

DI Yondu 22/01

DI Jasmin 13/02

Dead or Alive 5: Last Round 20/02

DI Loki 23/03

DI Falcon 23/03

Mortal Kombat X 15/04

Batman Arkham Knight 03/06

Forza Motorsport 6

Halo 5: Guardians

Rise of the Tomb Raider

Mass Effect

Crackdown

[kurdt_the_goat]

Just did some creative accounting on the first post :D

My birthday present from parents & sister will be Bayonetta 2 so that's a little "saved", Hotline Miami for Vita is probably not going to come out cause the R rating is not good enough, and finalised payment of some MOTUC, adding shipping cost. Also added FansProject Madlaw to the considering list... will have to check out reviews on that one. As well as Xenoblade Chronicles X after seeing the latest trailer from Nintendo Direct.

I'm not tracking very well for so early in the year lol, but there's a lot on the list that i'm not sure of, so we'll see. On the plus side, bought in $715 at Nexus yesterday! As mentioned before tho, that's not factoring into the budget. Most of those sales were to aid several large purchases LAST year :D

[kurdt_the_goat]

Just got back to work today and received a $100 visa card from the boss for christmas (beats the movie vouchers they normally give, at least!)
Now, is that free money for this year's spends, or is it off limits ... decisions :D