Want to buy video games for your family, but don't want to spend a lot of money? Here's some great ways to get what you want without having to spend away your savings.
We all know that the economy is in the dumps. With the holiday season on its way, it's tough to buy presents for your family while still saving money. Most new video games cost $59.99. That's more than they ever did before. Most people can't afford that kind of thing right now. Just because money is tough, that doesn't mean you'll have to resort to dollar store items for your video gaming loving friends and family. Instead, follow these simple rules to save money on video games this holiday season.
Stick to the Bargain Bin
New games can really cost a lot, but after a certain period of time, often only a few months, that price goes down significantly. If you want to get a game for someone, but don't want to pay a lot, stick to the bargain bin. Most video game stores have these, and even Wal-Mart and Target have bargain games. The only difference between these and higher priced games is that they're a bit older.
Buy for Older Systems
Most people who really like video games have older systems as well, such as the Nintendo Gamecube or the Playstation 2. These games are often just as good as the stuff for new systems, but they are significantly less expensive. Even the new games for these systems are less expensive than their next generation counterparts.
Buy Used Games
If your friend doesn't mind owning used games, you can save a bit of money this way, too. Used games are generally five dollars cheaper than new versions. When your friend or family member really wants a video game that came out recently, this is a good way to save a bit of money.
Stick to Subscription Game services
Another way you can get more bang for your buck is to buy them a video game subscription service for the holidays. GameFly is a lot like Netflix movie rentals in that you have unlimited video game rentals that you get through the mail. You could buy your friend a one month subscription for $6.95 and they could take over the payments if they like the service. Then, they can play whatever they want in that time.
Other Places to Find Cheap Games
You don't have to stick to chain video game stores to buy gifts for your family. You can find cheap used games at movie rental stores. You can even find some great offerings at used clothing stores and at garage sales. There's always a way to get people what they want for less, and that's certainly the case for video games.