Top 5 Money-Saving Tips For Gamers

Look after the dimes and the dollars will look after themselves.

00:41 25 August 2023

Plenty of us are guilty of splashing out on a game only to play it for a couple of hours, or signing up to a new gaming site and depositing a stack of money, only to realize it isn't actually for us. It's certainly no crime to spend a bit of your hard-earned money on your hobbies, but there are ways to make your money stretch much further. Ultimately, gaming can be a super affordable hobby, if you know some of the tricks of the trade. By making wiser choices with your money, you can actually have a superior gaming experience, without spending half as much. These are our most useful tips on saving a little money on your gaming hobby, without sacrificing any of your enjoyment.

Sign Up to a Mailing List

The most important tip on the list and the one that's likely to save you the most money, is to sign up to a mailing list with whoever you usually buy your games from. Plenty of people buy from Steam, or Origin, and both of these companies regularly have sales where you can snag as much as 90% off some titles. Whilst the discounts on newer games tend to be less, if you're going to buy a game anyway then it's well worth finding out about when it might be going on sale. Mailing list customers always get told about sales well in advance, and sometimes get additional discounts, or early access to sale items. This can really help with your major gaming spends and if you don't want your inbox cluttered up then you can always make a dedicated email address just for mailing lists.

Always Read the Reviews

One of the most annoying parts of purchasing a new game is realizing that you don't like it, after you've already bought it. In order to avoid this, reading through the reviews is super important. There will be games that score five stars from five, but that you might not enjoy. By actually reading the reviews, you can spot people talking about the style of game, and any elements that you might not enjoy, before you splash out. As well as this, if you enjoy playing online slots for real money then it’s important to make sure you’re only wagering your money on the slot games that you really enjoy. Visiting review websites that offer their opinion on the variety of games, the ease of deposits, and the customer service of each site, as well as information on the bonuses available at various online casinos gives you the best possible chance of finding the right casino for you.

Become a Retro Gamer

Retro gaming is having a huge resurgence at the moment, with people enjoying the nostalgia of games like Pokémon and Super Mario. It's surprisingly easy to find retro games on online marketplaces like eBay and Amazon, but also in the corner of your local thrift store. You can pick up old titles for just a couple of dollars a piece, making them a cheap and cheerful option for gamers on a budget. Plus, when you're done with them you can simply relist them on eBay and you're likely to make all of your money back!

Put Your Creative Skills To Use

There are plenty of ways that you can monetize your gaming hobby. Some of them are super easy to get into, others will require a good deal more time and dedication. For some people, it's important to keep their hobby and their career separate, but if the idea of merging the two appeals to you then this tip could be an important one. One of the easiest ways to make a little extra cash if you're computer literate and a little artistic is to create content for your favorite games. People sell skins on all kinds of games, which can help to make an old video game feel brand new. Lots of users look out for this content, as well as user-made expansion packs that they're willing to spend money on.

Become a Streamer

If you're a skilled gamer, or have the gift of the gab then you might even be able to make a little money out of your gaming hobby. Sites like Twitch allow users to create accounts where others can follow them as they live stream themselves playing games. This can be a fun way to learn about a new game, or find some tips on how to progress on one of your favorite titles. Once you hit a certain threshold of followers, you can start earning money from your account.