Money Saving Tips - Buying Games.

- Tip #1 (A)

Online Retailers

First of all I pretty much ALWAYS buy games online, they are almost always cheaper than buying the game in a store, it's quick and easy, you get great benefits like Free next day delivery and its convenient!


- Tip #1 (B)

Smaller Websites

Don't always go for the big boys like Amazon, Play, Game etc. often smaller less known websites will have MUCH better deals, like freebies (got a free Little Sister with my purchase of Bioshock 2 from http://www.shopto.net) and cheaper prices, also check out places you wouldn't usually expect, like Tesco online.


- Tip #2

Price Comparison

These usually work better on older games rather than brand new ones, because you're likely to find a small unheard of website selling a game for £14.99 where as the bigger retailers still have it at £29.99 I find a good website to use is http://www.pricerunner.co.uk/ but have a look around, try out different ones and see which works best for you.


- Tip #3

Quidco

Ahhh Quidco...what an amazing thing you are, I wouldn't be able to explain it to you why it works if I tried but it does, its as simple as this, you go their website, sign up, and then from then on visit online retailers through their site (you go to their website and then click on the link to your chosen retailer) and purchase a game, then you will get Cash back on that order, at the end of the month all cash back savings you made will be paid into your Paypal/Bank account.

Most retailers are on there, the only notable exception is Amazon, and for game retailers its usually 6% cash back which is around £1.50 - £2.00 Of course all kinds of things are on their, using it for Gaming benefits is just the tip, so I seriously recommend signing up https://www.quidco.com/


- Tip #4

Trade In

OK, I know this one is obvious but I will include it, Trading in games you no longer play or wish you hadn't bought is a great way of building up funds for future games, personally I keep a GAME Trade in Card and a CEX card in my wallet, at its peak my GAME Card had around £140.00 on it.


- Tip #5

Reward Points

Now, I only use GAME for this, I don't know of other places that do it but I'm sure they do, it works like this, you buy a Game either online or in store, and using your Reward Card you get points, each batch of points is worth a certain amount of cash, and obviously the more expensive the item you buy the more you get, with bonuses like getting more points for pre-ordering a game first

Typically you'll get around £1.00-£1.50 for each game purchase, couple that with Quidco and your saving a fair bit! You save up the points and then can use them any time you wish, you have no idea how good it feels when you get a prompt on screen or the store clerk says to you "you want to use that £11.00 on your card?" You really feel like you've just got a great bargain.


- Tip #6

Sell Your Games

As an alternative to trading in your games, why not sell them? a lot of people don't go for this because it is more hassle (especially trudging to the Post Office) but it can have great benefits if you are after pure cash rather than trade in value, eBay can get you a lot more than you might think, or there are places like CEX who will directly if you cash for your games as well as other electricals and media goods, it may be more effort but it is often worth it.


- Tip #7

Use Voucher Codes

Now, you've chosen a retailer, but before checking out why not try searching for a Voucher Code for that website? most online retailers will have a space to enter a code before checking out, this is a great way to get a certain % off your order, you can use websites like http://www.vouchercodes.co.uk/ to help!


- Tip #8

Buy Second Hand

And lastly, don't be a snob and buy a much cheaper second hand game :) of course I know it feels so much better to buy a brand new game and to rip off that cellophane yourself, but sometimes its a price we all have to pay to get a game second hand! (pun intended)

Well that's it, I hope it helps someone.