In the last Cracked LCD column before the Great GameShark Server Switch of ’09, I more or less announced my own embargo on buying any new games for the time being while offering an argument against the kind of conspicuous consumerism that this hobby seems to foster among its constituents.

In doubtful economic times, frivolous purchases become all the more frivolous and parting with fifty or sixty bucks for a cardboard box full of cardboard may very well be the furthest thing from many folks’ minds as budgets become tighter and jobs suddenly less secure. However, it’s not all doom and gloom and picking up a new game can be quite a morale booster, particularly if it offers many evenings’ worth of entertainment with friends and family. Bread and circuses spending for most people in the sub-millionaire income bracket might be smaller, but everybody needs some kind of entertainment and there are many justifications for why a great board game ought to be shoehorned into your budget.

So if you are planning on spending some money on board games during shaky economic times, it’s more important than ever that you make the most of your gaming dollar. It’s bad enough in prosperous times when you bring home a game that your entire group hates and vows never to play again, but when it might be the only game you can afford for a couple of months then it can be disastrous. I thought this week I’d offer a couple of board game consumer tips to really maximize how your hobby budget is spent—at least until the milk and honey start flowing again, if ever.

1) Do your homework. This is by far the number one way in which you can increase the value of your gaming dollar. Just like in any retail setting, an educated consumer is going to get the most for their money. Being aware of what games are on the market and which ones suit you and your group’s tastes will enable you to spend money more wisely. Fortunately, the internet has made learning about games much easier- most manufacturers post the rules to their games on their websites and offer extensive photographs and descriptions. Hobby sites such as Boardgamenews.com, FortressAT.com, or this column offer reviews, comments, and other information to help you make a smart buying decision that you won’t regret. Some board games even have fan-made or official computer versions so you can even try them out before you pull the trigger on your wallet.

2) Avoid impulse buys. Impulse buys are one of the biggest weaknesses of many hobby gamers, and they take many forms. Anybody who has ever walked into a game store has likely walked out at some point with a title they didn’t plan on buying. Maybe it was something on the clearance table or something that had cool artwork on the box? But the fact of the matter is that this is often a one-way ticket to wasted money—even if the game in question was just a couple of dollars that’s a couple of dollars that could have been spent on a more valuable purchase. Impulse buys often happen at thrift stores, gaming events, or other venues where used games are often sold as well, or online since filling a shopping cart and financing your hobby on the credit cards has never been easier. The bottom line is that if you weren’t in the market for it before you saw it, you’re setting yourself up to spend money on a game you’ll likely rarely play, if ever. Whim purchases almost always end in disappointment and satisfaction is rare. But that being said, one of the best game purchases I ever made was on a whim…SETTLERS OF CATAN.

3) Don’t shop online. It may seem to fly in the face of logic since the online retailers seem to give you much more for your money, what with 30-35% off discounts being par for course, but shopping online causes you to not only set yourself up for impulse purchases, but also to simply spend more on games overall. Buying one game online and paying for shipping will usually result in minimal savings over what you would have paid at a local game shop. That’s why most online retailers have free shipping if you spend over $100 or so. And of course, when somebody wants $75 worth of games they’ll start trying to find something to make up that other $25—either a needless impulse purchase, something you just “kind of” want, or some other random order-filler. Before you know it, your $75 order has ballooned to $100. I also find that when I have to actually go out and buy a game I tend to pay cash and I also tend to do it less- both side-effects that result in savings.

4) Coordinate game buys with friends. This tip sort of encompasses three ideas. The first is simple: don’t buy games that your friends have. It’s pointless for a five person game group to own five copies of TWILIGHT IMPERIUM between them. If you and your friends coordinate purchases than your collective game library is wider, more diverse, and you’ll all have access to more titles- without spending thousands of dollars on duplicates. The second concept inverts my “don’t shop online” admonition with the condition that you and your friends place larger orders together at online retail sites in order to save on shipping. If three people combine an order, the free shipping is pretty easy to reach. The third concept is to pool money to buy games as a mutual purchase. My buddies used to do this all the time back when we were all poor teenagers- we’d want an expensive board game so we’d all pitch in ten bucks or whatever to buy a game for us all. Of course, if you’re the kind of person that just HAS to own the game, you’re going to balk at that one. Too bad for you, because that’s a great way to save a LOT of money and still get to play the games you want to play..

5) Go to local gaming events. Local gaming events, whether they’re smaller, weekly affairs or large weekend-long conventions are a great way to try, see, and touch games before you buy. Many will feature flea markets, where attendees sell items, or vendors. Just watch out for those impulse buys and come ready to look for your “want list” games if you plan on buying. Or you can just get your fill of playing them there and not worry about buying them at all. At most mid-sized game events you’re going to see a pretty huge assortment of all kinds of games and most game owners are more than happy to let you play them, take a look at the rules, or ask questions about them. If you are one of those unfortunate gamers who mostly plays solo or two player games, a game event is a great way to play multiplayer games that would otherwise be a total waste of money. A lot of gaming events are totally free, but some of the larger ones charge entry. It’s usually worth it. This is also a good venue to get your underplayed games to the table.