Dr. DVD

Okay, I have always had an addiction since I first got a player. However, it has recently taken a turn for the worst.
I recently got a good paying job, the first one I've ever had that actually pays a decent amount of money where I can live and still have some fun cash. As a result of this, DVDs I normally wouldn't think of getting I buy due to low prices at places like Best Buy, and trips where I intend to only pick up two or three DVDs end with me leaving the store with about five or six!
I know I can't stop next week due to all of the good titles, but can anyone give me advice? I need to seriously save money in case of A)I lose my job, or B)I decide to go back to school and pursue a PH.D and live destitute again with only a small stipend and savings, or C) A and B.

Please....help me!!!

PJsig08

Ya know, something tells me you're not gonna get much "help" here.

goLUCKY

Exactly......an addict asking for help from other addicts

DonnachaOne

A)Start paying in cash. See how fast your money goes.

B)Start making a list of titles to get while on your shopping trips. Only buy what you mean to buy.

C)Check prices first. Just because you have the money to throw around doesn't mean one store should should get more of it than another for the same film.

D)Don't buy DVDs until you've watched all the ones you own at least once.

greatjedi

I hear ya. I'm in the same boat. I just started a decent job as well. Before, I was out of work for a while and had to rely only on my wife's income for any extra spending money.
I've gone from buying one or two DVDs a week to buying several. Last week I bought eight or nine. I've finally been able to buy the movies that have been sitting on my wishlist for months and months. It's got to stop, but I'm loving it!!!
Anyway, I'm obviously no help, but I know how you feel.

WillieTheShakes

So this guy staggers into a bar, shouting "Damnit, I'm an alcoholic!"
A guy at the bar turns to him, concerned. "Do you want us to help you, sir?"
The guy at the door looks at him. "No, I want you to get off my damn stool!"

retihsuhnt

Congratulations Dr DVD, admitting that you have a problem is the first step to recovery.

On a more serious note, I recently came to terms with my "addiction" to DVDs and have fought back. I do not have an exact science to this, but I can honestly say that I am putting my money to better use now (paying off debt).

Like I said the first step is to realize there is a problem. The second is to see what you can do to lessen the impact of the problem. Here is my scenario:

I have purchased 115 DVDs over the last three (3) years. By no means as bad as some on this site, but still for someone who started buying DVDs as a Junior in college, its not the best. Anyway starting last month I came to the conclusion that I have more DVDs still in their "wrapping" than I do viewed, there is a problem with that. Starting from their I came up with a list of the movies that I "must have", my favorites of all time that I can watch over and over again. I also included on that list (most of which were my VHS before I replaced them with DVDs) the more recent additions to the "play-list."

Since the creation of that list I have compiled another list of DVDs that I just don’t want, need, or see a reason in having anymore. Right now that list is at 35, with some more additions this upcoming weekend. So now Im down to 80 total DVDs that I do not have to really second guess having.

The biggest thing I have learned is to use DVDTalk and FW to further one's "hobby" by means that do not involve spending your own money. I can honestly say that I have not "purchased" a DVD in over three (3) months. Thats not to say I havent added to my collection, I just have not spent any of my own money. Test drives seem to be the best means to do this on FW and DVDTalk, yes I actually do go to the dealers and take the Test drives. Target/Saturn have been very very good to me over the last year, once you are on their mailing list for one TD you will get subsequent offers for other TDs. Gift Cards in the amount of $25 every 6 - 8 weeks certainly helps lessen the stress on the wallet.

A lot of my friends bust my chops because I second guess most everything I buy, but I think now that I have this "addiction" under control it always good to second guess what it is your spending your hard earned money on. And heck the thirty (30) plus DVDs Im looking at selling/trading/exchanging via Spun will pay off more of my debt and add DVDs to my collection without having to pay out of my own pocket.

I did not mean to write so much, but like I said, I recently came to grips with this and have found a way out that I think will work greatly and still allow me to enjoy the movies I love. Good luck Dr DVD, hopefully this can be of some help.

kmac2878

...the blind leading the blind.

chente

Yeah, I don't know how much help I can be to you as I bought 17 DVD's this month already. I think the idea of watching everything you have already bought before buying anything new is a good idea. Give it a try.

Ginwen

If I decide to slow down, I'll stop visiting this site-at least for awhile. I may miss out on some super duper splendid deal, but I'm fairly sure I'd buy far less. So that's my advice, take a break from DVD talk.

Alternatively (or maybe in addition to the above step) make a list of 1 DVD (or however many you decide) per month you most want for the next few months and stick to it (don't buy anything else--if something comes out you just have to have either it replaces another choice, or add another month to the list and put it there). I don't think this would work for me--when I was addicted to something in the past (which I can't say in this forum), the only way I gave it up was cold turkey.

PJsig08

Honestly, eBay is your friend. I've bought probably 100 DVDs in my lifetime and currently own 25-30.

In the end, whatever I own right now is a classic, IMO.

MEJHarrison

I found some temporary reprieve in my new TiVo and DirecTV system. I've not been able to tear myself away all week. Although I'm sure in another week or two the coolness factor will wear off and I'll be back to DVDs again.

Iron_Giant

Buy only the ones you will watch over and over again (Xmen, Martix, SPR..), all the rest just rent.

This has worked well for me. I am down to buying about 3 or 4 DVDs per month. With buying most on Sale when the 1st come out (about $17 with tax) or used (about $11 with tax), my monthly DVD expensives come out to less than $70 a month.

Here are the only DVDs I am planning to buy over the next 2 1/2 months, some will be for birthday/xmas presents:
1. Indiana Jones (43 - $10 coupon = $33)
2. Hulk ($16 - not a great movie, my son has not seen it and it will be watched many times)
3. LotR TTT EE ($25 - cant pass this up, even though I have the 1st DVD)
4. Nemo ($18 - can't wait to see this on DVD, it will be like having a fish tank in my TV)
5. T3 ($17 - Loved the movie and the chase sceen...wow!)
6. Pirates of the Caribbean ($18)
7. Bruce Almighty ($18)
8. Xmen 2 ($18)

Total = $173 / 2.5 months = $69.20 (below my budget)

Jan, Feb and March tend to be slow months with DVD (IMHO), so I will only pick 2 or 3 titles and save up some money for later in the year.

**I rented Matrix 2, the movie was only ok, so I just rented it. By renting I saved about $11.00 on a movie I will not watch very much.

Holly E. Ordway

Glad you spotted the trend, Dr. DVD... it would be no fun to have a fun hobby turn into something you feel guilty about or that's hurting you financially!

There are lots more DVDs out there that I want, than what I'd feel comfortable buying. So this is what I do:

First, I have a "to be watched" shelf with DVDs that I haven't seen yet. Whenever I make a purchase it goes there until I watch it. Seeing those DVDs there, unwatched, really helps curb the impuse to buy more - I know that it will be a while until I get around to watching it, so unless it's a super-duper deal, I might as well wait.

Next, I have a list of all the DVDs I'm interested in buying. It's divided into sections: "High priority" (I'm dying to own this, must have it, the movie is a huge favorite), "Medium priority" (a really good movie but not an all-time favorite), "Low priority" (something I'd enjoy watching, maybe I've heard good things about it, but not urgent at all), and "Maybe" (I heard something about it and it sounds neat). Whenever I hear about a DVD that I'm interested in, I note it down on my list under the appropriate category. This helps me prioritize my purchases - if I only buy one or two DVDs, I'll definitely choose from the "high" or "medium" priority categories first. I also will move titles around if I change my mind about how much I want them.

Making a list to refer to for a *later* purchase really helps out with impulse buying. I really recommend it. When you go into Best Buy, jot down the titles you're interested in, instead of buying them at that moment. Then go home and add them to your list. The next week, look at the list... do you still want to buy them? Maybe you realize you don't really want all of them as much as you thought. Or maybe you do... but you can select just one or two of the highest priority instead of all of them.

I also have a self-imposed limit on my purchases, because I use my Amazon gift certificates (earned from the Visa rewards card) for DVD purchases. So I limit myself to spending that "money" (and maybe a few dollars over), which forces me to be selective. And like I said, I have a bunch of movies still waiting to be watched, so it's not like I'm suffering from lack of entertainment!

bboisvert

Would you walk into a bar and ask for help to stop drinking?

Because that's basically what you just did here.

wlmowery

I agree with the majority of helpers here...

I too am an addict. I currently have around 475 DVD titles. I only have about 6 that have not been watched (excluding boxsets where I may be part-way through a series). My cutting down...

1. Set a maximum per month level. At one point I was buying 12-15 discs per month. Now I average 2-4 per month. We've been renting a bit more and buying only those we really want/enjoy.

2. Identify a budget. Right now I only allow myself to spend 60-100 per month on DVDs. So if I am buying a boxset for 30-40 in a month, it limits what else I can purchase.

3. Identify your must have titles. For me, must haves coming in the near future include LOTR, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and X2. I try to keep a list of must haves and release dates.

4. Learn to rewatch what you have. Some people wonder how I can rewatch movies. It's like re-reading books for me. Subsequent viewings allow me to catch certain nuances...

Good luck.

Aphex Twin

Why don't you just get NetFlix?

FuzzyBallz

Good thing you're not addicted to porn DVDs...

And yes, NetFlix rules all.

Crack 6K

Rent DVD's!?!?! NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >:[

I don't think most people here get DVD's just so they can just watch the movie, but because they WANT the movie.

Class316

discussion of this sort isn't permitted

Regurgitator

I don't want to influence you more but the main concern of people buying more DVDs is because of DVDs that go out of print if you delay too long to get them.

If you're a newbie who just entered the DVD purchasing racquet you'll soon find out that DVDs go out of print and some you won't get to own almost ever.

The Exister

I also feel like I'm on the verge of spinning out of control.

The only thing keeping me from tumbling into the abyss is that my bargain-hunting is helping to fund my habit. I find stuff cheap, sell it for a little more; use buy 2 get 1 free deals, then sell the free one to cover the costs of the other two; sell old CD's and books that I don't really care for anymore, etc.

I've had several addictions like the current DVD one (LP's, then CD's, books, etc.), but this one is by far the most intense and most pervasive.

Good luck, man - you're going to need it.

Dr. DVD

What really wipes me out are when gift sets and TV series come out. NExt week is a double whammy since it will have both Indiana Jones AND Battlestar Galactica. The only other title I will be interested in is Dragonslayer, and if the price on that one is set on the day it comes out and will never go up, then I might be able to forego that one.
I was thinking of the Charlie's Angels two pack but might ask for it from the folks for X-Mas. They would probably get a kick out of it as it would imply getting "Angels for Christmas."
The reason for my big purchases also lies within my problem of getting in the "well I've dropped this much, what's this going to matter?" mode. Granted, two big purchases, aka Gift Sets, won't put me in the mood. However, a lot of reasonably priced single releases will.
Thanks for the advice so far.

MrE

Budget, then live within it. Besides the discipline that imposes, you're more likely to buy the things you want most, go for periods where you're saving up to buy something special and learn to look for used bargains on items you care less about.

If you need to, put aside your budgeted amount in cash and leave your credit cards at home. You can do this.

pdjennings

eh... you look fine to me.