I usually have set DVDs in mind to buy from release date, but every week I see a deal too good to pass on and fork over the money. It's getting sad that everyone in Best Buy, Suncoast, and FYE know me by name.

Technology is moving ever faster. Hi-def is for real, and blu-ray (or alternate) is just around the corner. Your DVD collection will be as appealing as a box of VHS tapes in the very near future.

Which is not to say "Don't collect". Get the movies you love and will certainly watch multiple times. Explore the very inexpensive rental options available to you (and with Netflix, etc., you needn't live in an urban center to have access to many obscure titles), and resist impulse and blind-buys. Impulsive and blind selections are exactly what rentals are for.

And let me repeat that the next generation of digital media/players for hi-def video is right around the corner. That's worth remembering.

I have to wonder about HD-DVD though..

Remember when Laserdics exploded on the scene? Oh yeah, it didn't. Sure some had LD players, but most never got them..

It might just be the same with HD DVD... Everyone has just now upgraded to DVD from VHS, and you'd better believe that people are going to be reluctant to switch up again in the next few years... Sometimes a format doesn't take off. It's hard to tell.

Wait a minute! Am I the only one who is shocked to find out that DR DVD is not a real Doctor?

This is really spooky, but you've described my system exactly. I have about 15 movies waiting to be watched which really helps on the impulse buying. I keep my list in Excel and highlight things differently depending on how badly I want them. I also scan through the Upcoming DVD Art frequently at The Digital Bits to keep an eye on upcoming discs. By using this system, most of the things I really wanted last year that never got purchased have fallen off the radar. It really helps to keep things under control.

Put more money in your 401K. That way you won't see it in your bank account. Just don't give yourself a hardship loan to buy DVDs.

If I did that, I'd probably not buy another DVD for a couple of years!

And another thing (no, I'm not a shill for CH, despite the signature), if it's available from CH, either preorder it from CH, or wait until it's available for enrollment (unless CH sells it for $19.95). If you do the join, fulfill, quit and rejoin cycle, your average cost per new DVD is usually less than $10, and depending on the deal, around $7, which is much better than the $17 new for first week of release, $11 used price another poster mentioned.

That depends. Are you a real Deputy?

My advice to Dr. DVD is to go to the DVD Clubs forum and learn the advantages of the Columbia House enroll - cancel - repeat dance. And shop around online. If you think the prices are low at Best Buy, you can usually find them priced lower somewhere else. What's that you say, you don't want to wait for an order shipment? Well, if a DVD is not worth waiting a few days for, how important is it going to be from you six months from now? Delayed gratification, that's the key.

Not to say instant gratification should be eliminated. After all, some DVDs are worth snapping up on release date. Some deals do come up right in front of you that are too good to pass up. But not all.

Now, where's that dang beginner's chip?

if yer that freaked out...learn some self control. learn how to budget. make even more $ on the side.....expendable income to feed a habit. you can only help yourself.

I also....am addicted to films. the dvds are a no choice/no brainer item. I'm spending around $200 every week, with many weeks hitting $300. I still cant catch up but I'm gaining on my goal. just ordered 20 titles a few nights ago and with all the new releases this month yet to come....it's looking like a 50 to 75 dvd insanity spree. I'm thinking about going to BB right now for the Ken Burn's Civil War box.

so see...I share yer frustration....I just feed my library a steady diet of new additions because withdrawls are too painful.

Am I addicted too? I purchase dvds and do not watch them. I don't know what the problem is. I guess I have lost intrest but I still purchase them. I still have not watched the Lord of the Rings 4 disc version which I got when it came out. I purchased Lord of the Rings The Two towers and have not watched that. I have purchased box sets and have not watch them. Same for the Matrix Reloaded. There are more, the list goes on and on. What is wrong with me? I guess I am just a collector and just let my dvds collect dust instead of watching them.

$200 a week? Good lord.. That's over $10,000 a year, man! Whew!

Not trying to "feed the beast", but the pre-order price on "Dragonslayer" is only $9.36 (w/ free shipping). Maybe you get one of the boxed sets (I'd go with Indiana Jones, personally ), and then Dragonslayer instead of the other set . . . that'd be a step in the right direction.

Got to say take advantage of Columiba House, you can get many many mainstream titles for around 6-8$ if you play the game right. Good stuff. Netflix is great too, especially for Tv series. I've been watching all of DS9 seasons and instead of spending over 500$ to buy all of the series I'm renting them and saving 100's of dollars on watching the series.

DVD addicts of the world unite!

I have the same problem. I have so many DVDs (at least 600) and most are still sealed. I started collecting before I even had the damn player. It's going to get really crazy when I finally get a DVD recorder and start transfering all my wrestling tapes to DVD.

Very easy.

- Put savings away when you get your paycheck.
- Pay your bills.
- Spend all the rest of the cash on whatever you want, don't use credit cards.

Easier said than done though.

Good thing I work a little bit of Overtime to help pay for my bills otherwise I couldnt afford DVDs...

You think you're addicted? This is my longtime associate Kenobikid22 at Wal-Mart at 4 in the morning rummaging through the $5.88 bin. And this is the third Wal-Mart we went to tonight.

It could be worse. In my case I have an addiction to both video games and DVD's. I have learned to cut back my spending by deciding in advance the titles/games I actually want and will watch/play time and time again. And to continue the badic idea from this list. EBAY IS YOUR FRIEND!!

Welcome to the club! I'm also addicted. My fiance threw in her 50 some odd DVD's to my collection, and now we have over 450 dvd's, and yes, tha'ts including box sets like nightmare on elm street... as ONE title. You have a good job you say? I say don't worry about losing it man. Just do a great job where you work and then you won't have to really worry. And as another guy said, make sure you buy all your DVD's in cash. With the money I make every week, I have enough to set aside for what I need to pay, then usually have like 20-40 bux to spend. Ill buy a DVD or two every week. This time of the year it gets really hard with a lot of good stuff coming out on the same day as other stuff... but eh... watcha gonna do I've always loved my movies and television, and having them both together on one format just plain rules. I mean there's nothing better than working all day, coming home, and watching a movie or something at some point before you go to bed. Last night, I came home from work, had an apple cinnamon donut, with some apple cider coffee, and watched The Mummy Returns, as I sat in my leather recliner. Life just don't get no better than this

This one helps me out alot.

Can't help here. Got a DVD player about 18 months ago when I was a Sr. in High School, now I have freakin 324 Total DVDs. And a wantlist of like 100.