How do you guys justify your comic purchases with yourself?

[Capsizing Heart]

Just in case this turns into a slagging match. I love comics. I love my collection etc etc

Nonetheless, I have no parental support so I support myself and I don't have a lot of money. So as much joy as I get from my comics, if I look back over a month and see I've spent like a £100 on comics, I die a little inside knowing how much I could buy with that, that I actually need.

Maybe it's just because I'm in the UK, but comics really aren't cheap. Trades are on average somewhere between £15 - £25, a weeks worth of shopping basically.

And I just wonder, how do you justify the money you pour into your comics? Or do you even have too?

[Arvandor]

By being a selfish, amoral bastard who only cares aout myself. I know for a fact that if I had a girlfriend and/or kids, I would not be buying comics.

[Schornforce]

As it stands, I don't buy many comics anymore. I do buy a manga or two now and then, but they don't come out as frequently, so I can easily justify it as I would any other entertainment expense. When I do still buy monthly comics, it's much rarer at the moment and I buy approximately what I bought per week when I was employed. The DC reboot however, has lost my interest in the majority of titles I used to buy, so it's a 'rare treat' nowadays when I do buy any individual comics.

[Tages]

Komm...icks?

[Iangould]

The last comics-related purchase I made was Mark Evanier's "Kirby, King of Comics" and it was marked down.

[Capsizing Heart]

By being a selfish, amoral bastard who only cares aout myself. I know for a fact that if I had a girlfriend and/or kids, I would not be buying comics.

Wow, erm that is one way to do it I guess, haha.

But most of you guys don't buy comics but you are on a comics forum? Does that mean you guys read all your comics illegally or what?

[Nova2814.1]

I'm very cost conscious (not just with comics either) so I always look at alternative avenues. So I get some comics via subscription, some trades/hardcovers via online stores (Amazon, Book depository and sometimes ebay), and some I even just wait until a book is in the back issue box. And there are a few of DC's new series that I'll pick up digitally when the price comes down.

I still get some stuff at full cover price (i.e. euro, not dollars), but I'd say that applies to only about a third of my overall purchases. I'd like to be in a postion to support my LCS more, but even if I had more money, I don't think I'd spend more there. Not that I blame my LCS. As well as having to pay shipping from the UK, I understand that Diamond UK euro/sterling exhange rate isn't about 2 years behind the actual rate.

All that said, its usually a case of the cheaper I get a single issue, the more likely I am to pick it up in a hardcover. I'm pennywise and pundfoolish it seems. :biggrin:

[Capsizing Heart]

I'm very cost conscious (not just with comics either) so I always look at alternative avenues. So I get some comics via subscription, some trades/hardcovers via online stores (Amazon, Book depository and sometimes ebay), and some I even just wait until a book is in the back issue box. And there are a few of DC's new series that I'll pick up digitally when the price comes down.

I still get some stuff at full cover price (i.e. euro, not dollars), but I'd say that applies to only about a third of my overall purchases. I'd like to be in a postion to support my LCS more, but even if I had more money, I don't think I'd spend more there. Not that I blame my LCS. As well as having to pay shipping from the UK, I understand that Diamond UK euro/sterling exhange rate isn't about 2 years behind the actual rate.

All that said, its usually a case of the cheaper I get a single issue, the more likely I am to pick it up in a hardcover. I'm pennywise and pundfoolish it seems. :biggrin:

I often think I'm not cost concious enough. That being said, being both English and not having a LCS I make all my comic purchases on Amazon and Ebay. That also being said, the 'reduced' prices of comics still seem rather expensive. I don't think I could every justify paying full price for a trade.

And yeah, P&P is a bitch.

[MNM]

I often think I'm not cost concious enough. That being said, being both English and not having a LCS I make all my comic purchases on Amazon and Ebay.

And yeah, P&P is a bitch.

So long as you preorder (ie when the solicits come out) Forbidden planet and 86th floor comics are good opnline places to get comics in the uk (even if 86th floor could learn to communicate why certain issues havent come to you better, but still...)

[Nova2814.1]

Subscriptions might be an option as well, depending on what comics you get. DC and Marvel both offer subscriptions to a number of their titles, and even with overseas postage, I think it's good value.

DC currently offer 20% off the total cost if you buy 4 or more titles at the same time. Delivery time is about a week after the comic's on sale date. And once you set up a subscription with Marvel, you're eligible for a $5 discount off each additional subscription you add. Their delivery time is more variable, but for the last few months it's been about 3 weeks after the on sale date.

And with both Marvel and DC, you can cancel the subscription at any time and get a refund or transfer the sub to another title.

The downfalls would be you have to pay the money upfront and the comics won't be pristine mint condition. But the vast majority of my comics have been in great condition with a few small dings in the corners.

[Capsizing Heart]

So long as you preorder (ie when the solicits come out) Forbidden planet and 86th floor comics are good opnline places to get comics in the uk (even if 86th floor could learn to communicate why certain issues havent come to you better, but still...)

I found both websites really user unfriendly.

To Nova, I never really thought about subscribing before, especially not to the actual companies themselves. Maybe I should look into it.

[Steward Ace]

I ask myself, "Are my wife and son being taken care of? Do I have money to spend on what I love? And will buying my comics make a difference to these answers?" As long as I answer yes, yes, no, then I'm good.

[Nova2814.1]

To Nova, I never really thought about subscribing before, especially not to the actual companies themselves. Maybe I should look into it.

It's worth looking into at least. The websites are subscribedccomics.com (http://subscribedccomics.com) (DC) and subscriptions.marvel.com (http://subscriptions.marvel.com) (Marvel) if you want to see what books are available.



I ask myself, "Are my wife and son being taken care of? Do I have money to spend on what I love? And will buying my comics make a difference to these answers?" As long as I answer yes, yes, no, then I'm good.

I ask myself exactly the same questions. Then I stop and wonder why I'm concerned about Steward Ace's wife and son, and for that matter, who is Steward Ace?? :biggrin:

[nsiops]

I justify in a few ways.

Typically I try to cut back on certain things (eat out less, take my lunch to work instead). I also try to cut as many titles and set a cap on to how many titles I am going to purchase. Typically I don't want to buy more that 3-4 comics a week, and maybe two trades a month. I tell myself that it could be worse and I could be addicted to something else that is more expensive or even less productive than reading comic books. I could be addicted to gaming or smoking which is much more expensive in my opinion.

The problem that kills my wallet right now is
1. Marvel and this 3.99 price (I don't know how much they are charging in the UK now). I am TRYING to drop some of these titles.
2. DC's new 52. Which is causing me to try alot of stuff out of curiosity.

[Capsizing Heart]

It's worth looking into at least. The websites are subscribedccomics.com (http://subscribedccomics.com) (DC) and subscriptions.marvel.com (http://subscriptions.marvel.com) (Marvel) if you want to see what books are available.


I just looked into New 52, even with shipping costs, thanks to dollar to pound conversion it's actually extremely cheap to subscribe. Like £20 for 12 issues including postage, that is cheaper than buying trades.



I ask myself, "Are my wife and son being taken care of? Do I have money to spend on what I love? And will buying my comics make a difference to these answers?" As long as I answer yes, yes, no, then I'm good.
I'm really happy you're able to have a wife, kid and a comic collection. Kinda envious, to be honest. Haha.




Typically I try to cut back on certain things (eat out less, take my lunch to work instead). I also try to cut as many titles and set a cap on to how many titles I am going to purchase. Typically I don't want to buy more that 3-4 comics a week, and maybe two trades a month. I tell myself that it could be worse and I could be addicted to something else that is more expensive or even less productive than reading comic books. I could be addicted to gaming or smoking which is much more expensive in my opinion.


Buy comics was my incentive to quit smoking.

[MNM]

I found both websites really user unfriendly.



Hmm, you're not wrong that both sites could be better designed, though once you have set up an account and just need to add titles, they're both easy enough to manage.

Plus on FP, postage gets capped at £6 once your total gets to £45 or more (only costing more if you order so many titles a seperate packages need to be sent out).

[Capsizing Heart]

Hmm, you're not wrong that both sites could be better designed, though once you have set up an account and just need to add titles, they're both easy enough to manage.

Plus on FP, postage gets capped at £6 once your total gets to £45 or more (only costing more if you order so many titles a seperate packages need to be sent out).

Does that mean if I spend less than £45 my postage could be more than £6, therefore making it more viable to spend £45? Cheeky.

I looked around for New 52 on there and couldn't find it, that is how badly I struggled, haha.

[sethysquare]

Buy comics was my incentive to quit smoking.

LOL, I actually found it easier to cope after I quit smoking half a year ago. Now I average around US$20 a week, so thats like 2 packs of cigarettes, that I used to be smoking. Besides, I found it easier by cutting down on expensive clothes and dining out extravagantly.

[Steward Ace]

I'm really happy you're able to have a wife, kid and a comic collection. Kinda envious, to be honest. Haha.

Eh- I've dropped comics in the past when I was broke, then picked them up again after I found work. It ain't that hard. Honestly, I was on the verge of dropping all comics entirely until the New 52 came out because they weren't holding my interest enough to justify the cost. Now I've bought more comics in the last month and a half than I did in the preceding 6 months. Well played, DC.


I ask myself exactly the same questions. Then I stop and wonder why I'm concerned about Steward Ace's wife and son, and for that matter, who is Steward Ace??

Clearly you're an individual strongly concerned about the welfare of your fellow human beings. Or an obsessive stalker. Whatever. :smile:

[sethysquare]

BTW I've checked with DCBS, they're actually allowing me to have at least 20 in a shipment and with only a flat rate shipping. So if you're getting 20 exactly, it averages out cheaper than DC, the bad thing is that you have to wait till the next month before your purchase arrive, which DC subscription comes roughly within the week and only several titles have delays

[Capsizing Heart]

LOL, I actually found it easier to cope after I quit smoking half a year ago. Now I average around US$20 a week, so thats like 2 packs of cigarettes, that I used to be smoking. Besides, I found it easier by cutting down on expensive clothes and dining out extravagantly.

Yeah I hardly ever go out on nights out any more as well. All my money goes on comics and food.



BTW I've checked with DCBS, they're actually allowing me to have at least 20 in a shipment and with only a flat rate shipping. So if you're getting 20 exactly, it averages out cheaper than DC, the bad thing is that you have to wait till the next month before your purchase arrive, which DC subscription comes roughly within the week and only several titles have delays

Since I'll probably be subscribing (if any) to less than five titles, this works out much more expensive for me here.

[Kees_L]

At least eversince making my living independently, I'll have been pretty conscious of my budget.

Budget permitting I'm buying stuff, usually through shops, with pain in my heart or like with bleeding fingers, until clutching my paws around the goods.

But since I feel I have to be paying for a lot of stuff, I'm pretty much comfortable with paying for stuff I like, such as music or comics or books.

Mostly it won't even be on sale (whenever I ask whether something I need to being on sale it usually isn't) plus I hardly if ever frequent Amazon or any loudmouthy stunters.

I do save up for things, I basically hate blowing money on crap or any shopping all-too-casually. Like my monthly phone bill has never been over 20 dollars all-in-all, which I don't find hard since if people wanna talk we meet and business or bitching I don't do over phones neither.

[Capsizing Heart]

At least eversince making my living independently, I'll have been pretty conscious of my budget.

Budget permitting I'm buying stuff, usually through shops, with pain in my heart or like with bleeding fingers, until clutching my paws around the goods.

But since I feel I have to be paying for a lot of stuff, I'm pretty much comfortable with paying for stuff I like, such as music or comics or books.

Mostly it won't even be on sale (whenever I ask whether something I need to being on sale it usually isn't) plus I hardly if ever frequent Amazon or any loudmouthy stunters.

I do save up for things, I basically hate blowing money on crap or any shopping all-too-casually. Like my monthly phone bill has never been over 40 dollars all-in-all, which I don't find hard since if people wanna talk we meet and business or bitching I don't do over phones neither.
Yeah I should really do smart things like set budgets, but it always makes me feel so trapped. Stupid, I know.

I must admit though, I often get such strong urges to pirate, knowing how much I could save if I didn't bother buying my comics. Terrible I know.

Amazon is a loudmouthy stunter?

And that actually sounds pretty expensive for a phone bill cap to me...

[Kees_L]

Yeah I should really do smart things like set budgets, but it always makes me feel so trapped. Stupid, I know.

I must admit though, I often get such strong urges to pirate, knowing how much I could save if I didn't bother buying my comics. Terrible I know.

Amazon is a loudmouthy stunter?

And that actually sounds pretty expensive for a phone bill cap to me...

It is far too expensive!:biggrin: Shows how good a budgetter I'd be if it were only up to me! I'm gonna edit the 4o bucks into 20 since my mobile costs 15 Euro and my immobile generally costs 40 cents.

[Kees_L]

Yeah I should really do smart things like set budgets, but it always makes me feel so trapped. Stupid, I know.
I feel you should 'cause a proper budget setup should be to become to be liberating over time, out of feeling you might be no good with going into debt and blowing it all plus your teeth - at least it did for me.
At first I thought my life just plain sucked for having a budget seem tight, but I manage to save and I only feel the prouder for it. Plus I still have all my teeth without ache, although I'll be about three months overdue for setting my dentist checkup appointment.


I must admit though, I often get such strong urges to pirate, knowing how much I could save if I didn't bother buying my comics. Terrible I know.

Amazon is a loudmouthy stunter?
Why pirate, if you'd be late for acquiring particular comics anyway, you could eBay them likely below cover price? As pirating would just mess up any fun to a purchase for me for certain.
And Amazon isn't loudmouthy no or I wouldn't know since I never frequent it really, but I mostly associate our more local versions of it with loudmouthy types of shopping venues, like with cheap-o banners or agressive sales and all that. Like I like shopping wherever I can really like it mostly.

[Aubergine~!]

"Well, it's either this or crack cocaine."

[snarkbunny]

And I just wonder, how do you justify the money you pour into your comics? Or do you even have too?

I don't have to justify what I spend on comics because I budgeted the money and I'm comfortable with that amount.

I think your biggest problem may be tied to this statement..


I die a little inside knowing how much I could buy with that, that I actually need.


That statement implies to me that you are uncomfortable with the amount of money you are spending. If it were me, I would sit down with my overall budget and reevaluate it - sort out the mandatory expenses (rent, utilities, pet food, transport, savings) and then look at the expenditures where I have flexibility and figure out how to carve it up into food, personal care, entertainment, etc. Then I would go to a cash-ONLY system on my comics - Put the comic money in a jar, and once it's gone for the month - that's it (pull it out even if you buy online.) It will be hard for the first few months, but then it becomes a game to select what you really want to read.

Have you looked into getting comics from libraries and digitally? I know the older stuff is frequently cheaper online since I buy stuff I'm so-so on that way.

[Charles RB]

How do you guys justify your comic purchases with yourself?

Like this:

"COMICS COOL! ME BUY COMICS!"


for that matter, who is Steward Ace?? :biggrin:

He's Steward Ace. Duh.

[snarkbunny]

Like this:

"COMICS COOL! ME BUY COMICS!"


Do you do the monkey walk at the same time as the chant?

[Charles RB]

Do you do the monkey walk at the same time as the chant?

Awwww yeah.

[snarkbunny]

Awwww yeah.

That wins as the most awesome justification.

[Steward Ace]

Like this:

"COMICS COOL! ME BUY COMICS!"



He's Steward Ace. Duh.
Steward Ace, Lord of the Air, yo.

[Tenacious_AA]

Just in case this turns into a slagging match. I love comics. I love my collection etc etc

Nonetheless, I have no parental support so I support myself and I don't have a lot of money. So as much joy as I get from my comics, if I look back over a month and see I've spent like a £100 on comics, I die a little inside knowing how much I could buy with that, that I actually need.

Maybe it's just because I'm in the UK, but comics really aren't cheap. Trades are on average somewhere between £15 - £25, a weeks worth of shopping basically.

And I just wonder, how do you justify the money you pour into your comics? Or do you even have too?


I don't drink or smoke, so comics is not a bad vice.:wink:

Almost everyone collects something. From silly bands to expensive cars... so for me...it's my collection.

It's a hobbie...
I don't buy silly bands or antiques or civil war memorabilia or political buttons or cars (large or small) or shoes or fine china (use to collect McCoy's) or model airplanes or items with coke on it or dolls or action figures or stuffed bears or DVD's ....etc...you get what I mean.

If I wanted to sell my collections I probably get something back out of them because I do try to take care of them. I some that are worth something and a lot worth only a $1.

Also you have the thrill of the chase when you get a comic that you have been looking for at a cheaper then average price.:biggrin:

If you take care of the comics that you purchase you probably can get the money back out of them :biggrin:

[Slam_Bradley]

I only buy trades. I only buy them if they are deeply deeply discounted. I only buy them if I feel like I can spare the money.

They're funnybooks. It's not like life doesn't go on without them.

[The Black Guardian]

I ask myself, "Are my wife and son being taken care of? Do I have money to spend on what I love? And will buying my comics make a difference to these answers?" As long as I answer yes, yes, no, then I'm good.
Pretty much this. I firmly spend no more than $20 a week on comics. That isn't going to hurt anything. If it wasn't comics, it would be something else. I pay very, very little towards entertainment. I don't pay for cable. I don't rent videos. I rarely go to the theatre (less than ten times per year).

So get lost with your "how do you justify..." Not seriously coming down on the OP. :tongue:

[i_mmmchocolate]

I buy comics very rarely, that's how I can justify it. These days, I'll just wait until I go to an event like MoCCA or Small Press Expo to buy a few things.

I browse through comics at work fairly often.

[berk]

Like many people nowadays, I only buy trades, at least as far as contemporary comics are concerned. I still buy individual back issues of older comics.

I justify it by reading the books and enjoying them. Which means I do feel bad about the growing stack of things I've bought but haven't read yet.

[Capsizing Heart]

So I guess since I'm already buying discounted trades my main thing is to just budget better...

[snarkbunny]

So I guess since I'm already buying discounted trades my main thing is to just budget better...

That's the hard part - but I find it's easier if I set it without thinking about the comics until after I figure out how much I can spend.

[dupont2005]

I think the amount of money I spend on comics is well within my budget. I think I'm at about $30 a month on average, counting back issue purchases and new comics. If I felt I was spending too much on comics I would cut back, probably on back issues first since that's where most of my spending goes. I cut my pull list more regularly than I actually get a shipment of comics.

[Aaron Kashtan]

"When I get a little money, I buy books. If there is any left, I buy food and clothing." (misattributed to Erasmus)

[coveredinbees]

I don't have much other expenses, but I do have a job.

[dupersuper]

The entirety of the rest of my budget is rent, food, credit card bills, life insurance, car insurance, car payments, car repair, gas, and student loan payment. I don't smoke/drink/do drugs/care about sports. The comics are the only thing I regularly spend $ on that gives me joy (I don't pay for the internet/cable in my house, and can't afford to regularly do much else).

[Kaim]

I'm a single male whose parents are putting him through school and has a job. My sole other hobby is drumming, which only requires me to buy things to replace what I break. This takes maybe $100/year. Maybe. With pretty much 0 other financial commitments and responsibilities, my budget is pretty much much rent, food, leisure cash, emergency stash, comics. As long as the rent gets paid and there's food in the fridge, I don't really feel too bad even after particularly large purchases.

Tl;DR: I'm over-privileged and pampered with nothing better to blow cash on.


I don't have much other expenses, but I do have a job.

...although this is a much classier way of saying it.

[Capsizing Heart]

Tl;DR: I'm over-privileged and pampered with nothing better to blow cash on.


Technically aside from food and rent I have nothing to blow money on either. I mean I might go out and get drunk a couple of times a month. And everyone loves a good takeout now and then but even then, I don't have a job though or parental support, so any money spent on stuff that doesn't keep me alive always makes me feel bad, at least eventually.

[mikekerrIII]

Just in case this turns into a slagging match. I love comics. I love my collection etc etc

Nonetheless, I have no parental support so I support myself and I don't have a lot of money. So as much joy as I get from my comics, if I look back over a month and see I've spent like a £100 on comics, I die a little inside knowing how much I could buy with that, that I actually need.

Maybe it's just because I'm in the UK, but comics really aren't cheap. Trades are on average somewhere between £15 - £25, a weeks worth of shopping basically.

And I just wonder, how do you justify the money you pour into your comics? Or do you even have too?

If I felt that buying comics was something I had to justify to myself then I would stop, since needing to justify something to yourself means that you probably should not do it.

[Pól Rua]

I pay rent. I pay for utilities. I have money left. I make sure I have enough to live on.
I buy comics with the rest.
Also, I don't buy shit comics that I hope will get better, or out of some sort of weird loyalty to either a fictional character or a corporate entity.

[snarkbunny]

so any money spent on stuff that doesn't keep me alive always makes me feel bad, at least eventually.

Technically, soap doesn't keep you alive but I bet most people thinks buying it is a necessity.

Also, life needs balance, everyone needs something in their life they enjoy. If you are spending rent money on comics, this is a bad thing. If you are buying comics instead of takeout, that is not bad.

If something is making you feel bad, then you need to figure out why it is making you feel that way.

[Pro]

Joe Quesada is my justification for not buying comics anymore.
He wrecked the x-franchise which used to be my big purchases.
At one time i bought about 10 comics a month.
Thanks to Joe that's money i can now spend on better products.

[DaronK]

Eh- I've dropped comics in the past when I was broke, then picked them up again after I found work. It ain't that hard. Honestly, I was on the verge of dropping all comics entirely until the New 52 came out because they weren't holding my interest enough to justify the cost. Now I've bought more comics in the last month and a half than I did in the preceding 6 months. Well played, DC.

I think you must be my evil twin...or vice versa. You justification about the wife and kid was exactly what I was going to say as well.

As long as I can pay the mortgage and utilities (as well as all the other bills like auto/life insurance, cable/internet, etc) and put food on the table and keep my girls in clothes (read shoes here), and have money left to comics then I buy comics. If it ever gets to the point where I have to make a decision about cutting one of these things, comics will be the first to go (along with unneeded shoes...)

[Blue_Beetle]

Enjoyment. Same reason people spend money on cable TV. I don't even watch TV really.

[snarkbunny]

If it ever gets to the point where I have to make a decision about cutting one of these things, comics will be the first to go (along with unneeded shoes...)

New shoes are never, ever unneeded.

[zryson]

Just in case this turns into a slagging match. I love comics. I love my collection etc etc

Nonetheless, I have no parental support so I support myself and I don't have a lot of money. So as much joy as I get from my comics, if I look back over a month and see I've spent like a £100 on comics, I die a little inside knowing how much I could buy with that, that I actually need.

Maybe it's just because I'm in the UK, but comics really aren't cheap. Trades are on average somewhere between £15 - £25, a weeks worth of shopping basically.

And I just wonder, how do you justify the money you pour into your comics? Or do you even have too?

i make a point of paying my bills before i spend money on anything else. so that's just how i justify it. but there are ways to save money on comics - have you tried secondhand or used bookstores? or buying secondhand copies of trades on ebay? because that can save quite a bit of money too.

[Capsizing Heart]

I never really thought about the fact that if I question why I buy comics there is an issue there...

[josh straightedge]

As a person who is married and has a child, I buy comics on a weekly basis.

I am in a place where my wife and I can pay our bills, support our family, put money in savings and buy some things for ourselves. For me, it's comics.

I'm cheap in other places. I don't have lots of bills. Cheap cellphone family plan. I'm getting rid of cable television. I don't go out to eat all the time. I don't smoke or drink and neither of those are cheap, either.

I always feel good about buying books because I feel like I have something to show for my money.

I also think too, that comics are a bit of an investment and sometimes, they are worth some money and that's when you just sell them. That's probably the other part of my justification. I don't do it a lot, but when something I buy for $3.00 is worth $200-$300, it goes on eBay pretty quick.

[Charles RB]

Also, I don't buy shit comics that I hope will get better, or out of some sort of weird loyalty to either a fictional character or a corporate entity.

I don't understand. What is this strange moon-man language you're writing?

[Gryphon]

I buy almost everything off amazon or indigo using gift cards from surveys.

[Rasputin9977]

I go to bcbservice.com because I can get a 40-75% discount. You should be able to find some online store that'll give you a good discount.

[Gryphon]

I buy almost everything off amazon or indigo using gift cards from surveys.

BTW
if anyone is interested in these, just PM me.

[Capsizing Heart]

BTW
if anyone is interested in these, just PM me.

What is indigo?

[Gryphon]

What is indigo?

Canadian bookstore.

I mainly buy from both amazon.com and amazon.ca though using gift cards from surveys.

[Capsizing Heart]

I wonder if they do any for the UK...

[Gryphon]

I wonder if they do any for the UK...

I do have some for the UK, I believe.

[Gryphon]

Lets discuss this in PM.

[Sabrina_Fried]

I only buy comics in TPB format now, and manga. And now that I am a full-time student again (read: unemployed) my comic buying budget has been collapsed into my general entertainment budget, which is a fraction of what it was when I was employed.

I borrow novels and DVDs from the library. I have an antenna, no cable. But yes, I still buy comics. I may wait a few months until I have enough books saved up to blow a gift card and get a good deal, but it still works out to about two TPBs or manga a month in the end.

And I do it because I cannot live by textbooks alone. The comics are a much needed break where I can escape from my concerns about school and my job prospects and life, etc for a few hours. And that is worth far more than what I pay for the comics.

[Tekamthi]

Honestly, buying comics is only worth it for the sake of reading comics. Otherwise it's a huge waste of money.

[Rosebunse]

As long you can keep your pull-list in check, it's still cheaper than cigarettes. You need something to get you through the week. And I don't beg for money for them...I don't let my mother or anyone else know how much money I have budgeted for a yearly comic book budget.

[Hwlights92]

For me I lucked out. I'm in my first symester of community college so I'm still living at home. I'm still learning to drive so I don't have to worry about gas yet. And I work but I'm minimizing what I spend on mall food. I've basically averaged my budget to 3 2.99 comics a week. With tax I'm spending 9.60 a week which doesn't seem to bad to me, although once spider island finishes I might adds few marvel titles to my pull list, although I'm on the fence with that.

I haven't read singles comics in a long time and I finally reopened my small box of graphic novels. I read a few and realized I missed reading em and the new 52 merely drove that point home. Given I'm in college I'd say it's better to shell out 9.60 a week on comics as obbosed to drugs and alcohol, don't you agree?

[Rosebunse]

I just want to clarify what I posted in my last post here. I spend about $15 dollars a week on comics, thought really this is closer to one week spending $20 and another not even buying any. For me, $15 is not that much. But for my mom, it seems like a lot. But at least you can actually show something for your money with comics. It's not like cigarettes or alcohol.

But yes, I cut books every year. I cut off New Avengers because it just wasn't doing it for me. I don't feel bad about it; I'm telling Marvel that I don't like that particular product. Buying a comic just because it has the Avengers is only making it worse for everyone else.

[Ofelia]

For me I justify it by considering that I spend less on comics than I ever did on games (when I used to buy a lot of games) and get more enjoyment out of them. I also spend about the same amount of time per week on them! When it comes to games I would foolishly spend 150 dollars or more some months on them, and whenever I bought a new game I'd only play it for an hour or maybe two before putting it down and never picking it up again. With comics I might spend around 100 dollars a month and spend an hour or two a week reading comics (about the same) but they provide a much more lasting entertainment as I find myself continuing to think about the stories, anticipating the next months issue, etc.

[Capsizing Heart]

And I do it because I cannot live by textbooks alone. The comics are a much needed break where I can escape from my concerns about school and my job prospects and life, etc for a few hours. And that is worth far more than what I pay for the comics.

That was beautifully put.


For me I justify it by considering that I spend less on comics than I ever did on games (when I used to buy a lot of games) and get more enjoyment out of them. I also spend about the same amount of time per week on them! When it comes to games I would foolishly spend 150 dollars or more some months on them, and whenever I bought a new game I'd only play it for an hour or maybe two before putting it down and never picking it up again. With comics I might spend around 100 dollars a month and spend an hour or two a week reading comics (about the same) but they provide a much more lasting entertainment as I find myself continuing to think about the stories, anticipating the next months issue, etc.

Wow a hundred dollars on comics a month? You must buy and read a LOT of comics!

[Mark Parnell]

I am married and have two kids and spend approx $300 a month on comics. I collect 47 titles now that DC reluanched. I don't smoke nor drink (although my wife would disagree about the latter!!) I have been collecting since the age of 12 when I was hospitalized with seizures and spent the entire summer getting poked and prodded at a time when my sister was out making new friends in the neighbourhood we had just moved to. I was bored shit less and my mom felt sorry for me and ever since then I have been visiting my local shop every Wednesday for my weekly fix.

Part of me loves the collecting aspect to reading comics but for the most part I love to read and comics is one avenue of literature that I am willing to pay money for!!

[Capsizing Heart]

Yeah I must admit, sometimes I wonder if I prefer collecting comics more than I do reading them.