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It's not cheap, acquiring all of the latest must-have video games. When you consider that - even used - a newer game may well cost thirty or forty dollars, you start looking for other options.

Consider renting video games. Very few games have what they call a high replay value. That is to say, once you beat them, they get boring quickly. Paying full price for these kinds of games can put a huge dent in your finances. On the other hand, you can get them from, say, Blockbuster or Hollywood Video for under five dollars for a few days, maybe even less if it's an older game.

Ideal candidates for this approach are sports games (a new one out every year, but basically the same game with new players), some fighting games (although a few are addictive enough that you may well want to buy them - the Tekken and Soul Calibur series leap to mind here), racing games and shooting games.

You may not want to rent role-playing or puzzle games: these typically take more than a few days to beat, especially if you only play a few hours a day. What with late fees and everything, if you rent one of these, you may well end up paying more for it than if you had bought it.

Back when I was living back at home and my mother was supporting my gaming habit, I would typically rent first, and if it turned out that the game was something I'd play over and over, then it would be bought - eventually. As I said, even used, they're not cheap.

Some things to watch out for when renting games: make sure the disc isn't scratched. If it is and you must have the game anyway, point it out to the clerk in the store. This way you don't get charged for it. Look at the rating on the game. I'm constantly amused at parents who wouldn't let their kids watch an R rated movie, but have no problem with them playing, say, Resident Evil or Grand Theft Auto. The games have been rated for a reason, and if you're a conscientious parent, you'll check that rating before letting Junior play.

Learn more about this author, William Bowman.
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