I don't want to buy any new models/kits in 2018 - but how?

[DS615]

I had a Daughter two years ago.
That had pretty much the effect you're looking for.
 

[Gunbird]

I had a Daughter two years ago.
That had pretty much the effect you're looking for.
 

I had identical twins 4 years ago, and that effect only lasted 2 years (and no, we are not getting more kids just to make sure I don't spend any money!)

[Oldben1]

I read your blog regularly  and love it.
My father died 2 years ago and was an unbelievable hoarder.  It took me 6 months to clean out his basement and his garage.  It affected me so much I sold as much as I could and gave the rest of it away.  After I was finished, I dumped a lot of my own stuff as well and even switched to a smaller scale.  I gave away half of my Dad's stuff.  He was a blacksmith and a lot it was valuable.  Hanging on to all of it was exhausting.  I ended up donating it to a local charity.  


I have found that with modelling, sometimes creating the 'world' is better than playing an actual game of it.  Problem solving is fun.  I think a lot of the joy is the craft itself.  When I sell stuff or give it away I recognize I enjoy building terrain more than displaying it or even using it.  Building gives you pleasure, not the thing itself.  Sometimes even researching the damn thing is fun too.  I would sell a ton and donate too.  You'll never get what you paid for it.  If your wife doesn't appreciate the hobby (mine doesn't but who would?), than she'll appreciate you getting rid of stuff.  How many tank models will you actually build anyways?  You'll feel better by cleaning out your space.  The 'stuff' has a weight.  Figuratively and literally.  The hassle of selling it will be hard too.  

What about teaching some of your techniques to local gamers?  Maybe you could sell as much as you can and give some away.

Anyways . . .

[Chuckaroobob]

The only method to stop purchasing that worked for me was lose a good job, get a crappy one, and be too poor to buy anything.
Might not be a great way, but it's dang effective!

[FramFramson]

The only method to stop purchasing that worked for me was lose a good job, get a crappy one, and be too poor to buy anything.
Might not be a great way, but it's dang effective!

Haha, I hear that! Cured me of my comic book buying entirely, I might add.

[HerbyF]

Just have kids. After you have a couple of toddlers eating up all of your money, you won't have anything left over to spend on new toys. 

[stone-cold-lead]

Stop browsing the net. It's the worst thing for impulse purchases. Don't browse retailers sites, avoid idle Ebay searches and if you get an idea for a new project no matter how small don't take it further than a few minutes thought. Also, stop looking at other people's stuff. Taking a step back and not bothering to check up on FB groups or forums really does help to narrow your focus down to your own projects without getting all sidetracked and tempted by other stuff.

[LeadAsbestos]

Stop browsing the net. It's the worst thing for impulse purchases. Don't browse retailers sites, avoid idle Ebay searches and if you get an idea for a new project no matter how small don't take it further than a few minutes thought. Also, stop looking at other people's stuff. Taking a step back and not bothering to check up on FB groups or forums really does help to narrow your focus down to your own projects without getting all sidetracked and tempted by other stuff.

Agreed! This is the only effective method. Being inspired by someone else's project is the problem 90% of the time, movies, books, TV the other 10. A little sad and isolationist, but it does the trick!

[fusilierdan]

I won't say it was 100% effective but I joined " The Pledge" on TMP. The premis is that you will paint more figures than you buy. It's tracked each month. The first few years I tended to break even but this year I'm well ahead of purchases.

Also picking projects in the begining of the year based on what you have and will play helps keep focus. An example last year I decided I wanted to learn how to play Mad Dogs with Guns, I had the rules, some figures and three buildings. I asked for a few buildings for Christmas. For two months this is what I worked on 90% of the time. I built the new buildings plus three others I already owned. I painted the twelve figures I had and bought several cars ( so far only one is painted). By March we were able to play a game with what I had. I still need to finish the cars and would like to add a few NPC and scatter terrain but the project had been just collecting dust for 10 years and now is playable.

Another thing if a friend has both armies for a game there's not really a reason for you to build a duplicate army.

As in any project it's best to break it down into smaller segments set goals for the small segment and achieve them.
If the goal is to paint what you have then each month you must paint something and not buy anything. If you slip up and buy something (or are gifted it) you must paint that in addition to what was already on the schedule. Keeping in mind it's a hobby and is supposed to be fun

[JamesValentine]

not buying anything is an unrealistic goal for us. you need to be smart is all.
consider purchases more closely and decide "do I really need it?"
lets face it your ARE going to spot something you want and treating yourself is no great crime.
S.M.A.R.T
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timely.

[joroas]

Yes, there is a major difference between want and need!

I am working on a 5 year plan to complete all of the stuff that I have accumulated and hasn't been sold off.  It will be quite intense and require little buying on my part......

[Hobgoblin]

I was listening to this podcast last night; one of the things it touched upon is the behavioural bias by which we value future acquisitions more than the pleasure than they produce. This, apparently, is a by-product of evolution: we have been selected to value goods yet to be acquired so that we don't starve or fail to reproduce or whatever. But it has unfortunate side-effects ...