You Need to Watch Out for Hobby Debt

[@FransM89]

Watching Adam's videos is like being pulled aside by your dad to have a serious talk with.

[@jagelsdorf1385]

Frans He’s our Dad-Emperor.

[@TheCimbrianBull]

He's my daddy!

[@pariah_eagle]

He is like me awsome uncle who helps you with the stuff your parents wouldnt help you with. He tells you what is important and not the bullshit that others do He is like Uncle Iroh FROM atla

[@mlord5048]

See, I'm an accountant so I can appreciate this "Dad gives you the finances talk". I have a good friend whose husband got a credit card without telling her, spent like 5 grand on WH40k and didn't tell her about it. He also wasn barely making the minimum payments. She found out and almost killed him. She also has a hatred for 40k bow because of the association with that incident. Sad situation all around.

[@gggfx4144]

"..then at some time soon you gotta decide if you're gonna be serious with the girl"

[@craigjones7343]

I’m guessing the credit card companies are the ones who down voted this video.

[@StarFyreXXX]

Nothin wrong with credit cards if you can manage what you spend. For me, the wife manages what is spent in the house hehe It works that way. I have to sell stuff to buy more, so I really get rid of stuff I don't want. Only special once in lifetime type stuff I will just pay the moment I see it if it truly will go away

[@grangisjefe2564]

Naw, I just think people give financial debt a bad wrap

[@DavidHurstCanada]

Good call.

[@iangagne1520]

LOL

[@TheDigitalThreat]

I sometimes wish when i turned 18 I went hog wild and grabbed a ton of shit with credit, then claimed bankruptcy as by now the credit would be reset and I'd still have a ton of goodies! If all else fails you can always fake your death too lol

[@TangleBen]

As someone who's married to (and myself am) a plastic crack addict, I can fully attest to the lure of buying things on credit. I have a credit card with a £500 limit and use it frequently for small purchases and for emergencies. However a few years ago I got quite ill and with it depressed. My wife bless her heart, couldn't stand seeing me in this state and seeing as the hobby was one of the few things that kept me cheerful she maxed out her substantially higher limited 'emergency' card. I didn't know this, i should have known she didn't have the kind of money she was spending on me, but i wasn't in a good head space. Its taken us 4 years to get it down to £2000 left to pay and at last we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's been a learning experience for the both of us and I sincerely hope this video and some of the great comments i'm seeing on here can prevent things like this happening to the younger/more naive audience on this channel. Just a side note... as i'm typing this I've realised I've super-glued my forearm to my cutting mat....Happy hobby guys and gals from jolly ole England XD

[@TangleBen]

@Where Is Waldo Kind of silly place to live over here at the moment

[@TangleBen]

@Where Is Waldo I can agree to some degree and some to most English people fit your opinion. However recent events such as the officials we're voting into office make me doubt the sense some of us Brits have XD

[@SquidmarMiniatures]

I approve of this message!

[@dingongify]

I just watched you opening free stuff on your channel XD XD

[@jacobb.9181]

I just realized your pfp is an orc, not a halo character (which is what it looks like from a distance)

[@NatesMiniatures]

It is a very over looked part of the hobby, money management. Don't go into debt for the hobby, make sure the money going out is easily replaced and does not impact on your family and bills. Good talk Adam :D

[@Phsstpok]

I can not agree more... in fact I noticed exactly this trend over the last few years in my behavior... and a big part is this Kickstarter thing and the syndrome of "fear of missing out". Currently I am in the progress to discipline myself more and reverse the flow a little bit by just selling things coming in from KS projects I backed years ago on ebay. Fortunately, I was able not only to regain my investments but also make a little profit out of it...

[@NatesMiniatures]

@@Phsstpok glad you were able to make something that hurt the hip pocket into some cash again ^_^

[@LiliaArmoury]

@@NatesMiniatures your initial statement is why i hate the meme "my hands look like this so hers can look like this" with the guy buying warhammer so the girl has the card declined

[@ashg9023]

I was over £500 in debt due to it when I was in my early twenties. This was all because I spent £300 on credit where I shouldn't have because my wage just about stretched living at the time. Thankfully all paid off now and have enough money to spend £50 a month which is more than enough!

[@xGarrettThiefx]

I starting playing board games years ago and nothing surprises me more than how board games can now days go for 2-3 hundred dollars !

[@j453]

For 2grand that thing better walk, shoot and roll its dice. Oh, and play dead if it dies.

[@Steve_Keen]

Yeah, I don't get the appeal, never have. They usually look pretty terrible regardless of paint job. It's just a spectacle thing I guess.

[@baffes4348]

@@Steve_Keen There are people out there spending 5 figure money on movie props and have a Terminator Skeleton in their living room...

[@newbreedcreator]

@J LOL. For 2 grand, it better not die!

[@Autechltd]

For 2 grands, you can layer up a hooker in cardboard and proxy her as an Imperator Titan and have her take the layers off as she takes wounds. You can even have dice roll out of the cardboard paper rolls, acting as gun barrels.

[@Over_Head_Press]

@@Autechltd I don't know you, but I like you.

[@patrickrupp2907]

Something that really helps me is whenever i swipe my plastic i always think "how many hours of work did this just cost me" cause hearing X amount of dollars is great but when i think "im paying 13 hours for this?" it gives me pause, and makes me actually realize how much things are worth

[@grayalun]

That's a really good way to view it, the best way I found to manage this stuff back when my self control wasn't as good was to have a separate account for spending money and the other account was for bills and stuff then a savings account with a standing order going to it each month. I tend to mainly only get stuff for birthday and Christmas these days.

[@DuoXCity]

"If buying miniatures were as hard as painting or assembling, they'd sell less miniatures." FFG: Hold my Beer.

[@MentoliptusBanko]

This is super important life advice, it should not be related only to hobby, but every (or almost every) aspect of your life.

[@coryray8436]

Absolutely. The ability to manage your money and exercise some self control is a critical life skill.

[@TheCimbrianBull]

I wish they would teach this in school.

[@dinoXAs2]

@@TheCimbrianBull School? Your parents need to teach this goddammit.

[@marks6928]

Uncle Atom dropping solid wisdom once again. Great advice as always. Really important stuff, and I hope people listen.

[@404NoNameAvailable]

I actually got a debit card, just for hobby stuff. So my hobby budget is separated form our normal spendings. At the start of every month I put my hobby money there and if I want to buy something I don't have to worry if we can afford it this month, I just look if there's enough money on the card. It's quite relaxing if your hobbing on a budget.

[@stevevondoom4140]

^This.

[@QuestionableFriend]

Atom, you're an amazing person. This is info the "kids" need to hear. Financial management isn't taught well. Most of us learn these lessons painfully. Thank you for the educational rant. 😁❤

[@chrisw.735]

Guilty, here, even lied to my wife about plastic crack. And damn was it a hard habbit to get out of, despite giving me nothing but trouble. These days i save up before i buy. Good video in any case, bless you for every poor soul you save from debt. Because that is not fun and games at all.

[@colinmacmillan2944]

Same. Got an awful fright one day when I looked at the balance. Swore never to be in that position ever again - way more careful as a result.

[@TangleBen]

If you ever feel a sense of dread when you're checking your balance, you know you need to curb that spending (often feels dread XD)

[@BOYVIRGO666]

Iv come close to going into debt from my hobby but i have a hard rule about putting any gaming purchases on my credit card.

[@madjukesmeg]

I feel like the fact that hobby debt is even possible, and common enough to warrant a PSA is proof some of this stuff is overpriced

[@timofaust1315]

I love that you talk about responsibility in hobbies. That's why your channel is one of the best to listen to while painting stuff!

[@alexwild1435]

Keeping a hobby ‘Wish List’ on your phone or notepad really helps you prioritise purchases. In many cases after putting the item in your list you end up not buying once the initial excitement wears off and you realise it wasn’t that essential anyway.

[@Huyvovo903]

Many Colours This is a very good advice and I’ve even doing this since college with my Amazon account. I would add about 20 items to my wishlist every month but only ended up buying one or two items from that list.

[@arniebanzon]

I dunno if this will help anyone but what helped me was putting the same amount of my purchase cost to my savings (for example buying a new box of minis for $60, I put $60 on my savings as well) this was my go to saving method at the time. It also helped me be a bit to be more responsible and gave me more control on spending , since everything I bought for fun costs twice as much.

[@Wingnut53]

I've never gotten myself in trouble but I'm deff a mini hoarder. I've started setting rules for myself. "You can buy that unit once you finish painting these units". Maintains hobby progress and slows down spending. Don't use credit on hobbies. Great topic

[@MrBizteck]

I had the same rule but then bought a 3d printer and it went out of the window!! So now I dint allowed myself to build a new piece before Ive painted somthing else. ( I also sell my 3d printed suff online so I use that for a 'hobby' fund)

[@thinkingmachine354]

Erik S I started doing that with games on steam and the PS4. I have a bunch of games I’ve never played. As soon as I realised what I was doing, I stopped immediately from buying more and have set similar rules. Buying things, I swear, messes with us psychologically.

[@robthehitmanrude]

I set myself that rule last year, which I've stuck to enough to be down to one model to paint. It feels a whole lot better when painting not to have a giant pile of plastic sitting in the cupboard, and when I buy something I know it's going to be on the table very soon.

[@psycosanches589]

I tried telling myself that while I was in the process of a total army switch and my hobbying simply ground to a total halt because I have trouble getting interested in the painting aspect of the hobby.

[@JFXBENGALS-The_P0NY-X]

Yeah I have the same rule now , it's going to take 30 days solid painting days to clear backlog.

[@shadizzo4593]

Really good video, My wife and I are in a mid 30's and about 2 years ago we started the Dave Ramsey plan. Its been a long and painful journey but now we are debt free. Our stress level now is next to none and enjoying life.

[@Kira-Namida]

I thought this was gonna be about a backlog of unfinished models but this got deep.

[@robthehitmanrude]

Solid advice as it pertains to this hobby, and solid almost anywhere else it can be applied. The bank is not your friend, and will do everything to make sure it has more of your hard-earned money than you do, live in a way that gives it as little as possible.

[@GeneJordan]

It's not just banks. It's the credit card companies. Notice how so many companies are getting into the credit card business? Even Walmart is advertising one right now. If they are getting into it, you know it's where the money is. As my credit score has improved over time from very poor to very high, the offers to get a credit card are being shoved at me daily. The only one I will have is a secured credit card, with my own money in my local bank to back it up. Even then, I don't ever use more than 30% of the total and I pay that off each month. I don't want to pay interest for borrowing money from myself. For a secured card with a $300 limit, that would mean under $90.

[@robthehitmanrude]

@@GeneJordan I pay the full total off each month of my credit card,which might be why they don't keep offering me higher limits. :)

[@icare8899]

My bank pays me to have accounts.

[@GeneJordan]

@@robthehitmanrude That's the way to do it. Unfortunately many don't have the willpower to keep from running each of multiple credit accounts up to the full limit and only paying off a fraction of that amount each month. Those are rhe people credit card companies prey upon.

[@kingsnogaryen6292]

This video goes great along with the "paint your stuff" logic. If you limit your buying to until you are finished painting then the piles will stay small.

[@flintforge86]

So basically “don’t buy crack on credit” is the moral of the story

[@jamesallmon7756]

Read this as “Don’t but crack on Reddit” lol

[@TheOneAndOnlyCrawl]

@@jamesallmon7756 also a bad idea

[@agilemonk6305]

Yes, only Hunter Biden can buy crack on credit.

[@Bathorite]

I learned this lesson recently. Being responsible now and digging my way out. Oddly I find myself painting more...

[@tabletopminions]

Painting more is generally a better plan than buying more, for sure. Thanks for watching!

[@sailorjef5072]

Awesome advice! Took the wife and I 6 years to get debt free. I also finally decided to stick with one army for kill team and 40K. Going to be unloading all the other stuff I’ve collected since 97, which is a lot. I’m finally at a point we’re I’m ok and happy about it. Thanks for the video Uncle Atom!

[@StateBoltgun]

Love hearing you just talk about the hobby and the many up- and downsides, keep it up!

[@donaldkhogan]

Simple video but helpful reminder, and always helpful to hear it from "friends" in the same hobby. I was JUST at my FLGS with some essential paints/tools in hand which was planned for and on the list, but then I grabbed Adrax Agatone and Lieutenant in Phobos Armor and agonized for 20 mins which one to get for my hobby (or both). Thing is I realized as I agonized that I still have half of my Reivers and Intercessors to actually finish painting and basing for my Killteam. The whole point I went was for some specific tools/paints I needed to put the finishing touches on my squads and the excitement and the capability for me to just grab $60 more plastic dudes while I was there lured me in. It was a personal victory to walk out with only what I went there for, in fact, because I didn't overextend my hobby budget (like I usually would) I used the whole of the budget amount this time up to the penny and got a new brush I actually needed but kept putting off getting. Either of those hero models will be an awesome addition to my team(s) even more so when I don't have to overextend to get them. (plus I'll have more models done by the time I get em)

[@12neef]

Great conversation. The FOMO mentality is the most problematic. I loved every game system but didnt have the time to build, paint and play everything. I had to focus on one maybe two games. I have been selling everything that I havent played in a year+, even if i sell it at a loss. I dont buy anything new until i get that amount from things i am selling. I am now not buying things i dont need and i am not drowning in hobby stuff.

[@jerseyse410]

Yep me too. Selling off an army for AoS, thinking of selling off my SW: Legion stuff too to narrow down the amount of games I'm in

[@12neef]

jerseyse410 i’ve sold all my warmachine, working on getting rid of malifaux and 40k. Converting necromunda to AoS

[@TheRagnartheBold]

It is very important that an influencer somehow attached to a product mentioned this issue. There are so many influencers in the interwebs, cartering to younger audience, which are literally putting pressure on the viewers to buy stuff. I am looking at the fashion people. But you can also adapt it for minatures, as fashion can be somekind of a hobby, too. So good job to address it, since you have some reach.

[@TheDeadDudeWalking]

Glad you're getting this message out, not everyone has the financial literacy to know why credit cards should be looked at with suspicion. This isn't just for people in the hobby but everyone. LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK!

[@MrSaranm]

During a high point in my depression is when I got into Warhammer. I was already somewhat shaky financially, and then I ended up putting about 1500 dollars worth of minis, paints, supplies, etc on my credit card. Really wish I'd stopped myself.

[@nealbiederman4664]

@Jason Parker seriously they JUST said they were not financially well and depressed,now you're goating them to go further in, because what generally happens when an endorphin rush hits with every new model becomes an addiction. What the commenter sounds like they need or needed was therapy,NOT to further develop a wargaming hobby,try to be realistic.

[@Alittlefruitgoesalongway]

Maybe they shouldn't further develop it just yet but they should feel like they can keep at least a small amount of it. I'm still young but I know that having something that you enjoy that you can put time into when you're feeling down can be a good thing. Warhammer has helped me through a lot personally, and has done better for me than magic or a collectible card game because with those, if I didn't have someone to play with the only way to really enjoy them more when I want to have fun with something is maybe building a deck or sorting them, which don't last very long, before feeling like I need to buy more and open more booster packs to have fun. I got away from that though. While I don't manage my warhammer buying perfectly, I know that even if I can't afford to buy anything more for it for a time, I have hours and hours of time that I can put into building and eventually painting my models, let alone playing once in a while. So it lasts much much longer than the entertainment a box of trading cards would give me. If that makes any sense. Just trying to give a positive, hopefully helpful input. I wish you the best of luck with managing your warhammer collection and your life. I know it's hard sometimes.

[@MrSaranm]

@Jason Parker I had just tried to start getting into the hobby at the time, and while I enjoyed it for awhile, I don't think it's ultimately for me. I still have my minis and don't intend to sell them back for essentially nothing, but I think my competitive nature is what makes it difficult. I know a large portion of this channel is talking about mindfully doing your hobby for yourself, but I can't help but be discouraged when I'm not "good" at something. This goes for both painting prowess as well as wargaming skill.

[@MrSaranm]

@@nealbiederman4664 A hobby can be good self therapy, I just took it too far, and you are largely correct that the primary reason I got in the first place was the good feeling upon buying something.

[@sinisterpuddle6655]

Thanks for smacking some sense into me. I only have a little bit of debt but this convinced me to pay that off before I buy anything else for the hobby.

[@RazzlePhoxx]

I've always stayed away from credit cards for this exact reason. My problem when it comes to "hobby debt" is I promise myself that I'm going to buy so much is a certain order that when something new comes out I feel like I can't get it because I've already pre-allocated that months allowance

[@DaneInTheUS]

This is solid advise for everyone, not just hobbyists. A lot of people unfortunately use credit wrong, and it leads to so much heartbreak. Please spend responsibly everyone

[@LPP_YT]

Good point well made. It doesn’t just relate to the hobby, it’s a good life rule to try and live by. Don’t live beyond your means.

[@arctichordewargaming3550]

GW's release schedule has been so amped up...it's easy to follow it down the rabbit hole. Good video.

[@gazzaroony]

This is large factor in the rise of depression and suicide. The banks flirt with you as soon as you turn old enough to take on credit. Tomorrow feels a long way away when your 20, but it does come and the bank wins. Not sure about the US but in the UK credit card debt is being heavily clamped down on. If you carry credit card debt for more than 3yrs they will now close your account and put you on a payment plan and of course decimate your credit score.

[@alexhulea2735]

can you imagine a card with 66% interest PER WEEK (unless you pay off everything in the first 30 days)? that was what my mom was offered. she used it only once when my sister threw a fit she NEEDED an expensive cellphone because of social pressure(that was non-existent). a 150 euro phone that wasn't worth 30 euros 18 months later ended up costing my mom 300 euros. and that's why no one in my family ever uses credit cards for purchases. i'd rather almost-starve for a few months so i can buy a laptop, than end up paying 30-50% extra to get it immediately

[@TheCinderfang]

Only reducing your credit score by 10% isn't too bad

[@mlord5048]

You get to your first week of college and you're bombarded by folks trying to get you to sign up for credit cards. They offer a free tshirt and a lot of kids just sign right up.

[@Goobintar]

@@mlord5048 signing up isn't bad in itself. Using it with no means of repaying is. An open card without any debt is good for credit.

[@mlord5048]

@@Goobintar oh I agree. A lot of kids at that age however have not been properly educated about fiscal responsibility. I use my card for everything to get the points, but I pay off the balance every month. I know too many folks that opened up cards in college, built up large amounts of debt and just let them hang out there accumulating interest and ruining their credit. It's a predatory practice to go after those kids, and the companies know they're easy marks.

[@darkowl9]

When I was buying my paint collection I gave up a second coffee each day. Meant I could buy 3-4 paints each week. This also let me plan the colours I wanted to use and get an idea on where colour gaps were missing for next week. Worked well for me 😄

[@piece1309]

I have a hobby section for my monthly budget. 50 bucks for minis, paint, other supplies and such. If I want something that’s 150 I just have to wait three months.

[@mikemartell365]

“And knowing is half the battle!” Great advice !

[@jasonmolenaar119]

The other half of the battle is gratuitous violence

[@OnPointHQ]

Great video. I'm very much of the 'do I need it?' mindset as I get older. Before making a purchase I ask myself - do I need it, is it a system that I game regularly with, do I have friends that play the game, will I actually ever paint these etc. If it passes the test, I buy it but if I have any concerns that it will gather dust, never get used or gamed with then no. The money can be better spent on current games or saved for future use. Getting into debt, and the residual issues that come with blindly spending or shady practices from lenders, would taint the hobby for me. This is meant to be an escape from real world issues but if these issues, debt for example, work their way into my hobby time, I've lost my escapism.

[@zot8218]

A lot of people need someone to have this talk with them about many subjects even more important then your hobby. Politicians specifically come to mind.

[@Huyvovo903]

It frightens me that so many people have no savings whatsoever. If right now you don’t have enough cash to live for the next 6 months then forget about hobbying and get your priority straight.

[@unit18nate]

Play miniature agonistic games so you're collection is always relevant. Osprey Games has a game for everything. Not playing GW games is a good way to avoid wracking up hobby debt.

[@abrannan]

The problem I have is that all of the models I bought and generated hobby debt with back in the 1990s are now valuable enough to fund my hobby today. So it turned out to be a good thing that I went into hobby debt back then.

[@jonk5883]

Great topic! Take heed & spend wisely. After many many years I'm finally debt free.

[@iangagne1520]

As someone who personally struggled because of bad spending habits and credit cards debts, you couldn't be more right. I have a rule to not buy minis ahead of one unit project of what I'm doibg., For example, I'm finishing my Tau force right now and after that I'm Nov ng on a start collecting age of Sigmar box, bit my line-up stops there. I have the mental limit to ABSOLUTELY NOT buy anything else until my Tau are all finished. That pretty much kills the pile of shame syndrome, cheers !

[@r.scottkowalke9286]

I was about to utilize eBay’s 10% off coupon before I saw this on my feed. It reminded me to not to buy a kit until I’m ready to start it, even with a discount.

[@byebyebuy]

Exactly this. No point taking something off a store shelf just to sit on your shelf

[@Aeravon]

I can't understand why anyone would "dislike" this video. The man is concerned for our shared well-being in a hobby we love. So many other people want to talk about new products to buy or consume, and Atom is taking time to talk about responsibility and mental health. Applaud this man.

[@benjaminpowers609]

I engage in a bit of retail therapy here and there, and like others have said, it is always tainted with guilt. Fortunately, I don't go the credit card route, as I literally only use them to build my credit. Great video about a topic that ought to be discussed more. I think how gaming finances relate to spouses and significant others is also an interesting topic.

[@hobbyhuman9499]

Uncle Atom, thank you so much I really needed this right at this moment in my life. Just unbacked the Return to Dark Tower Kickstarter due to this inspiring video.

[@LordKled]

Good video. Im from Spain, we, usually, don't work that much on credit, usually pay either with cash or debit card. It always amazed me how much americans (no offense, buds) use and abuse on their credit cards. It's good you did this video to help people realize that banks are not their friends.

[@saurosthewise7371]

Its all in the brain, if you think you have it, you will spend it. We are a largely consumer culture, and few have the knowledge or have been taught how to deal with credit cards. There is this image spread that a credit card is infinite money, but that is a lie that just throws peoples lives away.

[@mrrodgers0]

@@saurosthewise7371 There's more to it than that. Specifically, politics. In other countries, credit card companies are tightly regulated on advertising and predatory lending practices, but in the US, we didn't even have any sort of regulatory agency focused on this space until 2011. Instead, we had at least 5 different agencies that had some amount of plausible authority over consumer lending, but it was far down the priority list for all. As a result regulation of credit card companies was largely handled by Congress, and the industry's lobby was very strong on that front. Thus, credit cards were historically unrestrained in how they could advertise and how risky they could be. This has allowed them to burrow their way into our culture in the way you've described, and is why credit card debt continues to be a significant problem, especially in historically disadvantaged/economically depressed communities.

[@saurosthewise7371]

@@mrrodgers0 welp, keep in mind i am not old enough for a credit card, and i am going off of experience of watching other people flounder as they experience credit cards

[@mementomori1320]

Credit cards are toxic and it’s better to allow the smart ones who know how to budget survive on debit cards and cash. As an American I don’t plan on ever buying a credit card.

[@stevenschnepp576]

@@mementomori1320 Find some way to establish credit. Avoiding credit cards is all well and good, but living in apartments because your credit score isn't high enough to get a mortgage is pretty shitty.

[@christianjorgensen4621]

I have a credit card with a $500 dollar limit that gets used solely for hobby related purchases for both my wife and I over the internet, and it gets payed off after every use. If it wasn't for the fact that I live in a country down at the bottom of the world, and you kinda need one if you want to buy stuff on the net, I wouldn't have one of the blasted things at all. I've lost count of the times the bank has asked me if I want to increase my credit limit. It almost feels like they find the idea that someone could say no somewhat horrifying.

[@samprastherabbit]

Uncle Atom looking out for all of his hobby family - thanks for doing tbis video, Adam, I have you to thank for unlocking this wonderful hobby for me, as well as helping me steer clear of the pitfalls!

[@Wipovoxx]

I bought last week my first miniatures, the know no fear box, and I was thinking about this exactly. I want to collect a space marine army and a custodes army (thanks tts) but just to start I've had to spend around 120€ so at least until I've finished painting the box and I've learnt the core rules I won't buy any more miniatures and even then I will buy them at a slow pace because I don't want to go broke because of buying too many at once.

[@dogdren1396]

Man... you are so clairvoyant! I'm sure you have had to learn. But i am so grateful that you share this important information with everyone. Debt is no joke.

[@dredsirius]

Just yesterday I was debating if buying just "something else" for a possible conversion, while I have a whole new army to build and paint and I'm waiting for stuff on the mail. Nope. Stop and finish one thing.

[@rickvandun]

haha just started 3 months ago, almost have a complete grey knights army and painted! my wife knows some but doesnt know everything xD

[@Teeabee]

A phenomenally important video. I knew a guy back during the '08 financial crisis who had a reputation for spending his student loan money on every new army box that came down the pipeline. It got to the point where the manager of the local GW banned his staff from selling him anything, and as far as I'm concerned that man was an absolute credit to the community for doing so.

[@weshapenations]

One of best miniature videos and advice I've ever seen on KZbin. Thanks Uncle Adam.

[@codedshadows133]

How much I spend on the hobby is something that has been on my mind constantly over the last few weeks (especially post-holidays). You read my mind on this topic Uncle Atom

[@gimli3370]

Seeing this video along with all the gw releases in my sub box was really fitting.

[@jeffreykershner440]

I bought that a cricut for paper minis and emblems. My wife liked it and has been making art and tee shirts for folk. She's made about $200 a month just in spare time work. A pretty good hobby purchase.

[@MrKillovision]

I wish I'd have seen this video approximately 5 years ago. Now I know better. To those of you dealing with the crippling interest charges. Dont give up and keep talking to whoever it is you're in debt to.

[@LumberingTroll]

Great video Adam, credit is an evil necessity in our society, but I think it should be avoided when possible. Once we got a house, and cars paid off we closed all of our credit cards and won't use them again. (we dont travel so car rental isn't an issue). I understand for anyone getting into the hobby (I have been in for over 20 years) it is very tempting to get as much as possible as fast as possible, it's exciting and fun. But you only end up with a bunch of unbuilt, unpainted models and a stack of debt to go with it. Take your time, its a hobby, enjoy it, don't rush it!

[@emilymegan40]

Damn right uncle atom! Hubby and I went through a budgeting refresh a few years ago. Even though we weren’t going into debt, we were doing a lot of retail therapy for things that just stayed in boxes. Now that we are more cognizant of our spending and REALLY select the hobbies and things we want, I feel like the stuff we buy brings us more enjoyment than it ever did when we simply impulse bought the world lol

[@Trazynn]

Once you catch yourself even pondering whether a hobby purchase is worth going into debt over you're likely have an inflated sense of how much fulfilment that purchase is going to bring you. Usually it's a deeper issue in life making you unhappy which the purchase is supposed to cover up.

[@awbaldwin36]

As someone who is currently working their way out of large debt I cannot agree with this video more. The reward from purchasing with credit is very low, it creates a guilt that is destructive and promotes more reckless behaviour in the future. Saving for things is hugely rewarding and almost never holds the burden of guilt after buying. If I could have seen this at 17 and actually listened to the advice given I would have saved myself years of paying back money that was never mine in the first place. I'm 35 now and still paying for the bad decisions I made when I was 19. Side note - I'm very new to the channel and not only are you incredibly helpful, you are conscientious and have the voice of an angel! Thank you.

[@VidJunkie63]

Another candid conversation with the audience. Great topic, especially poignant for those new to the hobby and have their 1st credit card. Wise words. Also, a good side topic is the FOMO (fear of missing out) thought process that can push someone into hobby debt.

[@JezielProdigalSon]

My philosophy is to always enter a hobby as cheaply as possible. If i continue with it, i can always buy more.

[@jefflandis1902]

Darn, that ship has sailed on me. now what do I do. let's hope my pile of shame takes longer to get through than it does to it off.

[@Dirpitz]

I learned this lesson when I was younger. My dad got into debt badly and kept it from my stepmum. It took me until I was 35 before I got a credit card and I use it to buy things in place of my debit card, then once the payment has processed by the company I then use my debit card to pay off the credit card. That way I build the credit rating but not risk the debt.

[@nekrataali]

I wish everyone who has a hobby that requires money could see this, not just wargammers. Just this past week was a new set release for Magic the Gathering. At the release event, I overheard some 19-year-old-looking kid trying to sell his expensive cards after the event to try and make rent. As in, he hasn't paid his rent for the month, went to a $25 event (or possibly more), then hoped he would open expensive cards/do well in the tournament to make that $25 back in cash. One guy I knew was couch surfing because his parents were both in prison. This guy is 21 years old. He didn't have a job. He spent his time down at the shop playing Magic or using the wireless for online gaming instead of filling out job applications. He bought a booster box (which may as well be a $90 lottery ticket) using money he got from god-knows-where instead of pitching in for rent/food. My friends kicked him out and he spent a long-ass time at the homeless shelter scared shitless someone would beat the white off him and steal his stuff. Then there's the girl who dropped $200+ on card singles for her ex-boyfriend thinking it would get him back. Then there's that guy who bought a Tau battalion boxed set he had to assemble and paint in the store to hide it from his wife. Or the guy got divorced because he spent more time and money on Space Wolves than he did with his family. That's just a few examples of stuff I've seen happen at my local shops. Don't do this shit. I see it a lot in hobby games. I saw it a lot in college. I've seen it a lot with alcohol. You see it with middle-aged guys going through an existential crisis. There's times where I shouldn't have gotten something I did, which is every time I buy new models because I have hundreds of unpainted and unassembled models already. But I've never failed to pay my bills because I decided I needed to start a new game, or bought something on Steam that was on sale, or went out drinking with friends when I had no money, or wanted to impress some girl by getting a car I couldn't afford. Good vid.

[@TheNulloverride]

This is really good advice. I have gotten to the point where I almost only ever spend money on miniatures if I've got a gift card or some other way to mitigate the price. Or I'll limit myself to $30 in one transaction. Or I'll wait until I've played a game with or at least painted my last unit.

[@ryanbright7496]

Thanks for the advice Uncle Adam. I'm getting back into this hobby and I have to thank you personally for motivation to enter into the threshold of plastic crack once again. I really love your channel and I know you get comments like this frequently, but I am thankful for the insight and information you provide to help fellow wargamers and getting me back into the mix. Keep up the good work!

[@just_fireball3958]

This isn't just good hobby advice, this is good life advice. Your ranting is on-point, as always.

[@zybexgaming2910]

I just started painting and my expenses are around 300 AUD. The problem is I didn’t think it would cost that much it just stacked up really fast cause it’s not just miniature you need, it’s everything else that you should get after that 1 x know no fear 1 x essential paint 1 x painting lamp 3 x sable paint brushes 5 x extra paints 1 x soap cleaner Rip

[@thebloodyfox3763]

Really great advice, I got my warlord Titan through saving and selling things I wasn’t using. I also found one second hand that wasn’t to far along in construction, which saved me a lot of money for sure. Like you said though do not get these types of kits on credit, the interest alone will cut into your cash flow for the supplies to even complete it. If it’s something you want the best advice I can give is save for it while working on all your other projects. It’s a big item and you will want to make sure you build and paint it as best as you can. Research it’s construction, there are lots of videos on building and painting them, I spent months preparing for it.

[@InvictusByz]

The takeaway: accumulated debt and accumulated unpainted miniatures create ripples in the Warp which invite the Daemon. Suffer not the Credit Card to overspend.

[@Anjohl]

A big part of this issue is being realistic with how much time a week you will be spending painting. Try not to buy too much beyond your painting rate. We all buy a little more, but that's not a big issue. In addition, stop following new releases, and don't buy *anything* because it's new. Games Workshop preys on this model, getting people caught up in the new releases, and too many games systems. And don't be afraid to pull the plug on an army, a game system, or even the entire hobby if that's what's best for you.

[@박동민-e6s]

An empty heart leads to an empty wallet.

[@jackoghost]

before i buy models (40k) i make a list with those models added to see if its a fun list to play in theory of course and if i like the look of the model

[@grozwald]

Like my grandpa always said, "If you can't afford it, you can't have it."

[@justinguthro1002]

I would really like to talk with this man an share with him my love and passion for the hobby. Where it came from and how table top miniature saved my life and continue to do so!!

[@tabletopminions]

I’m glad to hear it. Thanks for watching!

[@drakor98]

The only times I use credit cards on my hobby are when I buy paints. They’re relatively cheap compared to everything else, and I usually already have the money to pay for them, but build up my credit by paying them off immediately.

[@tonyz.6105]

I know this video is old but this message needs to be heard by much more than just the wargaming/tabletop community. I really wish our public education system did more to teach proper financial literacy; I know I will be teaching my children lessons such as this!

[@noraexplora3268]

I would suggest Gaslands for beginner Wargamers for this reason. It's very inexpensive as far as hobbies go. You can just get a few Hotwheels or Matchbox cars, paint them up, and maybe if you wanna spend a bit more, 3d print some weapons and glue those on

[@samuelsanfratello4617]

Sage advice, Uncle Atom! Thankfully, "store-brand" credit cards for WH40K, Citadel, and Games Workshop aren't a thing! "41st Millennial payment plan", in monthly installments, could turn real ugly real fast!

[@TheCimbrianBull]

*Exterminatus intensifies*

[@samuelsanfratello4617]

I know! I kinda scared myself with the whole GW credit card idea! Can you imagine!? Army themed!!! O man! I want one now!!!

[@itsarchie1261]

Good advice! I know you covered it at around 2:55 but the main thrust of the video was about credit cards so I'll just reinforce your point from that point in the video, only spend money on hobby after all other expenses are covered! I got myself into a rough spot as a poor and reckless student about 15 years ago spending far too much of my balance on Warhammer with a debit card and not leaving myself enough to cover the essentials. I did manage to get through it with some tight times and swearing off the hobby entirely for the rest of my time as a student. Whilst it did teach me important life lessons about budgeting and restraint I'd not recommend others to put themselves through it!

[@thomasadams5671]

Becoming the Dave Ramsey of the miniature wargame hobby?

[@GeneJordan]

That's not a bad direction to go in. Have you seen how many views Dave Ramsey's KZbin videos get, his total viewed hours, and how many subscribers he has? And that's only on KZbin. I would encourage anyone to read the book "Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey or better yet, enroll in his "Financial Peace University" course. It's easily worth the expense. I turned by hobby into a "side hustle" that pays for itself (and then some) based on what I learned from this course.

[@jewishdictionary1715]

Wow, it's like you've been watching me buying things online and decided to smack me in the head. Yeah, I should take it down a notch. Really, not that I'm in trouble or anything - as in right now - but it's going to ruin me if I keep this up.

[@dpedreno]

Gotta be honest: I clicked thinking this was going to be a video about how to manage your backlog of minis and not buying more while you still have unpainted minis. Kinda scary that people need to listen to a "stranger" tell them "don't go into REAL debt over a 28mm fictional creatures", but after reading the comments, glad someone is having this talk.

[@unclefestersworld3180]

Well spoken. Adam, most people our age have learned this lesson early on in our younger days, I know I have. It is so easy to go use this "plastic crack" on frivolous things, only to be saddled with a surmounting debt, that with low incomes that younger people usually are dealing with, that becomes very difficult to overcome. Then those "cheap" mini's that costs $5, ends up costing you $100 (more or less). I only use checks to pay mine and my mothers electricity. There are so many things that can, and usually do go wrong between paychecks, that it is smart to save money for those urgent problems. Sadly, most young people think that they are invincible, and when you stand 12' tall, the fall is a long fall, and it hurts when you land. Good advice from you sir. I hope people take it to heart.

[@grayalun]

This is so true, especially given that the amount of time for most of us these models are likely to be waiting to be assembled means you could have just saved up for it anyway.

[@jonathanwhyborne3031]

I am trying very hard to follow this advice. I have a back log of “stuff “ and 2 kickstarters coming. I have had to take a long hard look and make a conscious effort to stop spending, paint what I own and then decide if I sell things or not. I still find the marketing difficult to ignore but getting easier as I watch debt slowly coming down.

[@johny5w]

Such great advice. 15 years ago when I was in my early 20's I fell into this trap buying hobby stuff on credit. Took me quite a while to get out of. I really appreciate messages like this on a gaming channel.

[@Mejthyas]

Nice point over there! I gotta say... Im not not kinda like this debt warrior, but almost every time i talk to myself.. "listen here boy... You got all these boxes lying up on your shelves, waiting to be completed... Wouldnt you rather build them up instead of buying another ones?".. Suddenly Slaanesh demon jumps out of nowhere and hits that buy icon... By the love of emperor, save me! 😵

[@herald0fmanwe]

This is such good advice. There are reasons a person might need to take on a little debt, but the hobby isn't one of them!

[@iYehuk]

Well, I think this problem can be easily avoided by just not taking and not lending at all.

[@phoenixignite]

Love going back to older vids! ❤

[@double5175]

The quality of these videos is amazing. Genuinely good content creator.