Times are tough, as everyone knows, unless they been living under a rock. A very large one. Made of diamonds, stock options, and 50 dollar bills. Even then, chances are good they recently had to testify in front of a congressional committee about how they got such an awesome rock to live under.
Perhaps no one in this global financial crisis has been hit harder than the geek (okay, not really, but that's what this article is about so bear with it). For those not in the know, the geek can be more broadly described as an avid fan of technology and/or certain hobbies and forms of entertainment. For these passionate folks, money is a necessary evil to keep them active in their chosen interest. One can only watch the same movie, play the same game, or read the same book so many times. And contrary to popular belief, iPhones will indeed break someday and need replacing.
So here are some tips to maintaining a geek lifestyle, while still being able to afford those little annoyances like food and rent. Yes, it all smacks of plain old common sense, but everyone could do with a little dose of it handed to them once in a while.
- Create a geek budget - Odds are good the device with all the letter and number keys displaying these words is a computer. And apparently computers are good for more than just Facebook, LOLcats, and porn. Who knew? A personal budgeting program is an essential tool for this process. Programs like Microsoft Money, or Quicken from Intuit, can easily track how much a geek spends in any number of categories that are pre-created, or user-created. There's even a host of free personal budgeting programs to be found if properly Googled. Once the amount regularly spent on necessities is determined, that will show how much can be put aside for the fun stuff, on either a monthly or weekly (geekly?) basis. When arriving at this figure, it's important to be honest, realistic, and specific.
- Stick to the budget - Then, it's important to stick to that budget, strictly, or else it wasn't worth making in the first place. Plus, a little frugality within it can pay off later. Let's say Bob figures he can spend $30 a month on DVDs, and in January he only spent $20. This means he can actually spend $40 in February! That's the $10 he didn't spend in January, plus the $30 he gets for February! Yay Bob!! The personal budgeting software can also keep track of this, so Bob doesn't have all these numbers floating around in his head. But apparently he likes that; he's kind of a math geek.
- Research, research, research - These days, there is no excuse not to do some comparative shopping. That extra few minutes of research can save a lot of money and headaches overall. First, look up some reviews of the supposedly awesome thing to be bought. Make sure it'll actually be worth the hard-earned samoleans, be something fulfilling, and be of lasting value. Cnet.com is a good go-to place for tech reviews. Metacritic.com is great for movies and games. There are tons of review websites for all kinds interests; look them up. Then,once the decision is made, take the time to look at several places that offer it and go for the cheapest.
- Find ways to save money - Be on the lookout for sales, promotions, and incentive programs. Consider lower-cost alternatives like renting from Netflix or Gamefly, or borrowing from the public library. Got unwanted stuff? Try going to Craigslist or eBay to sell or barter it! Also, gift registrations like Amazon's Wish List aren't just for weddings. For birthdays, Christmases, geekmitzvahs and such, they're a great way to get friends and family informed of the things a geek really wants, saving them time and money, and everyone the embarassment of a plastic smile over yet another pair of socks. All this allows for the hoarding of cool stuff while still leaving money for...more stuff!!
- Understand no one can have it all - Yeah. This is a small adjustment, but it's important. Come to terms with the fact that no one can simply get everything they want, and much happiness will follow. This may seem like a downer, but it has a plus side. With such voracious appetites for their passion, geeks have a tendency to have a reach that exceeds their grasp. Many can cite specific examples of things they bought or participated in that they now regret, for whatever reason. Having a budget and putting restrictions on spending will have the added benefit of creating a filter in the brain that will make extra sure that purchase will be worth it. No more money will be wasted on those things that are merely okay, or are just plain bad. In other words, the collection may be smaller, but its quality will improve.
We can all only hope to one day achieve that utopian future seen in the Star Trek franchise, when money has been made unnecessary, poverty has been eliminated, and almost anything we need or desire can be replicated by a machine whenever we want. But until then, anyone following these tips can get their geek on, economically and wisely. It's absolutely possible to keep that fascination with the seemingly frivolous and immature, while maintaining the adult responsibilities of living within our financial system. Maybe there'll even be enough left over to start investing in replicator technology...
Dan Kaufman - Dan is an actor/writer/teacher with a passion for all kinds of geek interests. He has been cultivating this passion for over 30 years, to ...
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