Post 76: A Penny Saved

 "A penny saved is a penny earned." - Benjamin Franklin

I don't know exactly what Franklin meant when he said this, something about saving money as a good idea, but really it is missing more context. But is is certainly a catchy phrase, and one that I think I found my own context for today. 

Now, I have always had a love-hate relationship with EA and iTunes. EA, if you didn't know, is the company responsible for Sims. iTunes, well, is iTunes. I love Sims, I talk about it enough for that to be clear. I love iTunes. I talk about it a lot, as well. But, sometimes, sometimes they just make me want to tear my hair out. 

Recently, Sims 3 games went on sale. Games that were originally like $40, went down to $20 a few months after release, and are now being offered for even less. One game I spent $30 is now being sold for about $6. SIX DOLLARS. SIX. If I had waited like a year after its release, I could have saved $24. 

So, if I had saved that penny ($30), I would be $24 dollars richer than I am now. And if I saved that and didn't buy the game at all I would be $30 richer. But, let's face it, that isn't all that likely. I am a SimsAholic. A SimsAddict. A SimEr. A Sim...I don't know. Some games have specific titles for their players or nicknames, but I don't know what it is for Sims. But, whatever it is, I'm it. Minus any socialization in the forums, which would probably have made it easier for me to say what the nickname is. 

Anyway, a similar thing happens with iTunes. Less often, but it is still annoying. It happens for the most part with TV Seasons, they are between $20 and $40 most of the time, but every once and awhile they go on sale for between $7 and $20. I don't buy TV seasons unless they are on sale, in fact, if I buy a TV anything it is most likely on sale. 

Or free. Free TV episode of the Week is how I got a large majority of my TV show inventory. And Beauty and the Beast, which I don't really like, I got the first season for about $8. Of course, if I had saved it, and watched the show online or on air I would know that I wouldn't really like it. Though, I did like some of the earlier episodes, so maybe it would have balanced out. 

 It also happens on iTunes with songs. I bought seven new songs over the past few months, and recently a new Top Pop Songs of 2014 thing came out on iTunes, with about 20 songs cut from $1.29 to $0.69. Four of the songs I bought were there. That means if I had waited anywhere between a month and a few days I could have saved money. Enough to buy at least one, maybe two, more songs. 

iTunes is less predictable than Sims. I know Sims prices will go down the nearer it gets to the era of Sims 4, but part of me worries something will happen. Katy Perry Sweet Treats, an expansion for Sims 3 that is now retired, came and went before I had a chance to get it. There are versions of it out there, but they all seem to be about $40. And all it comes with is some weird clothes and like a park. No new world, almost no clothes for guys, no clothes for kids. But, because it is retired on the site, people will have to pay more to get it from other companies. 

It is the only Sim Game/Expansion/Stuff Pack for Sims 3 that I don't have. It is also the only one I don't really want. I want it because the game as little circles at the bottom of the window that tells you which you have and don't have, and it is the only one not indicated. I want it because true SimErs brag about having them all (part of the reason I avoid the forums, people seem to feel very entitled there). But none of the stuff really appeals to me. 

I like World Adventures. It is fun visiting countries, and I am a big fan of the karate and photography skills. I like Seasons. I like the ice skating skill. I like Generations, it comes with a prom for teens. Into the Future came with hair I liked, but mostly I wanted it because I thought it would be cool. Though, it was kind of a letdown. I mean, the "into the future" part is more like just another town that is not super different other than some robots. But, these are still all games I wanted. Ones I waited for, as I watched trailers and sneak peaks and kept money set aside in anticipation for. 

Sweet Treats wasn't like that. But, I still want it. Now. I didn't before. But, I do now. 

Anyway, all this has me thinking about Sims 4. Which, I'm not really looking forward to anyway it looks kind of odd. Of course, I felt the same about going from Sims 3 from Sims 2, but now I really like Sims 3 over Sims 2. But, I think this time I will wait. Wait until the price goes down, maybe I will even wait until Sims 5 is announced to start collecting because I'm sure by then there will be expansion packs and stuff packs to look at. Then, I will have time to play with the base game to see if I like it. And when I decide, the expansions will be cheaper as well. 

But, of course, this may go out the window as soon as Sims 4 goes on display near me. 

I think it helps that it looks more high maintenance that Sims 3. 

I mean, Sims 2 it took about 30 min. to make a character. Going through all the outfits. Body shape and face shape had fewer choices and while there were more outfits and clothes right off the bat, Sims 3 makes them color customizable. So, characters in Sims 3 can take an hour to get all the details and things into place. But Sims 4, you can mold the characters like clay. You can choose their height, the way they walk, and I think I even heard something about changing feet size.

I mean, there are a million ways to personalize them, which is great but sounds like a hassle as well. 

So, we shall see. We will wait and we will see. In the meantime, I will just glare at iTunes for its unpredictability, while simultaneously loving it for reasons that are too many to list and too weird to try to.