Points of Articulation yo go re What I bought - 2010 Welcome, friends, to another look at my wildly mis-spent finances (or perhaps my wildly misplaced values). Like last year, I started at the beginning of the year and kept track of everything by day. Why? Just for your entertainment, really - as well as my own embarrassment. I really did a terrible job of sticking to the budget this year. Why? Let's see if we can tell from the monthly breakdown:

Extremis IM/Titanium Man Minimates

January
07
	Snake Teela	$24.49	eBay
08
	Slimed Venkman/Clear Slimer Minimates	$7.41	TRU
	TF Universe import Megatron	$10.59	Marshalls
	SHS Hulk/Zzzax	$4.23	puzzle store
	SHS Gray Hulk/Leader	$4.23	puzzle store
	SHS King Hulk/Black Bolt	$4.23	puzzle store
	SHS Hulk/Absorbing Man	$4.23	puzzle store
16
	GI Joe DVD Battles set 2	$10.60	TJ Maxx
	ML Skrull Elektra/Ronin	$10.60	TJ Maxx
20
	SHS Iron Man/MODOK	$3.95	Walmart
	SHS Wolverine/Spiral	$3.94	Walmart
	WWE Entrance Greats Triple H	($21.19)	TRU
	SportsPicks Matt Forte	$10.57	Walmart
	Captain Britain/Shadowcat Minimates	$6.00	CornerStoreComics
	Captain Marvel/Black Bolt Minimates	$5.99	CornerStoreComics
	Angel/Multiple Man Minimates	$5.99	CornerStoreComics
	Silver Age Angel/Multiple Man Minimates	$5.99	CornerStoreComics
	$6.00	CornerStoreComics
	Cable/X-23 Minimates	$5.99	CornerStoreComics
	Yellowjacket/Kree Soldier Minimates	$5.99	CornerStoreComics
	Goliath/Kree Soldier Minimates	$5.99	CornerStoreComics
22
	GI Joe Crimson Neo-Viper	$3.70	Target
	GI Joe Viper Commando/Serpent Armor	$6.88	Target
	DCU8 Gentleman Ghost	$--.--	gift
	TF Universe Sideswipe	$--.--	gift
	TF Titanium Thundercracker	$--.--	gift
	Star Wars Ahsoka Tano	$--.--	gift
29
	TF ROTF Straightaway Shootout	$5.28	Target
Totals	28 purchases (51 figures)	$162.91
February
04
	TF Crossovers Spider-Man/Iron Man	($18.52)	Target
05
	Superhero Squad Scarlet Witch/Spidey	$7.41	TRU
08
	Star Wars Dewback	$--.--	gift
	Star Wars AT-ST	$--.--	gift
	Combat Heroes Lady Jaye/Major Bludd	$11.25	eBay
	Combat Heroes Snake-Eyes/Viper	$11.25	eBay
	CH Shipwreck/Crimson Guard	$11.25	eBay
	CH Gung-Ho/Cobra Commander	$11.25	eBay
09
	The Wolfman	$10.42	FYE
	Blackest Night Indigo	$11.42	FYE
	TF ROTF Bludgeon	$11.17	Walmart
14
	T2 T-800/T-1000 Minimates	$3.70	TRU
	T2 T-800/SWAT Officer Minimates	$3.70	TRU
	BioShock 2 Big Sister/Little Sister	$23.45	eBay
18
	TF ROTF Bumblebee/Shadow Striker	$7.41	Target
	TF Crossovers Wolverine	$17.99	Walmart
20
	DCU PE Black Lightning	$13.77	Target
	DCU PE Major Force	$13.77	Target
	TF ROTF Lockdown	$10.59	Target
	Wolfman Mez-It	($11.65)	TRU
	BioShock Subject Delta	($11.65)	TRU
22
	DCU12 Copperhead	$16.87	CornerStoreComics
	DCU12 Desaad	$16.87	CornerStoreComics
	DCU12 Dr. Midnight	$16.87	CornerStoreComics
	DCU12 Eclipso	$16.87	CornerStoreComics
	DCU12 Iron	$16.87	CornerStoreComics
	DCU12 Mary Marvel (x2)	$33.72	CornerStoreComics
	DCU12 Spectre	$16.87	CornerStoreComics
28
	SHS Reptl/Dr. Doom	$4.94	TRU
Totals	30 purchases (43 figures)	$312.27
March
02
	TF ROTF Legends Devastator	$8.92	TRU
03
	Night of the Living Kev	$12.40	local comicshop
05
	Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man bank	$12.72	lcs
	Blackest Night Larfleeze	$12.72	lcs
	WoW Alathena Moonbreeze	$12.08	lcs
	WoW Scourge Ghoul Rottingham	$12.08	lcs
07
	WoW Gnoll Warlord Gangris Riverpaw	$12.72	lcs
10
	IM2 First Appearance Iron Man	$4.50	TRU
	IM2 Mark I Armor	$4.50	TRU
	IM2 Crimson Dynamo	$4.50	TRU
	IM2 Deep Dive Armor	$4.50	TRU
	Action League Etrigan/Batman	$7.41	Target
	Action League Owlman/Blue Bowman	$7.41	Target
	Action League Dr. Fate/Wotan	$7.41	Target
	Action League Black Lightning/Wildcat	$7.41	Target
11
	IM2 War Machine (movie)	$4.04	Walmart
	IM2 War Machine (comic)	$4.04	Walmart
	Hypervelocity Armor	$4.04	Walmart
	IM2 Mark V Armor	$4.04	Walmart
12
	Storm/Klaw Minimates	$8.47	TRU
	World War Hulk/Mr. Fantastic Minimates	$8.47	TRU
	ML Sharon Carter/Stealth Iron Man	$21.19	TRU
	ML Hand Ninja/Dum Dum Dugan	$21.19	TRU
	ML Invisible Woman/Human Torch	$21.19	TRU
19
	TF ROTF Nebular Starscream	$16.49	Kmart
20
	Action League Batman/Scarecrow	$7.41	Target
	Action League Batman/Joker	$7.41	Target
21
	TF Animated Cybertronian Ratchet	$9.53	TRU
	TF Animated Arcee	$9.53	TRU
	Gb Egon/Tony Scoleri Minimates	$7.41	TRU
	Gb Ray/Nunzio Scoleri Minimates	$7.41	TRU
	Gb2 Egon/Titanic Ghost Minimates	$7.41	TRU
	Gb2 Peter/Vigo the Carpathian Minimates	$7.41	TRU
25
	Thor Reborn/Lady Loki Minimates	$8.04	CornerStoreComics
	Menace/Anti-Venom Minimates	$8.05	CornerStoreComics
	Sentinel/Rachel Grey Minimates	$8.05	CornerStoreComics
	Sentinel/Rachel Summers Minimates	$8.05	CornerStoreComics
31
	Beast/Rogue Minimates	$7.18	CornerStoreComics
	Cyclops/Jean Grey Minimates	$7.18	CornerStoreComics
	Phoenix/Hellfire Club Guard Minimates	$7.18	CornerStoreComics
	Selene/Hellfire Club Guard Minimates	$7.18	CornerStoreComics
Totals	41 purchases (71 figures)	$368.87
April
06
	Spider-Man Friends & Foes Minimates	$15.25	local comicshop
	GI Joe ROC Volcano-Viper	$12.99	eBay
13
	TF Human Alliance Barricade & Frency	$31.76	Walmart
17
	Movie Masters Jail Cell Joker	$13.77	TRU
	Marvel Universe Thor	$7.94	TRU
20
	IM2 Tony Stark & Iron Man Minimates	$7.41	TRU
	IM2 Rhodey & Black Widow Minimates	$7.41	TRU
	Black Lantern Wonder Woman	$15.25	lcs
	TF ROTF Mindwipe	$15.89	Kmart
23
	TF ROTF Wheelie	$5.29	Giant
	Movie Masters Scarecrow	$13.77	TRU
26
	Secret Wars Comic Pack #9	$--.--	trade
	Secret Wars Comic Pack #12	$--.--	trade
27
	IM2 Mark IV & Battle Damage Whiplash	$8.47	Borders
28
	Force Unleashed Figure Pack 1	$23.84	TRU
	Force Unleashed Figure Pack 2	$23.84	TRU
	Wonder Twins w/ Gleek	($135.44)	Amazon
Totals	17 purchases (36 figures)	$202.88
May
05
	IM2 War Machine	$13.75	Walmart
09
	TF ROTF Shadow Command Megatron	$31.80	Walmart
11
	Movie Masters Survival Suit Bruce	$13.77	TRU
	Movie Masters Harvey Dent	$13.77	TRU
	Movie Masters Two-Face	$13.77	TRU
	Star Wars Jacen Solo	$5.29	TRU
	Star Wars Jaina Solo	$5.29	TRU
	Star Wars Force Unleashed Shaak Ti	$5.29	TRU
15
	Combat Heroes Duke/Cobra Trooper	$4.23	Kmart
18
	Stark Expo Tony & Natalie Romanova	$7.62	local comicshop
	Terminator 2 Minimates	$19.19	AFX
	IM Hostile Takeover Minimates	$15.99	AFX
	IM2 Battle Tactics Minimates	$13.34	AFX
20
	TF Crossovers Battle Droid	$6.88	TRU
	TF Crossovers General Grievous	$6.88	TRU
23
	IM2 Hulkbuster	$7.94	TRU
	IM2 Vault Guardsman	$7.94	TRU
27
	GI Joe Tripwire	$5.29	Ollie's
	GI Joe Cobra Commander	$5.29	Ollie's
	GI Joe Cobra Diver	$5.29	Ollie's
	GI Joe Ninja Viper	$5.29	Ollie's
Totals	21 purchases (34 figures)	$213.90
June
01
	JLU Cheetah/Shade/Lex Luthor	$6.35	Ollie's
	Batman Beyond/Bruce Wayne/Warhawk	$6.35	Ollie's
03
	GI Joe Resolute Duke	$4.23	Ollie's
	IM2 Mark V/War Machine Minimates	$7.17	CornerStoreComics
	Mark IV Iron Man/Whiplash Minimates	$7.18	CornerStoreComics
	Hammer Drone/Pepper Potts Minimates	$7.18	CornerStoreComics
	Hammer Drone/Happy Hogan Minimates	$7.18	CornerStoreComics
06
	Knight Morpher Commander	$58.29	BBTS
08
	Toy Story 3 Chunk	$10.32	TRU
	Toy Story 3 Twitch	$10.32	TRU
	Clash of the Titans Perseus	$5.24	FYE
15
	JLU Lobo	$28.70	Mattel
	Jonah Hex Lilah	$12.18	TRU
	Dante Alighieri	$12.18	TRU
19
	War for Cybertron Optimus Prime	$14.99	Amazon
	War for Cybertron Bumblebee	$14.99	TRU
22
	T-1000 Galleria Mall	$14.83	TRU
	T-1000 Pescadero Hospital	$14.83	TRU
23
	Neo-Classic IM/Stilt Man Minimates	$7.18	CornerStoreComics
	Silver Centurion IM/Crimson Dynamo	$7.17	CornerStoreComics
	Modern Mandarin/Dreadnought	$7.18	CornerStoreComics
	Mandarin/Dreadnought Minimates	$7.18	CornerStoreComics
25
	IM2 Titanium Man	$4.73	Walmart
	IM2 Neo-Classic Iron Man	$4.73	Walmart
	SHS IM2 Armor Wars Part 1	$5.56	Walmart
29
	SHS IM2 Hi-Tech Showdown	$9.15	Kmart
	SHS IM2 Final Battle	$9.15	Kmart
	TF ROTF Skystalker	$6.35	Target
Totals	28 purchases (42 figures)	$328.71
July
02
	Kingdom Hearts King Mickey	$21.19	TRU
	Kingdom Hearts Santa Form Sora	$21.19	TRU
	Gb Mayor/Subway Ghost Minimates	$7.41	TRU
	Gb Ray/Theatre Ghost Minimates	$7.41	TRU
	Gb2 Janosz/Statue of Liberty Minimates	$7.41	TRU
03
	Robot Heroes Shanghai Shootout	$21.72	TRU
	Robot Heroes Desert Devastation	$21.72	TRU
	Transformers Sea Spray	$21.73	TRU
05
	TF Henkei Dinobot	($47.94)	Amazon
06
	BioShock 2 Young Eleanor/Little Sister	$14.83	TRU
	BioShock 2 Ladysmith Splicer	$14.83	TRU
	BioShock 2 Rosie	$21.19	TRU
07
	GI Joe Resolute box set	$33.81	Entertainment Earth
	GI Joe Resolute Cobra set	$33.81	Entertainment Earth
11
	GI Joe POC H.I.S.S.	$19.86	TRU
	GI Joe POC Wolf Hound	$19.87	TRU
14
	Search for the Lost Mummy	$10.58	Target
15
	MOTU Classics Count Marzo	$28.70	Mattel
19
	Marvel Universe WWII Captain America	$2.79	TRU
	Marvel Universe Bucky	$2.80	TRU
	Marvel Universe Luke Cage	$2.79	TRU
	Marvel Universe Black Widow	$2.80	TRU
23
	Lt. Colonel Rhodes/Air Assault Minimates	$7.41	TRU
	Mark VI/Ground Assault Minimates	$7.41	TRU
25
	TF Classics Legends Menasor	$15.00	eBay
27
	Marvel Universe Juggernaut	$2.41	Target
28
	Old Man Logan/Hawkeye Minimates	$14.89	eBay
Totals	28 purchases (59 figures)	$385.56
August
02
	Vault Guard/Ultimate Spider-Woman	$13.00	eBay
04
	GI Joe Dr. Venom	$29.95	eBay
06
	Cult Classics Mohawk Gremlin	$10.59	TRU
08
	Marvel Universe Kitty Pryde	$7.41	Target
	Marvel Universe Colossus	$7.41	Target
	Prince of Persia Aksh	$3.43	Target
12
	WoW Chen Stormstout	$59.25	Blizzard.com
13
	JLU Starcrossed 6-pack	$14.83	Ross
17
	IM2 Iron Man Mark V	$13.75	Walmart
	Hulkbuster Iron Man/Hulk Minimates	$7.41	TRU
	TF Generations Drift	$7.41	TRU
27
	XF-02A Explorer	$53.85	BBTS
	XF-02B Munitioner	$53.86	BBTS
28
	Glyos Excellis Yellow	$8.00	BCC
	Glyos Excellis Purple	$8.00	BCC
	Stikfas Scrawny Johnny	$4.00	BCC
	Blackest Night Nekron	$15.00	BCC
	Blackest Night Batman	$15.00	BCC
	Blackest Night Hawkman	$15.00	BCC
	JLU Boomerang/Captain Cold/Flash	$15.00	BCC
	JLU Silver Banshee/Superman/Metallo	$15.00	BCC
	Batman Reborn Jason Todd	$15.00	BCC
	Batman Reborn Two-Face	$15.00	BCC
	Batman Reborn Azrael	$15.00	BCC
	Batman Reborn Batgirl	$15.00	BCC
	JLU Batgirl/Penguin/Nightwing	$16.95	Target
	JLU Livewire/Superman/Weather Wizard	$16.95	Target
	Galactic Heroes AT-AT	$42.39	Target
	GH Snow Padme/Senate Security	$7.41	Target
	GI Joe POC Jungle-Viper	$7.41	Target
Totals	30 purchases (49 figures)	$528.26
September
02
	TF Masterpiece Grimlock	$74.19	TRU
04
	Marvel Universe Wrecker	$8.35	Walmart
	Marvel Universe Skrull Soldier	$8.35	Walmart
	Marvel Universe Mary Jane	$8.35	Walmart
	SHS Iron Man/Dr. Strange	$7.41	Target
	SHS Captain Marvel/Thanos	$7.41	Target
09
	GH Mandalorian Warrior/Pre Vizsla	$7.41	Target
14
	Marvel Universe Mystique	$7.94	TRU
	Marvel Universe Captain Britain	$7.94	TRU
	Marvel Universe Cyclops/Dark Phoenix	$13.67	Target
15
	MOTU Classics Chief Carnivus	$28.70	Mattel
19
	GI Joe POC Recondo	$6.59	TRU
	LittleBigPlanet Sackboy	$8.80	TRU
	TF Generations Thrust	$10.58	TRU
21
	Transformers Brimstone	$6.46	TRU
	Transformers Hubcap	$6.46	TRU
	Transformers Insecticon	Free	TRU
	TF Animated Ironhide	$10.48	TRU
	TF Animated Rodimus Minor	$10.48	TRU
22
	TF ROTF Legends Devastator	$25.43	TRU
	Mr. Fantastic/Doctor Doom Minimates	$6.61	TRU
	Mole Man/Sue Storm Minimates	$6.61	TRU
	Namor/Atlantean Soldier Minimates	$6.61	TRU
	GI Joe POC Zartan	$6.61	TRU
26
	B/W Creature/Wolf Man Minimates	$6.97	TRU
	Star Wars Dengar	$9.31	TRU
	Star Wars Bossk	$5.58	TRU
	Star Wars Zuckuss	$5.59	TRU
	Star Wars Aurra Sing	$5.58	TRU
	Star Wars Pre Vizsla	$5.59	TRU
28
	Ninja Gaiden Ryu	$10.59	TRU
	SHS Frost Giant	$32.85	TRU
	GI Joe Stinger	$9.53	Ross
	SHS Iron Defense Squad	$10.56	Walmart
Totals	34 purchases (56 figures)	$393.59
October
02
	TF Generations Darkmount	$12.59	Walmart
	War for Cybertron Megatron	$12.59	Walmart
	GI Joe POC Doom Cycle	$13.77	Walmart
05
	IM2 comic Iron Monger	$5.30	Walmart
08
	IM2 Air Assault Drone	$5.30	Walmart
	IM2 Weapon Assault Drone	$5.30	Walmart
	War for Cybertron Soundwave	$12.60	Walmart
09
	Marvel Universe Galactus	$40.57	TRU
13
	Creature from the Black Lagoon	$15.26	local comicshop
19
	New Mutants Minimates	$17.99	AFX
	Age of Apocalypse Minimates	$36.00	AFX
	TF ROTF Legends Ravage	$5.27	Walmart
22
	Robot Chicken Humping Robot	$11.37	TRU
	GI Joe POC Spirit	$6.10	TRU
	DCU15 Martian Manhunter	$8.47	Kmart
Totals	15 purchases (30 figures)	$208.48
November
02
	ML Black Widow/Winter Soldier	$31.79	TRU
	ML Deadpool/Warpath	$31.79	TRU
	ML Valkyrie/Hulk	$31.79	TRU
05
	Assassin's Creed II Ezio	$12.92	TRU
	ACII Master Assassin Ezio	$12.92	TRU
	Harry Potter Fenrir Greyback	$12.92	TRU
	Captain America Through the Ages	$13.84	TRU
	Minimates MAX Police	$6.47	TRU
	Minimates MAX Military	$6.47	TRU
	Minimates MAX Fire Chief	$6.47	TRU
06
	GI Joe ROC Troop Builder 5-pack	$13.77	Ross
	Transformers Tomahawk	$9.53	Aldi
	Transformers Terradive	$9.53	Aldi
11
	SHS Wolverine/Juggernaut	$7.38	Walmart
	SHS Taskmaster/Deadpool	$7.38	Walmart
	TF Crossovers Ghost Rider	$15.86	Walmart
15
	DCUC15 Golden Age Starman	$15.99	CornerStoreComics
	DCU15 Raven	$15.99	CornerStoreComics
	DCUC15 J'emm	$15.99	CornerStoreComics
	DCUC15 OMAC	$15.99	CornerStoreComics
	DCUC15 Golden Pharaoh	$15.99	CornerStoreComics
	DCU15 Martian Manhunter (x2)	$32.00	CornerStoreComics
	DCUC15 Yellow Lanten Batman	$15.99	CornerStoreComics
23
	DCUC14 Obsidian	$15.87	Walmart
	DCUC14 Zatanna	$15.87	Walmart
	DCUC14 Green Lantern	$15.87	Walmart
	DCUC14 Kamandi	$15.87	Walmart
	DCUC14 Gold	$15.87	Walmart
	DCUC14 Tyr	$15.87	Walmart
	DCUC14 Hourman	$15.87	Walmart
25
	Ame-Comi Hawkgirl	$32.49	CornerStoreComics
	DCU13 Negative Man	$14.49	CornerStoreComics
	IM2 Tactical Assault Drone Minimate	$6.49	CornerStoreComics
	IM2 Air Assault Drone Minimate	$6.49	CornerStoreComics
	Alias Sydney Bristow	$8.49	CornerStoreComics
26
	Cult Classics Medieval Ash	$5.01	TRU
	Machete	$9.02	TRU
	Heavenly Sword Nariko	$12.01	TRU
	WoW Gnome Warlock/Voidwalker	$25.03	TRU
	Iron Man Mark IV	$13.98	Walmart
	Human Alliance Shadow Blade Sideswipe	$29.95	Walmart
	Transformers Elita-1	($9.69)	Kohl's
	Transformers Hailstorm	($9.69)	Kohl's
	Combat Heroes Duke/Para-Viper	$2.68	TRU
	Combat Heroes Ripcord/Wild Bill	$2.69	TRU
	TF PCC Crankcase	($10.76)	Target
	Transformers Highbrow	$16.15	Kmart
	Transformers Special Ops Jazz	$8.61	Kmart
	Transformers Tracks	$8.61	Kmart
28
	GI Joe POC Dusty	$5.30	TRU
	GI Joe POC Snow Job	$5.29	TRU
	Classic Predator	$18.01	TRU
	DCUC15 Starman	$25	toy show
	Star Wars Camie & Fixer	$25	toy show
	Bag of Thundercats	$20	toy show
	Power Rangers Eye Guy	$4	toy show
29
	MOTU Classics Battle Cat	$27.00	Mattel
	JLU Gotham Criminals	$27.00	Mattel
30
	ML Deadpool/Warpath	$31.79	TRU
	TF PCC Grimstone	$13.40	Walmart
	TF PCC Steamhammer	$13.40	Walmart
Totals	62 purchases (106 figures)	$887.24
December
07
	Spider-Man Electro	$6.36	hobby store
	GI Joe ROC Arctic Snake-Eyes	$3.18	TJ Maxx
	GI Joe ROC Charbroil	$3.18	TJ Maxx
	GI Joe ROC Destro	$4.24	TJ Maxx
	GI Joe ROC Snarler Cycle	$7.42	TJ Maxx
	NBX Snowman Jack Trading Figure	$2.65	Five Below
	TF ROTF Legends Arcee	$3.71	Five Below
	GL Classics 1 Abin Sur	$14.44	Entertainment Earth
	GL Classics 1 Black Hand	$14.44	Entertainment Earth
	GL Classics 1 Kyle Rayner	$14.44	Entertainment Earth
	GL Classics 1 Low	$14.44	Entertainment Earth
	GL Classics 1 Maash	$14.44	Entertainment Earth
	GL Classics 1 Manhunter (x2)	$28.86	Entertainment Earth
	GL Classics 1 Mongul	$14.43	Entertainment Earth
08
	NBX Behemoth/Easter Bunny	$5.30	Five Below
	NBX Vampire Jack	$5.30	Five Below
	GI Joe Comic Pack #12	$7.41	TJ Maxx
10
	GI Joe POC Cobra Fury	$12.71	Ross
	Avatar Jake Sully	$3.70	Ross
	Avatar Lyle Wainfleet	$3.70	Ross
	TF Generations Dirge	$9.58	Target
11
	Avatar Parker Selfridge	$5.29	Ollie's
13
	Star Wars Comic Pack #49	$17.49	Entertainment Earth
	Star Wars Comic Pack #55	$17.48	Entertainment Earth
	Star Wars Comic Pack #75	$17.48	Entertainment Earth
	Star Wars Jaster Mereel and Montross	$17.49	Entertainment Earth
17
	SW Clone Wars Boba Fett	$4.91	TRU
	SW Clone Wars Embo	$4.91	TRU
20
	DCU Green Lanterns' Light	$31.27	Walmart
25
	Marvel Universe Storm/Nightcrawler	$--.--	gift
	NFL Dick Butkus	$--.--	gift
26
	Halo Reach Emile	$--.--	gift
	Halo Reach Jorge	$--.--	gift
	IM2 Armored Assault	$--.--	gift
	IM2 Fury of Combat	$--.--	gift
31
	GI Joe Arctic HISS	($24.49)	Amazon
Totals	37 purchases (58 figures)	$310.25

Well, there it is. If that's not everything, then it's darn close. There were 113 days in 2010 where I bought something, and the majority of those trips involved multiple purchases at multiple stores - that works out to be a buy every three days or so. However, I did a crap job of sticking to my budget. Absolutely horrible. Why? Because of a change in the way I shop. Last year, Toys Я Us and Walmart were tied for the #1 spot - this year, TRU pulled way out in front, and Walmart fell into third place, behind newcomer Corner Store Comics. Since the Big Three basically stopped carrying Mattel's DC Universe after Series 7, I started ordering online; similarly, my local comicshop stopped ordering the Minimates I wanted, so I got those from CSC, as well. The downside is, I've never been one to buy a ton of things online. So when I was calculating my monthly totals, I'd completely forget that I'd placed a $100+ order that was due in a few weeks. In 2011, I need to better remember these "phantom" purchases. Another surprise was the quick rise of discount stores: combined, TJ Maxx, Marshall's and Ross Dress for Less amounted to more purchases than old mainstays like Kmart or the comicshop. Amusingly, most of the things I got there are things I would have bought at more expensive stores, if it had ever shown up. A few notes: a five-figure box set counts as one purchase, but as five figures. Build-A-Figures are not counted in the totals, even if I buy all the pieces to assemble them. Things that I bought for trades aren't included on the list, but the things that I got from trades are. I get a 10% discount from my regular comicshop, which is included. Any coupons or sales have been subtracted before the items go on the list. Here are some numbers: Total number of purchases: 371 Total number of figures: 635 Total money spent: $4,302.92 Average spent per purchase: $11.60 Average spent per figure: $6.78 Average per month: $358.58; 30.92 purchases; 52.92 figures Average per week: $82.75; 7.13 purchases; 12.21 figures Average per day: $11.78; 1.02 purchases; 1.74 figures By store: TRU: 119 purchases CornerStoreComics.com: 45 purchases Wal*Mart: 43 purchases Target: 31 purchases Entertainment Earth: 14 purchases Comicshops: 10 purchases Kmart: 9 purchases TJ Maxx: 7 purchases Ross: 6 purchases Five Below: 4 purchases FYE: 3 purchases Longest gap between purchases: 10 days (Oct. 23 - Nov. 1) Most days in a row with purchases: 3 (Mar. 10-12, 19-21; July 5-7) Most expensive day: August 28 ($246.11) There were still quite a few things I wanted to get and never did, but notice that the ratio of figures to purchases is nearly 2-to-1: multipacks mean you get the most toys for your money! Still, 2011 needs to show a hard improvement!

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