Points of Articulation yo go re What I bought - 2013 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 did a better job of sticking to the budget this year. Is that good or bad? Let's see if we can tell from the monthly breakdown:

January
03
	TF Fall of Cybertron Ultra Magnus	($4.00)	TRU
	TF Fall of Cybertron Starscream	($4.00)	TRU
11
	DCSC Saint Walker	$23.50	Mattel
	Watchmen Rorshach	$30.55	Mattel
12
	Predators Big Red	($11.12)	TRU
	Predators Falconer	($11.12)	TRU
15
	Young Justice Kid Flash	($56.09)	Amazon
	Young Justice Batman	($54.94)	Amazon
	Left 4 Dead Smoker	($15.89)	local comicshop
22
	Prometheus Engineer/Trilobite	$22.67	TRU
27
	The Shadow: Lamont Cranston	($9.99)	lcs
28
	MvC3 X-23/Felicia	$8.10	ActionFigureXpress
	MvC3 Wesker/Dr. Doom	$8.10	AFX
	MvC3 Chun-Li/She-Hulk	$8.10	AFX
	MvC3 Ryu/Captain America	$8.09	AFX
	Thundercats Minimates Series 3	$15.25	AFX
29
	Playmobil FAO Schwarz Soldier	($7.41)	TRU
	DC All-Stars New 52 Batgirl	$17.48	lcs
	Marvel Select Rhino	$16.89	lcs
31
	Star Wars Battle Damaged Destroyer Droid	($1.00)	lcs
Totals	20 purchases (29 figures)	$158.73
February
02
	AvX Minimates	$12.71	TRU
12
	DCSC Phantom Stranger	$27.90	Mattel
	GI Joe Lady Jaye	($10.56)	Walmart
	GI Joe Joe Colton	($10.56)	Walmart
	GI Joe Firefly	($10.56)	Walmart
	GI Joe Roadblock	($10.56)	Walmart
	IM3 Heroic Age Iron Man	($15.89)	Target
15
	MOTUC Ram-Man	$44.05	Mattel
19
	IM3 Classic Iron Man	($14.96)	Walmart
	IM3 Classic Iron Patriot	($14.96)	Walmart
	BioShock Infinite Elizabeth	$14.81	TRU
	TF Kre-O Devastator	$11.13	TRU
	TF Kre-O Predaking	$11.13	TRU
	Marvel Select Venom	($22.50)	local comicshop
	Figuarts Mega Man	($40.50)	lcs
26
	TF Fall of Cybertron Omega Supreme	($105.99)	Amazon
	Star Wars Lightsaber assembly Luke Skyalker	$2.64	TRU
	Star Wars sandstorm Lando Calrissian	$5.29	TRU
Totals	18 purchases (31 figures)	$129.66
March
05
	DCD Arkham City Talia al Ghul	($19.81)	local comicshop
06
	Prometheus Deacon	$13.56	TRU
11
	Venture Bros. Hank	$9.99	Entertainment Earth
	Venture Bros. Dean	$9.99	Entertainment Earth
	Venture Bros. Dr. Mrs. The Monarch	$9.99	Entertainment Earth
12
	GI Joe Kre-O Quick Kick	$--.--	TRU
	Mario K'Nex Princess Peach	$--.--	TRU
	DCSC Elongated Man	$23.55	Mattel
	Watchmen Dr. Manhattan	$30.50	Mattel
19
	TF Prime Smokescreen	$7.42	Target
26
	TF Kre-O Bruticus	$.42	TRU
	Minimates Hulk/Juggernaut	$7.94	TRU
	Minimates Thing/Silver Surfer	$7.94	TRU
	Minimates Human Torch/Annihilus	$7.94	TRU
	Minimates Air Walker/Firelord	$7.94	TRU
	TF Fall of Cybertron Kickback	$13.92	Walmart
Totals	16 purchases (26 figures)	$151.10
April
09
	Alice: Madness Returns Royal Suit	($14.67)	local comicshop
	Strange Tales Minimates	($14.66)	lcs
10
	DCSC Larfleeze	$30.20	Mattel
	DCSC Monsieur Mallah	$--.--	Mattel
11
	ML4 Protector	($15.44)	Amazon
	ML4 Red She-Hulk	($19.40)	Amazon
16
	Predator Jungle Extraction Dutch	$16.95	TRU
	Planet X Batman	$16.56	lcs
19
	OMFG Series 3	$10.00	Kickstarter
22
	ML4 Hyperion	($16.35)	Nerd Rage Toys
23
	TFC Hercules	($424.00)	eBay
	Portal Chell	$19.50	TRU
Totals	12 purchases (26 figures)	$93.21
May
04
	Mars Attacks	$16.95	local comicshop
	TF DOTM Human Alliance Soundwave	($72.99)	eBay
07
	Iron Man 3 Superhero Squad	$19.08	Target
10
	DCSC Flash	$21.52	Mattel
	Watchmen Silk Spectre	$28.53	Mattel
17
	Duke Nukem	$6.39	TRU
	Marvel Universe Hercules	$10.59	TRU
	SFxTekken Hugo vs. Heihachi	$7.94	TRU
	SFxTekken Rolenta vs. Kuma	$7.94	TRU
	IM3 Minimates Heartbreaker/Tony Stark	$7.94	TRU
	IM3 Minimates Silver Centurion/Skeleton Armor	$7.94	TRU
	TF Masterpiece Thundercracker	$52.90	TRU
21
	IM Legends Mark 42	$13.89	Target
	IM Legends Iron Patriot	$13.89	Target
	IM Legends Ultron	$13.89	Target
25
	GI Joe Tactical Ninja Team	$21.29	Target
	Walking Dead B/W Michone	$29.79	TRU
	Walking Dead Glenn & Vest Zombie	(7.94)	TRU
	Walking Dead Carol & Pole Zombie	(7.94)	TRU
28
	Man of Steel Jor-El	$11.95	Target
Totals	20 purchases (37 figures)	$293.32
June
01
	TF2 BLU Pyro	($29.88)	Amazon
	TF2 BLU Demoman	($29.88)	Amazon
04
	Man of Steel Zod	$16.93	Walmart
	Man of Steel Faora	$16.93	Walmart
12
	DCSC Red Hood	$27.90	Mattel
14
	Star Trek Minimates Picard/Hugh	$6.35	TRU
	Star Trek Minimates Sisko/Gul Ducat	$6.35	TRU
	Star Trek Minimates Janeway/7 of 9	$6.35	TRU
	Marvel Universe Puck	$8.47	TRU
	TF Blitzwing	$21.19	TRU
	TF Springer	$21.19	TRU
	Hot Wheels Fig Rig	($1.03)	Walmart
15
	Thundercats Minimates Series 4	$24.73	AFX
	Deadpools Assemble Minimates	$24.73	AFX
	Jay & Silent Bob Minimates	$12.73	AFX
	Walking Dead Minimates Hershel's Farm	$22.73	AFX
	Wolverine Saga Minimates	$22.73	AFX
18
	Hulk Through the Ages	($18.05)	local comicshop
25
	Lone Ranger	$15.89	TRU
	Tonto	$15.89	TRU
29
	Predator Jungle Disguise Dutch	$15.36	TRU
	Predator Water Emergence Predator	$15.36	TRU
Totals	16 purchases (23 figures)	$166.26
July
03
	Predator Trophy Wall	$27.69	Walmart
09
	Venture Bros. Dr. Venture	$9.99	Entertainment Earth
	Venture Bros. Phantom Limb	$9.99	Entertainment Earth
10
	DCSC Freddy Freeman	$23.52	Mattel
	Watchmen Nite Owl	$30.53	Mattel
14
	Hobbit Azog	$40.00	SDCC
	ML Thunderbolts	$90.00	SDCC
	GI Joe/Transformers	$100.00	SDCC
	MU Deadpool Corps	$50.00	SDCC
	Albino Predator	$25.00	SDCC
	Shuma Gorath	$50.00	SDCC
24
	Bub zombie	$--.--	local comicshop
30
	TF Swerve	($24.99)	Amazon
Totals	9 purchases (27 figures)	$382.69
August
02
	DCSC Shazam	$31.10	Mattel
	Man of Steel Superman vs. Zod	$31.10	Mattel
10
	DCSC Fire	$27.90	Mattel
11
	Batman '66 wall-climbing set	$--.--	Amazon
	Batman '66 Riddler	$--.--	Amazon
	Batman '66 Penguin	$--.--	Amazon
	Batman '66 Joker	$--.--	Amazon
	Batman '66 Catwoman	$--.--	Amazon
16
	GI Joe T'Gin-Zu	($13.49)	Will's World
	WWE Miss Elizabeth	($26.24)	Will's World
27
	Vigo the Carpathian	$10.60	Big Lots
	Alien Genocide two-pack	$34.97	TRU
Totals	2 purchases (3 figures)	$45.57
September
03
	Star Wars Sandtrooper Maul	$21.19	TRU
07
	TF Trailcutter	$13.77	Target
09
	Inhumanoids Magnokor	$11.00	eBay
11
	DCSC Huntress	$23.52	Mattel
	Watchmen Comedian	$30.53	Mattel
12
	Left 4 Dead Boomer	($32.92)	local comicshop
19
	TF Masterpiece Soundwave	$101.75	TRU
	TMNT Leo/Don	($9.43)	Target
	Nightmare on Elm Street Fred Krueger	$14.41	TRU
	Scooby-Doo Friends & Foes	$16.95	TRU
	Scooby-Doo Mystery Mates	$8.47	TRU
21
	ML Jean Grey	$15.89	HasbroToyShop
	ML Hawkeye	$15.89	HasbroToyShop
	ML Wrecker	$15.89	HasbroToyShop
	ML Black Panther	$15.89	HasbroToyShop
24
	TF Orion Pax	$13.77	Target
30
	Resurrection Of Monstress Night of Noctilca	($24.73)	Amazon
Totals	15 purchases (35 figures)	$253.87
October
01
	GI Joe Ultimate Flint	$9.00	TRU
	GI Joe Ultimate Snake-Eyes	$9.00	TRU
	GI Joe Crimson Guard	$9.00	TRU
	GI Joe Combat Ninja	$9.00	TRU
	Thor Dark Elf	$9.00	TRU
	Thor Kurse	$9.00	TRU
06
	Walking Dead Riot Governor/Biker Zombie	$7.94	TRU
	Walking Dead Survivor Rick/Shot Zombie	$7.94	TRU
	Spidey/Rhino	$4.24	Big Lots
08
	DCD New 52 Joker	($22.48)	local comicshop
11
	TMNT Raph Mike	$9.53	TRU
	Universal Select Mr. Hyde	$13.77	TRU
	Slug Zombies Series 2	$4.13	TRU
12
	DCSC Ocean Master	$27.90	Mattel
15
	TF Fall of Cybertron Thundercracker	$13.77	Target
	GI Joe Ultimate Firefly	$10.59	TRU
	TF Fall of Cybertron Grimlock	$24.34	Walmart
	Return of the Living Dead Tarman	($22.51)	lcs
18
	Pacific Rim Leatherback	($20.99)	Amazon
	Pacific Rim BD Gypsy Danger	($20.99)	Amazon
	Pacific Rim Striker Eureka	($20.99)	Amazon
	Land of the Dead Butcher	($9.99)	Amazon
	Land of the Dead Big Daddy	($9.99)	Amazon
22
	SLUG Zombies 4	$8.46	TRU
	Dr. Tongue zombie	($22.51)	lcs
26
	DCD Solomon Grundy	($31.01)	lcs
Totals	30 purchases (57 figures)	$189.72
November
02
	Bioshock Infinite Boys of Silence	$13.56	TRU
	Star Wars Black Darth Maul	$16.95	TRU
12
	Wolverine/Harada Minimates	$7.94	TRU
	DCSC Ra's al Ghul	$23.53	Mattel
	Watchmen Ozymandias	$30.52	Mattel
	Wolverine/Yukio Minimates	$7.94	TRU
19
	Hawkeye/Black Widow Minimates	$1.50	TRU
	Superior Spider-Man/Ultimate Electro	$1.50	TRU
	Rescue/Robot Hulk Minimates	$1.50	TRU
	Nova/Venom Minimates	$1.50	TRU
	Star Wars Black R2-D2	$15.94	TRU
	ML Scarlet Spider	$15.87	Walmart
	Zombie Villains Minimates	($18.01)	local comicshop
	Invincible Minimates	($18.01)	lcs
	Shana & Sauron Minimates	($8.85)	Amazon
	Nick Fury & SHIELD Agents Minimates	($10.75)	Amazon
	Maria Hill & SHIELD Agents Minimates	($11.33)	Amazon
	ML Sabertooth	($19.73)	Amazon
	ML Emma Frost	($45.97)	Amazon
26
	Ghostbusters Rookie	$10.60	Big Lots
	TF Hardshell	($8.54)	Big Lots
29
	Battle Beasts Vorin & Vachonus	$4.03	Luke's Toy Store
	Battle Beasts Merk & Fenruk	$4.03	Luke's Toy Store
	Battle Beasts Gruntos & Tate Reynolds	$4.03	Luke's Toy Store
	Battle Beasts Strictus & Bliss Reynolds	$4.03	Luke's Toy Store
	SFxTekken Ken vs. Steve	$6.28	Luke's Toy Store
	SFxTekken Sagat vs. King	$6.28	Luke's Toy Store
	SFxTekken Cammy vs. Nina	$6.28	Luke's Toy Store
	SFxTekken Poison vs. Lili	$6.27	Luke's Toy Store
	SFxTekken Ryu vs. Yoshimitsu	$6.28	Luke's Toy Store
	SFxTekken Abel vs. Kazuya	$6.28	Luke's Toy Store
	SFxTekken Rufus vs. Julia	$6.28	Luke's Toy Store
	SFxTekken Chun-Li vs. Hwoarang	$6.27	Luke's Toy Store
	Tomb Raider Lara Croft & Scavenger Scout	$8.03	Luke's Toy Store
	Battle Damaged Lara & Armored Scavenger	$8.03	Luke's Toy Store
	Tomb Raider Roth & Storm Guard General	$8.03	Luke's Toy Store
	Father Mathias & Sun Queen Himiko	$8.02	Luke's Toy Store
Totals	35 purchases (66 figures)	$193.25
December
02
	TF Kre-O Seacons	$8.16	HasbroToyShop
	SW Mara Jade	$8.16	HasbroToyShop
	Avengers Red Skull	$8.16	HasbroToyShop
	SW Black Han Solo	$15.89	HasbroToyShop
03
	Steel Divine	$6.35	Tuesday Morning
	Aliens Hicks vs. Warrior	$25.43	TRU
	TMNT Bebop	$18.54	TRU
	TMNT Rocksteady	$18.54	TRU
	Horror Mystery Minis Leatherface	($7.20)	local comicshop
	Horror Mystery Minis Sam	($7.20)	lcs
	Horror Mystery Minis Hannibal Lecter	($7.20)	lcs
	Age of Ultron	($18.01)	lcs
	DCD Swamp Thing	$25.47	lcs
05
	TF Rhinox	$15.89	HasbroToyShop
	SW Luminara Unduli	$7.94	HasbroToyShop
08
	ML Puck arms	($10.00)	eBay
12
	DCSC Batzarro	$27.90	Mattel
	TF Predaking	($52.99)	Amazon
17
	Vehicle Voltron	$6.35	Tuesday Morning
	Captain America/Scarlet Witch Minimates	$7.94	TRU
	Cyclops/Emma Frost Minimates	$7.94	TRU
	TMNT Mousers	$7.42	Target
23
	SW Black Boba Fett	$21.19	TRU
	Vampire Batman	$15.19	Kmart
25
	AC3 Ratonhnhake	$--.--	gift
	AC4 Golden Age of Piracy	$--.--	gift
	TF Dreadwing	$--.--	gift
	TF Waspinator	$--.--	gift
	IM3 Hall of Armor	$--.--	gift
31
	Thunderbolts Minimates	($18.01)	lcs
	Figma Samus Aran	($49.55)	lcs
Totals	30 purchases (59 figures)	$224.56

Well, there it is. If that's not everything, then it's darn close. There were 85 days in 2013 where I bought something, and the majority of those trips involved multiple purchases at multiple stores - that works out to be a buy every four days or so. But this year is also the least amount of money I've spent on toys since I began tracking my spending this way in 2007. But the main reason for that is that I got a lot more things through my local comicshop, using store credit rather than cash. Of course, I also got most of my comics that way, too, which saved a big chunk of my budget, but that doesn't get tracked here, so it doesn't really matter for the purposes of this discussion. The bigger surprise in the trends was buying from the companies instead of stores, but it was just a question of price - when I can get something directly from Hasbro for less than TRU or Walmart are selling it, why would I wait for the stores to get it in months later? Also, the discount stores mostly disappeared this year; no Ross or TJ Maxx, which either means that the main retailers are ordering in smaller numbers, or they're holding onto the old product for longer. Maybe both. 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 got in trades aren't included on the list. I get a 15% 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: 249 Total number of figures: 487 Total money spent: $2,745.52 Average spent per purchase: $11.03 Average spent per figure: $5.64 Average per month: $228.79; 20.75 purchases; 40.58 figures Average per week: $52.80; 4.79 purchases; 9.37 figures Average per day: $7.52; .68 purchases; 1.33 figures By store: TRU: 76 purchases Comicshops: 28 purchases Amazon: 25 purchases Mattel: 22 purchases Luke's Toy Store: 16 purchases Walmart: 13 purchases Target: 13 purchases HasbroToyShop: 10 purchases Tuesday Morning: 2 purchases Longest gap between purchases: 13 days (Mar. 27-Apr. 8) Most days in a row with purchases: 3 (Jan. 27-29, Apr. 9-11) Most expensive day: Apr. 23 ($424.00) The specific type of toy I bought the most this year was Minimates, both because of the amount of new products they put out, and because I was catching up on ones I'd missed in previous years. And I'm trying to think of toys I wanted to get but passed on, but nothing immediately comes to mind. Well, nothing I actually saw in stores - distribution remains a problem. Notice that the ratio of figures to purchases is nearly 2-to-1: multipacks mean you get the most toys for your money! My resolution for 2013 was to show a marked improvement over 2012, and I succeeded.

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