Points of Articulation yo go re What I bought - 2015 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 worse job this year. Worse at what? Let's see if we can tell from the monthly breakdown:

January
06
	Game of Thrones Arya Stark	($18.01)	local comicshop
12
	Robocop vs. Terminator Heavy Gunner	($20.13)	Toys Я Us
	MiWorld Mrs. Fields	$3.73	Walmart
13
	X-Force Minimates	($18.01)	lcs
20
	Game of Thrones Khal Drogo	$10.43	lcs
27
	Game of Thrones Robb Stark	($18.01	Amazon
Totals	6 purchases (9 figures)	$14.16
February
03
	SH Figuarts Luigi	$10.26	local comicshop
	Sin City Hard Goodbye Minimates	$10.26	lcs
07
	Planet of the Apes Caesar	$17.55	Toys Я Us
	Pacific Rim Romeo Blue	$18.47	TRU
	Adult Swim Brak's Parents	$8.00	lcs
	The Shadow	$2.00	lcs
10
	SH Figuarts Playset C	$8.90	lcs
	Kill Bill Masters of Death Minimates	$8.90	lcs
12
	Twilight Victoria	($14.98)	Amazon
15
	Schleich T. rex	$29.65	Walmart
	MiWorld Vending Machine	$10.57	Walmart
24
	Quicksilver/Vision Minimates	$7.94	TRU
	Mysterio/Spider-Man Minimates	$7.94	TRU
	Space Iron Man/Ronan Minimates	$7.94	TRU
	DCD Comissioner Gordon	$20.45	lcs
Totals	16 purchases (25 figures)	$168.82
March
01
	ML Anti-Venom	($23.31)	Amazon
	ML Daredevl	($23.31)	Amazon
	ML Spider-Girl	($23.31)	Amazon
	ML Spider-Man	($23.31)	Amazon
	ML Spider-Man 2099	($23.31)	Amazon
	ML Spider-Woman	($23.31)	Amazon
02
	TF Bombshell	$8.47	HasbroToyShop
	TF Nemesis Prime	$8.47	HTS
	TF Roadbuster	$16.95	HTS
03
	Pacific Rim Otachi	$73.13	TRU
	Bloodshot/XO Manowar Minimates	$7.94	TRU
	Simpsons Stan Lee	$12.71	TRU
	Simpsons Matt Groening	$12.71	TRU
10
	Simpsons Weird Al	$12.71	TRU
	Simpsons 90s Homer	$12.71	TRU
11
	8-bit Rocky	($9.30)	MattyCollector
24
	Figma Motoko Kusanagi	$19.46	lcs
31
	ML Avengers 2 Hulk	($21.16)	Walmart
	ML Iron Man Mk 43	($21.16)	Walmart
	DCD BtAS Joker	($22.48)	lcs
Totals	20 purchases (23 figures)	$185.26
April
01
	ML Avengers 2 Captain America	($23.31)	Amazon
	ML Batroc	($23.31)	Amazon
	ML Hellcat	($23.31)	Amazon
03
	Marvel Universe Sandman	$10.32	Target
	MU Sandman variant	$10.32	Target
	ML Agents of SHIELD	$37.09	TRU
07
	BtAS Man-Bat	($22.48)	local comicshop
08
	Pulp Fiction Bonnie Situation Minimates	($18.01)	local comicshop
	Quicksilver/Scarlet Witch Minimates	$7.94	TRU
	SW Chewbacca	$21.16	Walmart
	SW Bossk	$21.16	Walmart
14
	BtAS Robin	($22.48)	local comicshop
15
	WWE Doink	$21.19	Target
	TF Skydive	$13.50	Target
	TF Firefly	$13.50	Target
21
	ML Spider-Woman	($18.03)	Amazon
	TF Silverbolt	($21.99)	Amazon
29
	WWE Sgt. Slaughter	$18.60	Target
Totals	18 purchases (24 figures)	$174.78
May
13
	Jurassic World Stegoceratops	($8.36)	Walmart
27
	New 52 Poison Ivy	$10.59	Amazon
Totals	2 purchases (2 figures)	$10.59
June
09
	TF Ultra Magnus	($43.33)	Amazon
	SW Commander Doom	($11.29)	Amazon
	MU Armored Daredevil	($10.59)	HasbroToyShop
	MU Thunderstrike	($10.59)	HTS
	TF Air Raid	($14.30)	HTS
	TF Hot Spot	($18.01)	HTS
30
	ML Ant-Man	$21.19	Target
	ML Wasp	$21.19	Target
	ML Giant-Man	$21.19	Target
	ML Grim Reaper	$21.19	Target
	ML Bulldozer	$21.19	Target
	ML Tiger Shark	$21.19	Target
	Pacific Rim Horizon Brave	$18.87	Toys Я Us
	8-bot Dog Alien	$21.19	TRU
Totals	14 purchases (15 figures)	$167.20
July
07
	Donkey Kong	$12.71	Toys Я Us
08
	TF Blades	$14.30	HasbroToyShop
	TF First Aid	$14.30	HTS
	TF Rook	$14.30	HTS
	TF Streetwise	$14.30	HTS
15
	Rocketeer	($18.01)	local comicshop
19
	ML Misty Knight	$19.07	TRU
	ML Superior Venom	$19.07	TRU
	ML Scarlet Spider	$19.07	TRU
	ML White Tiger	$19.07	TRU
	ML Ghost Rider	$19.07	TRU
	ML Kraven	$19.07	TRU
22
	Firefly Wash	($18.01)	lcs
28
	SDCC Ant-Man set	$78.39	HTS
	ML Black Ant	$21.19	Walgreens
29
	Firefly Zoe	($18.01)	lcs
Totals	16 purchases (20 figures)	$283.91
August
02
	Mr. Mxyzptlk	($11.50)	eBay
05
	Firefly Mal	($18.01)	local comicshop
06
	TF Roadblock	($20.22)	Amazon
	TF Dispensor	($21.21)	Amazon
09
	b/w TMNT Minimates	($19.93)	Amazon
12
	MOTU Evilseed	$39.00	MattyCollector
	MOTU heads	$1.80	MattyCollector
20
	Aliens Lt. Ripley	($21.99)	Amazon
	Aliens Bishop (Queen Attack)	($21.99)	Amazon
21
	Evolve Goliath	$21.19	Toys Я Us
	Evolve Hank	$21.19	TRU
	Evolve Val	$21.19	TRU
Totals	12 purchases (22 figures)	$104.37
September
02
	Firefly Kaylee	($18.01)	local comicshops
10
	MOTU King Chooblah	$39.00	MattyCollector
16
	Gotham Minimates	$11.44	Books-A-Million
	BlueLine Batman	$42.92	BAM
18
	GI Joe Gung-Ho/Shadow Guard	$15.89	Toys Я Us
27
	Zombie Ed	($14.97)	eBay
Totals	6 purchases (8 figures)	$273.71
October
01
	Firefly Jayne	($22.00)	Amazon
	ML Chameleon	($19.99)	Amazon
12
	MOTU Ceratus	$39.00	Matty Collector
14
	ML Ultron/Hulk/Vision	$47.69	Target
17
	Heroes of the Storm Nova	$20.72	Toys Я Us
	Commando	$21.66	TRU
21
	BtAS Riddler	($22.48)	local comicshop
	MotU Minis He-Man & Mer-Man	$14.10	MattyCollector
	MotU Minis Skeletor & Moss Man	$14.10	MattyCollector
	MotU Minis Scareglow &Stratos	$14.10	MattyCollector
	MotU Minis Faker & Man-At-Arms	$14.10	MattyCollector
	MotU Minis Zodac & Beast Man	$14.10	MattyCollector
	MotU Minis King He-Man & Clawful	$14.10	MattyCollector
24
	TF4 Junkheap	($14.95)	lcs
28
	NECA Superman	($37.98)	eBay
Totals	15 purchases (23 figures)	$213.66
November
11
	MotU Queen Grayskull	$39.00	MattyCollector
27
	Black Widow/Falcon Minimates	$9.45	Luke's Toy Store
	Captain America/Agent Rumlow Minimates	$5.96	Luke's Toy Store
	Prof. X/Future Magneto Minimates	$7.21	Luke's Toy Store
	Bone Claw Wolverine/Charles Xavier Minimates	$7.21	Luke's Toy Store
	Mystique/Young Magneto Minimates	$7.21	Luke's Toy Store
	Future Wolverine/Future Storm Minimates	$7.21	Luke's Toy Store
	Wolverine/Blob Minimates	$6.72	Luke's Toy Store
	Destiny/Jubliee Minimates	$6.72	Luke's Toy Store
	Avalanche/Storm Minimates	$6.72	Luke's Toy Store
	Banshee/Pyro Minimates	$6.72	Luke's Toy Store
28
	Captain America/Winter Soldier Minimates	($19.49)	Amazon
	Agent Sitwell/Batroc Minimates	($20.98)	Amazon
Totals	14 purchases (29 figures)	$141.92
December
01
	ML Daredevil	$15.89	Walgreens
	WWE Defining Moments Undertaker	$14.83	Toys Я Us
	WWE Create-A-Superstar Undertaker	$18.54	TRU
02
	BTAS Scarecrow	($22.48)	local comicshop
09
	SW Kylo Ren	$26.49	Kmart
	Kre-O Slipstream	$3.17	Walgreens
10
	MOTU Prahvus	$39.00	Matty Collector
11
	NBX Pumpkin King/Zero Minimates	$7.94	TRU
	NBX Santa Jack/Easter Bunny Minimates	$7.94	TRU
	Planet of the Apes Caesar	$16.96	FYE
15
	NBX Wolfman/Mr. Hyde Minimates	$7.94	TRU
	Gravity Falls Dipper/Gnome	$9.53	TRU
	Gravity Falls Mabel/Waddles	$9.53	TRU
	Gravity Falls Stan/Bill	$9.53	TRU
16
	BtAS Batman & Phantasm	($40.55)	lcs
20
	Playmboil Martin Luther	($15.98)	Amazon
	1966 Batmobile	($17.26)	Amazon
	Anchorage Attack Gipsy Danger	($7.59)	Amazon
24
	ML Spider-Gwen	$21.19	TRU
	ML Spider-Carnage	$21.19	TRU
	ML Beetle	$21.19	TRU
	Amanda Ripley	$23.31	TRU
27
	Tanooki Suit Mario	$9.53	Target
29
	Age of Ultron three-pack	$9.43	Target
	Bionicle Kopaka	$14.59	Target
31
	SW Captain Phasma	$25.73	Monkey Boy
Totals	26 purchases (35 figures)	$317.56

I did not do a good job of keeping track, this year. I'd forget to keep track of things for months at a time, leaving me to play catch-up. As such, I know this is certainly not everything I bought. For instance, there are at least three Kickstarters that didn't make it onto the list (which would have added many dozens of figures and hundreds of dollars to the total), and I forgot when I picked up small things, like Mystery Minis. My resolution for the new year is to do a better job keeping track. Judging by the numbers I did manage to track, I spent $100 more than last year, but got 100 fewer figures. Inflation has been flat, but toy prices just keep going up as companies try to squeeze more money out of a dwindling market. There were at least 71 days in 2015 where I bought something, and the majority of those trips involved multiple purchases at multiple stores - that works out to be a buy every five days or so. It's also interesting to see how companies' poor distribution plays into things. I go toy-hunting at Walmart and Target at least once a week, if not more, but rarely spend my money there. Even Toys Я Us only held onto its top spot because I placed a lot of online orders. 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: 165 Total number of figures: 235 Total money spent: $1,933.47 Average spent per purchase: $11.72 Average spent per figure: $8.23 Average per month: $161.12; 13.75 purchases; 19.58 figures Average per week: $37.18; 3.17 purchases; 4.52 figures Average per day: $5.30; .45 purchases; .64 figures By store: TRU: 41 purchases Amazon: 28 purchases Comicshops: 24 purchases Target: 16 purchases Mattel: 13 purchases HasbroToyShop: 12 purchases Luke's Toy Store: 10 purchases Walmart: 8 purchases Longest gap between purchases: 20 days (June 10-29) Most days in a row with purchases: 3 (Mar. 1-3) Most expensive day: June 30 ($167.20) I bought a lot, but not nearly everything I wanted. I could easily have spent twice as much money, especially if things ever appeared in stores. Notice that the ratio of figures to purchases is not even 1.5-to-1 this year: clearly I didn't buy enough multipacks.

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