Many anime fans love collecting items related to their hobby, whether that includes DVDs, figures, key chains, clothing or virtually anything else available on the market. With a huge fan base in Japan and a constantly growing one throughout the rest of the world, there are always new products emerging aimed at meeting the needs and preferences of fans.

This is also true of video games and Western comics, with many people shopping for their favourite Halo action figure or Street Fighter mini figures. Whether you are looking for that Halo action figure or instead a Love Live! nendoroid, here are some tips on making your budget go a great deal further.

Firstly, remember that pre-ordering figurines and other anime and game merchandise is likely to get you items at the best prices. Items that have already been released onto the market tend to escalate in price as they become rarer, and this can mean that you have to spend far more money.

If you are a fan of a particular anime or game, make sure that you stay in the loop via community news websites about the release dates of certain merchandise options. Another alternative is to find a great online retailer to buy from, who you can ask to keep you informed about future releases; these people will be in the know about this and therefore are best placed to help you.

Failing this, remember that used products are likely to be much cheaper than brand new ones, and this is the best way to get your favourite products on a budget. A Kantai Collection figurine or Halo action figure can retail at far less if it has been owned by someone else for a couple of years, as many collectors prefer to buy brand new items.

You can use an online marketplace to find these second hand items, or instead find an online retailer than deals with selling used anime merchandise. You can also ask in your local anime or gaming group if there is anyone who is looking to sell or exchange items.

Another tip is to remember that buying items in sets is often less expensive than buying individual items, and this is as true of figurines as it is DVD box sets. Although it may initially seem less expensive to buy individual items, official sets of merchandise will often provide significant savings, for example if you invest in a complete collection of Naruto figures at once.

Not everyone can afford this upfront, so it is well worth asking friends and family for this as a gift during the holiday season or on your birthday. Another advantage of buying a complete set is that it will instantly become a collector’s item, which will mean that it has a great deal of value should you want to sell your set on at a later date.

The next tip is to make sure that you take advantage of sales and reward programs offered by stores selling anime and game merchandise. Many of these companies will run periodic promotions and special discounts for regular shoppers, and this can save you a significant amount of money. Shop around to find a few stores that offer these benefits, and sign up to their email updates if possible.

In many cases, signing up to an email newsletter will keep you informed about all the most exciting merchandise releases, and will let you know in advance about sales which can result in huge discounts on great products.

In addition to the other tips listed above, keeping up to date with all the promotional deals offered by different merchandise stores will help you save a great deal of money and also help you enjoy your hobby to the full.

Source by John Grande