Saving for a PS4

Disclaimer: The proceeding article is editorial content. The views expressed are those of the author and do not neccessarily reflect the official position of the Advanced Media Network. Nor may this method really work, use at your own risk. Let's face it, the price tag on the PS3 still caught many of us by surprise. It also left many of us digging under the couches for pennies and lint that looks like it could be used as currency. The thing is, why should we be surprised? It's like every 5 years gamers get mass amnesia and forget that their current generation system will be obsolete. The unofficial starting price for a new console was said to be around $300, as we can now see, that was never passed on to Sony. So, things may be a little bleak about getting your hands on a PS3 in the foreseeable future but that doesn't stop planning for the PS4. Yes, you heard right, the time is now to save for a PS4, and I have just the way to do it (in fact, this can be applied to any system). Figure that a new generation of game consoles comes out every 5 years, so follow these steps and you'll have a nice nest egg for your new console purchase! Step 1: Admit The Truth You are broke and game systems are pricey. Short of robbing a 7-11 or finding a new oil field, not much is going to change the situation in the blink of an eye. So, planning must be involved! Step 2: Find A Bank Once you found a bank, inquire about some sort of savings account. The bankers will be happy to know that you are planning for the future and tucking some cash away for a rainy day. Little do they know that you're going to blow the whole wad on a game system! Anyway, find out about the savings accounts and minimum balances you need in at all times (otherwise you can get fined!). After you have found a bank you are happy with, open an account and get saving! Step 3: Find A Source Of Income Find a job, pick up soda cans, walk dogs, or plant a money tree (for all you Animal Crossing fans), do something! When you find a source of income, money will soon follow. The best part of this plan is that you don't have to use all your money to save for a PS4, you can buy other things, like food!

This is what my pockets look like for the release of the PS3

Step 4: Save Money This is the best part, seeing that makes it possible to afford a PS4 in the distant future! The method for saving money is quite easy, every week drop at least $3 in a savings account. That's it, only 3 bucks. Don't use an extra gallon of gas, don't supersize your meal 10 times, save change when you break larger bills, or do something that'll have 3 dollars left over when the week is done, that simple. Why only three? There is a simple calculation and it is as follows: 3 dollars a week X 52 weeks in a year = 156 dollars X 5 year = 780 dollars. That is totally ignoring interest that will accumulate, so there will be a few extra dollars in the bank that you didn't have to do anything to. In the year 2011 consoles might be more expensive than 600 dollars so you even have a little extra for a rainy day (just cross your fingers that they won't be). Step 5: Be Vigilant Don't miss any week otherwise you can get into the habit of forgetting to put 3 dollars in the bank every week. There are better ways of putting the cash in, you could do a monthly deposit of 12 dollars and save yourself a few trips to the bank. That's it, that's all there is to this method. I wish I could tell you this is a time tested method but for me, it is widely untested. In theory, it works and on paper it works even better. However, things in life do happen and this money could be gone in the blink of an eye. This is a method for planning for the ballooning costs of a next gen system after the Xbox 360, Wii, and PS3 are as old as dinosaurs. For people who's money supply is quite tight (read — me), this could be just the trick for the age old problem of scrambling to find cash to buy the latest system when it first comes out.