Being a gamer can certainly be one of the more expensive hobbies that one can have.
From the exclusively sought after PlayStation Five to the premium price-tags on most games these days, gaming is no longer as simple as it used to be.
And with the current rising cost of living crisis continuing to grip the nation, keeping up the hobby of gaming has gotten even more expensive for some.
Which is exactly why, like so many things these days, it can be handy to know some handy shopping hacks and tips to help you keep up with your hobbies without breaking the bank.
And Tom Church from the popular money-saving website LatestDeals.co.uk is here to help you do just that.
The money-saving expert has revealed five little known hacks that can help gamers find lower prices, nab freebies and access exclusive offers and deals.
With some new games selling for about £80, the five handy tips can help gamers save money on premium video games and consoles.
Church said: "Nobody wants to pay full price for games if they can avoid it, and the good news is that you never have to do so again if you do your research and shop smartly.
"There are multiple portals and tools out there which combine the best deals and lowest prices - here are my top picks.’
Set up a wishlist of games
If you don't want to pay the full price for a game you really want, then the expert suggests setting up a wishlist on Steam. Account users can set up notifications for when their bookmarked game will go on sale.
The gaming community has nearly 30,000 games for a range of popular consoles and regularly runs seasonal sales, Free Weekends and Midweek Madness.
Use price-tracking tools
Shoppers can use the IsThereAnyDeal website that will let them track the sale history of a particular game you want to get, and figure out the best price you’ll find for it online.
The features on this tool also let you view the price history so you can predict if it’s likely to be reduced again in the future, bookmark it so you can wait for a better price, and access vouchers for particular sites for money off. Plus, you can check for bundles, read reviews and browse similar games while you size up your purchase.
Check for any freebies
GG.Deals is an excellent tool that can let you try out new games completely free of charge. This lets you trial it out before parting with your cash, just in case it's not for you.
They also offer previews of which games will be free to play on portals such as the Epic Games Store, so you can plan ahead and make the most of your budget-friendly game time.
You can look for the free trials by scrolling down the news section and hovering over the 'freebies' section.
Browse Reddit
Reddit forums such as r/GameDeals can be a great place for gamers to connect with like-minded individuals who may have access to bundles, discount codes, promotions and discounts.
Seek lower prices online
CDKeys is a popular site for those who are seeking lower prices for their favourite games. The company bulk buys download codes and sells them for cheap, passing on the discounts to the consumer.
The money-saving expert says that gamers can save up to a whopping 90% for a range of popular consoles, including Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, PC, Wii U and 3DS.
layers should bear in mind, though, that now the UK has left the EU and EEC, Valve may geo-block EU Steam codes - so UK players may not be able to redeem them on the service.
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