How to Save Money on Video Games this Christmas Season

Video games are hot items around the holidays, but buying one or two for your kids can take a big chunk out of your Christmas budget. Even if you're purchasing games for personal use, to save money on video games, try one of the following suggestions.

Buy Pre-Played Games

Blockbuster and GameStop sell pre-played games. You can save half the cost of what a new game would cost by purchasing a used game. Most stores that sell pre-played games offer a 30 day warranty, so if you're buying the game for Christmas or a birthday makes sure that the game will be tested out within 30 days.

Buy Clearance

Best Buy and Target mark down games that have been out for a while. Sometimes you can find a new PS3 game for $15. If you see something you think the gamer on your Christmas list would like in the clearance section, don't hesitate to pick it up.

Black Friday

If you can stand the crowds, go out early and shop the Black Friday specials. Last year, I bought a new PS3 game that was originally priced at $59.99 for $29.99 at Wal-Mart. Check out the advertisements in your local newspaper to see which games will be on sale and if one you're looking for shows up, prepare to battle the crowds.

eBay

You can find new and used video games on eBay for well under their retail value. Be careful when shopping on an auction site, though. Make sure to check on the seller's rating from past sales and see if the seller offers a warranty on the game you're purchasing. Otherwise, get ready to engage in a bidding war.

Trade-Ins

You can earn store credit to buy video games by trading in some of your old games that you don't play anymore. Most games will earn you at least a few bucks in store credit and you can use that credit to buy the game you've got your sights on.

Download Games

The Nintendo Wii offers games to download through WiiWare, which downloads the game straight to your console. You can purchase classic games like Contra for a very low price. Make sure your console has an internet connection and you're set.

Demo

Check out game demos at your local game store. These are usually cheap or free and you can test the game out before buying. Xbox 360 offers demos through Xbox Live, many of which are free.