My dumb mistakes:
1.) If you don’t like a certain something, whether it is mechanisms or genres, don’t bother buying new ones to see “maybe this one will work for me”. Try before you buy as they say.
2.) Don’t acquire more than what you are physically capable of keeping
3.) Do you actually need that 10th heavy game when you don’t have a reliable group to play it with?
4.) If you have games already, that brand new game that was released this year will most likely have its price slashed by next year. Unless you intently want to buy it brand new when it is released to support them or whatever. Always wait.
5.) Always have belief in the Vasel Law. Otherwise, you’ll buy the rare OOP Ginkgopolis from Essen, proudly regarding it as your best in the haul, and then see the reprint announcement after a few weeks.
6.) Related to #3: Always watch your gaming patterns: do you play 2 players often? If not, then why do you keep getting 2 player games.
7.) You don’t know what you like? You rely on the very unreliable “feelz” to see if it’s your game? Keep playing different games and don’t be afraid to analyse similarities on what you like and don’t like. Don’t rely on feels. Feels are so dependent on group dynamic and your mood during that time. Be rational. That solitaire Euro you end up loving? Play it again and again, and think why you enjoy it when you don’t usually enjoy these sorts.