Maybe the last of the 2024 retrospectives (btw, I tacked two weeks ago onto the matching thread from 2023 and only @Yashima and I said anything. Here it is if you missed it.)
What is the best money you spent in 2024?
This does not at all need to be related to gaming. Could be the perfect cup of coffee at the place with a view. Could be a new car. And, of course, anything in between.
I was going to say “buying Inis from the very generous @lalunaverde” but that was end of 2023, it turns out.
Probably seeing the “Operation Mincemeat” musical (which is now going to Broadway) and the wonderful Ncuti Gatwa in The Importance of Being Earnest. I did pay for me + friend to see Gillian Anderson talk about s-x at the Royal Festival Hall in London (and buy her book, which is about s-x). That’s worth any amount of money.
But actually, it’d be meeting the villains of 80s tv series Robin of Sherwood at a talk at the BFI with a screening of two episodes, because that doesn’t happen often. And going to the Royal Albert Hall to see Clannad’s last ever concert (playing the Robin of Sherwood album) because that was literally a one-time deal.
Food & Drink
Stuff:
Not-Stuff:
Games. By amount of time spent playing:
Buying ingredients for the family Christmas Pudding. Results in two years time.
There’s a couple of ways to read that:
Either way I’m a bit lost?
Since it wasn’t “stealing ingredients” I’m guessing it’s not the former.
Just as lost though.
Buying ingredients to make Christmas Puddings to the family recipe. They require a lot of maturing and we’ll try one in two years time.
do we want to l know more about this mystery ?
First thought went to experiences, because experiences are better than things, right? But it seems those moments get fewer and further between as I get older. Probably the kids going to a clip’n’climb centre in the UK three days in a row - they really loved it, and it was nice to see their enthusiasm for an activity I love (albeit one I never get to do these days).
Second thought went to something that improved my working environment, but those all came in 2023, I think.
My new glasses were bad, and I don’t think I bought any boardgames, so that leaves…
Returnal is probably the best thing (license) I bought in 2024. Vying for most played game in 2024, and certainly the most memorable. You defy/falsify orders to investigate an alien signal that seems tailored to you, your ship gets shot down, then you start the roguelite cycle of try and die and try again, but your character has an awareness of that happening, and you make regular discoveries of former or parallel selves. Great story, great atmosphere, solid gameplay, and inspired my other two major purchases for the year - a PS5 controller and “surround” headphones to improve the experience.
Going with a random list
Ninja dual air fryer - pretty much used every day
Tickets for after parties at Hollywood Studios and Mickey’s Halloween party - access to park with minimal queues
BGA subscription - I’m getting my money’s worth
Multiple new pairs of specs - because my spend is a whopping ÂŁ0
It was a gift, but the bottle of Montrachet I was given for Christmas has ruined white wine forever because it was spectacular
Hamilton tickets
Bellowhead tickets
Our new dual fuel barbecue
My NASA mug
Sponsoring our eldest to do a parachute jump
The ingredients to make Birria tacos - probably the best thing I’ve ever cooked
Our dual fuel Ooni pizza oven
A 3D printer for the boys for Christmas
Aire Con tickets
*Middle aged answer
New downstairs radiators and a Nest thermostat
Oh, actually, this might be mine too. Every day.
Probably UFO50 on steam deck. I’m going through each game one at a time per week (there are 50 games) and then discussing them as part of the eggplant podcast on discord.
Probably the Meta Quest 3S VR headset. I haven’t had the chance to play it lately, but I have been thoroughly entertained and impressed with it.
Close second are the VIP concert tickets I got to Modest Mouse for my wife’s birthday. Not my favorite band at all, but one of hers, and they did put on a great show.
For me, it’s the insurance premiums paid that allowed me to welcome home our 4th child for less than $5000. This is not an invitation to roast the American healthcare system; but if you were tempted to, please know: I was as well.
Outside of that, likely the money spent to take our kids to see my in-laws’ hometown in Wisconsin this past summer.
This past year we added a category to our household budget called “Parenting Supplies”, which is how we categorize any expenses paid to the liquor store (or to the grocery store where we buy margarita mix). Worth every penny 
Gaming-wise, I spent very little. Which is good, because I had very little time and energy to spare toward gaming. No regrets.
I also went to see Bellowhead last year, they were very good!