The $64 million dollar question
Smoking - Stop buying them. Period. Same as a diet - STOP your elbow from moving, and keep your mouth shut. Play pinball - find a project game.. oh - that would be question #2.
MOST collectors I know that have amassed impeccable collections have three of four common denominators ;
1 - Don't Smoke
2 - Don't gamble
3 - Don't drink
4 - Give up any other "hobbies"
5 - Pay PLENTY of attention to your wife / kids - be a good husband / Father as you can (brownie points when you HAVE TO HAVE that game !)
I personally LOVE a drop every now and again. But in moderation (hic).
SAVE your money and wait for bargains. Buy cheap projects and teach yourself to restore them - PATIENTLY.
TELL people your hobby is PINBALL. That's how pinballs find YOU - You don't need to look.
KNOW the values of the machines you want
SELL the machines you don't want
TELL your "favorite" Dealer what games you are looking for - works wonders
Every single machine I have WAS a project or "as is" container game - except Medusa and Street fighter II.
So keep working on the games and sell them after you have repaired / reconditioned or restored them.
This frees up $$$ to spend on projects
The cycle will continue
One piece of advice I can give you - ENJOY the journey. If is is not fun anymore, then look for a new hobby !
Best of luck with your goals - Work hard at cutting your expenses, and instead of the 5 minute smoko - play pinball. Best of luck with your attempt at giving up smoking.
