I Have Bought Some Things... Have I Bought Too Many Things?

Even if I haven't been updating this blog, I have been thinking about it every week. 2019 ends today and, overall, I would say that it's been a good year economically. I have saved more money than I expected, and at the same time, I have made some important purchases for myself. Here's a comprehensive list:


Books & Comics

• Theory of Harmony by Arnold Schoenberg
• Tokyo Blues by Murakami
• Mot by Azpiri & Nach
• The Real Book

Games

• Electronauts (work reference)

Software

• None

Gadgets and Electronics

• Small computer speakers
• NVMe drive
• Xiaomi Pocophone (iPhone kaput)

Instruments

• Yamaha Pacifica 112J
• Taylor Academy 12e
• Fender Rhodes Mark II
• Moog Bass Murf
• Suzuki Melodion Andes 25F
• Roland JV2080 + 7 expansion cards
• Korg Electribe Synth 2
• Fender CB-60SCE
• Ibanez AEG10II

Total: 4000ish € (not bad at all!)

It seems like a lot of things, but... many are the kind of things that last forever! I still have to invest some money in remodeling the Rhodes, but it's been an instrument I've wanted since I know of its existence as a teenager. It's from 1980, so it needs some love (and money, and time).

Things I've done in 2019:

• Wrote music for lots of games
• Helped write an album that won't be recorded any time soon (rehearsals where fun tho)
• Wrote one complete game script and began another that still has to be completed in 2020 Q1
• Lots of side jobs.

 Things I want to do in 2020:

• Do a demoscene comeback for Revision 2020
• Less side jobs to focus on my own projects
• Find the time to code a little bit again and try to publish something by my own

And I guess that's all... Did I buy too many things in 2019? Well, I have to say that at least I didn't buy many things I didn't need!

Christmas shopping is always depressing for me, so doing a little annual review on "controlled" consumption makes me feel a bit better. I don't know if I will continue to update this blog one day, although I don't have any reason to delete it either. Who knows what New Year's resolutions await us for 2020?

Thanks for reading!

F--- the Makeup, Skip the Shower

This song is a mantra for me.

There is nothing to improve me
This is not a fucking movie
I am not a superhero
The one thing I want is all gone
This is not what I agreed on
This is not what I agreed on

Hey I've got a great idea
Let's go buy stuff from Ikea
Make us happy momentarily
It is oh so temporary
But the shadow's very vicious
It is oh so repetitious
But the shadow's very vicious
It is oh so repetitious
Repetitious
Repetitious
Repetitious
Repetitious

The fresh feeling's turning sour
Fuck the makeup, skip the shower
I know you don't charge per hour
But could you stay one more hour

Out of nowhere shit is reborn
Bout to blow up like some popcorn
Paid the price I need advice I
Paid the price I need advice I

Certain things just happen that way
There's nothing left for you to say
But I hope that
That you will stay
From this shit we could sneak away

Ending April

This month has been killer!

I've worked a lot in my side projects, writing more than 15k words for a visual novel and editing lots of VO clips! I had to spend lots of time in front of the computer, something that led me to suffer a contracture in the neck. After a couple of visits to the physiotherapist, I'm doing quite nicely again... I've invested a total of 70€ in two sessions, but it's money well spent!

The only project that has -kinda- been put aside is my live band. It's been hard to find time for rehearsals for three weeks... It seems that we are back on track again! We are going to record in studio in November (I have to think about how to combine it with my daily work...). I think it will be a very ambitious recording project. I have to study a lot, as I will be in charge of keys and bass.

We have begun the renovation of the kitchen of the house, so last 10 days have been kind of crazy! I have spent a fair amount of money on it, but besides that, I've just had some burgers and tapas with my friends and my wife. Social life is going nicely, but I need to invest more time with my family...

Humble Bundle Again

I have already written about Humble Bundle in this blog.

The selling paradigm of that web is brilliant: they offer huge discounts for themed bundles and give a percentage to charity. If one of the themes has a special connection with you... you're lost! While buying in the Humble Bundle Store may seem more ethical than in other stores, in my opinion, it's still not good to buy things you are not going to read, play or use. If you want to give money to charity... why don't you do that in a more direct way? In any case, I don't want to subject my acts of goodwill to consumerism.

Right now there are two interesting bundles that have caught my attention: 8-bit pixel Game Dev, and Classic Video Games by Boss Fight Books.

The first one is a massive set of tools and game assets that could be very helpful in game jams and short developments. The second one is a book collection about classic videogames. I already own the Spelunky one, and the Chrono Trigger one (which I'm going to give to a friend of mine as a present). I won't buy any of them because:

• I still got lots of books on my shelf that I haven't read
• I am working A LOT in games, and I don't have the time to invest in my own developments.

Items price: 13,30€ + 22,17€
Total savings: 2415,29€

Ending March

This month has been extremely productive. I've worked a lot, I have spent some time with family and friends and I have spent very very little money: I have just bought some plants for my new house and some presents for my parents and my wife. That's all!

We are going to make a full renovation of our kitchen very soon: new ceiling, floor, furniture, etc. so I am getting ready for a stressful time :) I am starting on my half-time job right now... I have to save as much energy as possible to get some work done in the evenings. I am already missing some time to do some exercise! Waking up early is extremely important so I can go home at 17.30 or so.

I haven't felt the need of buying anything this month. Some instruments and music-related gear come to my mind, but nothing too serious. I have discovered that there are some cool free albums in the Amazon Music app, so I can listen in my iPhone to lots of nice albums I like and I already own.

To sum up: this month has been very nice mentally, with a good routine which has provided me lots of stability. Next month I should focus on waking up early, doing some exercise and work as much as I can, so I can embrace the spring with some dignity :)

We are already 3/4 of the way!

Tokai Hard Puncher

This Tokai Hard Puncher looks awesome! I love the looks and "round" sound of these. I've been wanting a Jazz-Bass instrument for a long time. Original Fender ones are a bit expensive and I'm not a bass player so I don't know if there will ever be an ROI... These instruments should last forever if you take care of them, so it's not *really* that much money.

Why haven't I bought it? I've already bought a bass less than a year ago and I haven't found much time to play it. It's a really great bass that I bought for a bargain price to a friend.

I'd like to study some tunes I like and learn them on the bass, and who knows? Maybe I should record some videos recording myself and try to improve as a bass player :)

Item price: 625€
Total savings: 2379,82€

Ending February

Reminder: I talk from my own "first world" perspective. I can imagine how crucial some items can be for others in other places, cultures and/or different economic situations.

If you read this blog and find it ridiculous... that's its exact raison d'être.

When I was a little child, my parents used to tell me something like: "if we buy you everything you want, you won't be excited about having anything". While I know and understand what they meant, I no longer agree 100% with that idea.

Is it really OK to be excited about the acts of buying and having? The possibility of having new things shouldn't be the key to any kind of happiness. The act of desiring is in itself the root of the problem, the first step into a cycle that never ends.

The hardest point in this resolution is deciding what I would have bought or not. Should I blog about this item? Would have I really clicked the purchase button? ... Sounds dumb right? :)

Overall, February has been a quiet month, as I've tried to push my wishing to the minimum successfully. I've given away a book, I've sold stuff I didn't use, I've controlled the waste in my birthday and I've found a side job that will partially fill my evenings and weekends in a productive way. I've only spent some money on some burgers and beers! Trying to invest time with friends and family is the best!

In the bad side, I have had a lot of work so I couldn't invest much time in my personal projects, but I'm still looking for a good work/rest balance. I also need to exercise, because I've gained a bit of weight... Let's try to do better next month!