Points of Articulation yo go re What I bought - 2011 Welcome, friends, to another look at my wildly mis-spent finances (or perhaps my wildly misplaced values). Like last year, I started at the beginning of the year and kept track of everything by day. Why? Just for your entertainment, really - as well as my own embarrassment. I did a slightly better job of sticking to the budget this year. How much better? Let's see if we can tell from the monthly breakdown:

January
01
	GI Joe ROC Polar Sharc	$8.47	eBay
04
	Classic Alien & Predator 2 Pack	($24.99)	TRU
05
	Blackest Night Blue Lantern Flash	$16.21	local comicshop
	Blackest Night Pink Lantern Wonder Woman	$16.21	lcs
11
	GI Joe POC Snake-Eyes	($7.41)	Target
	GI Joe POC Cobra Shock Trooper	($7.41)	Target
12
	Blackest Night Arkillo	$15.25	lcs
	Blackest Night Black Lantern Superman	$15.25	lcs
	Blackest Night Red Lantern Mera	$15.25	lcs
	MU Secret Wars Thor/Enchantress	$--.--	gift
15
	Marvel Universe Iron Man 2020	($9.00)	TRU
	WWE Legends Kamala	($15.89)	TRU
24
	MotU Classics Vikor	$28.70	Mattel
26
	Blackest Night Yellow Lantern Scarecrow	$15.25	lcs
	Blackest Night Orange Lantern Lex Luthor	$15.25	lcs
	Blackest Night Black Lantern Flash	$15.25	lcs
	Marvel Select Juggernaut	$20.98	lcs
Totals	17 purchases (22 figures)	$182.07
February
01
	GI Joe POC Cobra Commander	$5.83	Target
	Six-Armed Spider-Man/Lizard Minimates	$7.68	CornerStoreComics
	X-Force Warpath/Professor X Minimates	$7.67	CornerStoreComics
	Thing/Doombot Minimates	$7.68	CornerStoreComics
	Trenchcoat Thing/Doombot Minimates	$7.68	CornerStoreComics
	Iron Man 2 Arctic Armor Iron Man	$5.82	Target
02
	TNA Legends Sting	($12.71)	TRU
	Cannonball/Shatterstar Minimates	($7.94)	TRU
	Magik/Warlock Minimates	($7.94)	TRU
08
	NFL Julius Pepper	$5.71	Target
	GI Joe POC Low-Light	($8.47)	Target
	Halo Reach: Kat	($11.63)	Walmart
10
	DCUC16 Robin	$16.57	CornerStoreComics
	DCUC16 Robin (Silver Age)	$16.57	CornerStoreComics
	DCUC16 Jonah Hex	$16.56	CornerStoreComics
	DCUC16 Mercury	$16.56	CornerStoreComics
	DCUC16 Riddler	$16.56	CornerStoreComics
	DCUC16 AzBats	$16.56	CornerStoreComics
	DCUC16 Creeper	$16.56	CornerStoreComics
19
	Revoltech Professor Layton	($50.74)	Amazon
	SW Jorg Sacul	($14.95)	Amazon
	Resident Evil Alexia	($29.95)	Amazon
22
	Action League Prometheus/Green Arrow	$7.41	Target
	Galactic Heroes Barriss Offee/Quinlan Vos	$8.47	Target
26
	Uncanny X-Force Minimates	$14.68	lcs
27
	Kick-Ass	($16.97)	Amazon
	Hit-Girl	($16.98)	Amazon
Totals	29 purchases (38 figures)	$194.57
March
01
	Zombie Ghostface	$15.89	TRU
	Brown Wolverine/Dark Magneto Minimates	$7.94	TRU
	Scarabus 10-pack	$294.50	Store Horsemen
02
	GI Joe POC City Strike Destro	$6.30	Walmart
08
	PotC4 Angelica	($15.87)	Walmart
16
	Thor/Destroyer Minimates	$7.80	CornerStoreComics
	Loki/Odin Minimates	$7.81	CornerStoreComics
	Jane Foster/Frost Giant Minimates	$7.80	CornerStoreComics
	Agent Coulson/Frost Giant Minimates	$7.81	CornerStoreComics
18
	Mickey/Minnie Mouse Kubricks	($1.85)	local comicshop
	Mickey/Minnie Mouse Bearbricks	($1.85)	lcs
19
	GI Joe ROC Rex "The Doctor" Lewis	($8.47)	TRU
	DCD Arkham Asylum Harley Quinn	$16.95	lcs
	Thor Minimate Selvig	$5.08	lcs
	GI Joe POC Skydive	$8.47	Target
29
	GI Joe POC Shadow Tracker	$3.04	Walmart
30
	Excalibur Minimates	$17.16	lcs
Totals	26 purchases (36 figures)	$406.55
April
05
	TF Animated Blackout	($67.66)	Amazon
	TF Generations Kup	$9.82	TRU
	Minimates Civilian Thor/Asgard Guardian	$4.68	TRU
	Minimates Sif/Volstagg	$4.68	TRU
09
	SHS Thor/Frost Giant/Sif	$10.59	Amazon
12
	Marvel Universe Jean Grey	$8.44	Walmart
	MU Clone Thor/Goliath	$26.46	Walmart
	MU Loki/Frost Giant	$26.46	Walmart
14
	GL Classics 2 Ion	$12.00	Entertainment Earth
	GL Classics 2 Medphyll/Naut Kei Loi	$24.01	Entertainment Earth
	GL Classics 2 Star Sapphire	$12.00	Entertainment Earth
	GL Classics 2 animals	$12.00	Entertainment Earth
	GL Classics 2 G'Hu	$12.00	Entertainment Earth
	GL Classics 2 Nite-Lik/Skallox	$24.01	Entertainment Earth
15
	MotU Classics Moss Man	$28.70	Mattel
	Sam Fisher	$12.71	TRU
30
	SHS Avengers Attack	$25.43	TRU
Totals	19 purchases (33 figures)	$253.99
May
03
	TF PCC Icepick	$5.28	Target
	TF ROTF Firetrap	$5.30	Walmart
05
	TF ROTF Lugnut	$21.19	HasbroToyShop
	GI Joe POC Duke	$6.35	HasbroToyShop
	Iron Man Mark VI	$11.65	HasbroToyShop
17
	GL Rot Lop Fan	($15.87)	Walmart
18
	Action League Kilowog/Zilius Zox	$7.39	Walmart
	Action League Wonder Woman/Superman	$7.39	Walmart
	Action League Hal Jordan/Saint Walker	$7.39	Walmart
	Action League Batman/Deathstroke	$7.39	Walmart
	TF DOTM Megatron	$19.90	Walmart
	TF DOTM Powerglide	$8.44	Walmart
	TF DOTM Sentinel Prime	$42.39	Kmart
24
	WWE Legends Jimmy Superfly Snooka	($8.48)	Big Lots
	WWE Legends Iron Shiek	($8.48)	Big Lots
	WWE Legends Jake the Snake Roberts	($8.48)	Big Lots
	Captain America International Patriots	($21.19)	Kmart
	TF DOTM Shockwave	($4.05)	Walmart
31
	AoA Sabretooth/Blink Minimates	$7.94	TRU
	AoA Nemesis/Morph Minimates	$7.94	TRU
	Galactic Heroes AT-ST	$37.09	TRU
Totals	21 purchases (34 figures)	$203.03
June
01
	GA Captain America/Dum Dum Dugan Minimates	$7.94	TRU
	Gabe Jones/Hydra Flame Trooper Minimates	$7.94	TRU
04
	Milk & Cheese	($33.92)	TRU
06
	Captain America/Red Skull Minimates	$7.80	CornerStoreComics
	Frontline Captain America/Bucky Minimates	$7.81	CornerStoreComics
	Howard Stark/Hydra Soldier Minimates	$7.80	CornerStoreComics
	Peggy Carter/Hydra Soldier Minimates	$7.81	CornerStoreComics
07
	Magneto/Mystique Minimates	($7.94)	TRU
	Xavier/Shaw Minimates	($7.94)	TRU
	Emma Frost/Havok Minimates	($7.94)	TRU
	Nathan Drake/Chloe Frazer Minimates	($7.94)	TRU
08
	Ratchet & Clank Minimates	$6.35	TRU
	Jak & Daxter Minimates	$7.94	TRU
	Robert Deal/Nicholas Vanhoorn Minimates	$7.94	TRU
	Calico Jack/Tom Brown Minimates	$7.94	TRU
	Charles Vanes/"Old Dad The Cooper"	$7.94	TRU
	Johnathan Barnet/Nukpana Minimates	$7.94	TRU
14
	GI Joe Joe Colton	($24.48)	Amazon
15
	MotU Classics Battleground Teela	$25.87	Mattel
	MotU Classics Faceless One	$25.86	Mattel
	TF DOTM Tailpipe and Pinpointer	$10.57	Walmart
21
	Sam Haim/Egyptian Ghost Minimates	$6.25	TRU
	Captain America Crossbones	$6.66	TRU
	Captain Britain	$6.67	TRU
	JLU Superman Beyond	$7.40	Target
Totals	25 purchases (44 figures)	$182.43
July
01
	Lion-O	$32.99	Figure of the Day
05
	GI Joe POC AWE Striker	$8.47	Ross
	Motorcycle Cop T-1000 & BD Sarah Connor	$9.94	Luke's Toy Store
	Evil Daredevil & Elektra Minimates	$6.95	Luke's Toy Store
06
	Real Ghostbusters Minimates	$17.16	local comicshop
	DCUC17 Wonder Woman	$15.46	CornerStoreComics
	DCUC17 Scarecrow	$15.47	CornerStoreComics
	DCUC17 Flash	$15.46	CornerStoreComics
	DCUC17 Atom	$15.46	CornerStoreComics
	DCUC17 Lex Luthor	$15.46	CornerStoreComics
	DCUC17 Hal Jordan	$15.46	CornerStoreComics
	DCUC17 Hal Jordan	$15.46	CornerStoreComics
10
	Harry Potter Year 2	($40.99)	Amazon
15
	JLU S.T.R.I.P.E.	$28.70	Mattel
16
	RGB Janine/Slimer Minimates	$6.35	TRU
	Captain America Red Skull	$8.47	Target
19
	Star Wars Barris Offee	$8.36	Walmart
20
	Gort Predator	($19.99)	Amazon
	SDCC Gizmo	($19.99)	Amazon
Totals	19 purchases (28 figures)	$235.62
August
01
	Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man	$83.65	Mattel
	Scouting Force X	($94.38)	Amazon
02
	Young Justice Artemis	$21.19	Target
	Marvel Universe Dr. Strange	$8.47	Target
	Batman Legacy Catman	$16.95	Kmart
	Batman Legacy GA Batman/Batmite	$16.95	Kmart
	Batman Legacy Batgirl	$16.95	Kmart
08
	JLU Green Lanterns/Despero	$--.--	gift
	JLU Warlord/Supergirl/wizard	$--.--	gift
09
	Star Wars Shaak Ti	$5.83	TRU
	Super Combat Captain America	$5.83	TRU
	Thor Odin	$5.83	TRU
	Thor Loki	$5.83	TRU
	Captain America USAgent	$5.83	TRU
	Winter Combat Captain America	$5.83	TRU
	Kre-O Megatron	$25.43	TRU
10
	DC Direct Man of Bats	$17.16	local comicshop
	DC Direct Knight	$17.16	lcs
11
	OMFG Series 1	$10.00	Kickstarter
12
	Thundercats Lion-O	$8.47	TRU
	Thundercats Panthro	$8.47	TRU
	Thundercats Cheetara	$8.47	TRU
	Thundercats Wily Kat	$8.47	TRU
	Thundercats Wily Kit	$8.47	TRU
	Thundercats Mumm-Ra	$8.47	TRU
	Young Justice Black Canary	$10.59	TRU
16
	GI Joe POC Crazylegs	$7.41	Target
	GI Joe POC Rock-Viper	$7.41	Target
	GI Joe POC Cobra Commander	$5.30	Walmart
	GI Joe POC Steel Brigade	$5.30	Walmart
19
	DCUC18 Black Vulcan	$17.49	CornerStoreComics
	DCUC18 El Dorado	$17.49	CornerStoreComics
	DCUC18 Toyman	$17.49	CornerStoreComics
	DCUC18 Captain Boomerang	$17.49	CornerStoreComics
	DCUC18 Samurai	$17.49	CornerStoreComics
	DCUC18 Bronze Tiger	$17.49	CornerStoreComics
20
	DCD New Krypton Superwoman	$10.00	BCC
	McPedro	$20.00	BCC
	Marvel Universe Cable	$22.50	BCC
	Marvel Universe Iron Patriot	$22.50	BCC
	NECA Elder Predator	$5.29	TRU
	Classic Lion-O	$11.65	TRU
23
	TF Legends Starscream	$3.18	Five Below
	TF Legends Optimus Prime	$3.18	Five Below
	DCUC Crime Syndicate	$79.83	Walmart
25
	Thundercats ThunderTank	$25.42	TRU
30
	Thor Fandral	$7.41	Target
	Thor Volstagg	$7.41	Target
	Thor Hogun	$7.41	Target
Totals	49 purchases (66 figures)	$686.44
September
06
	TF DOTM Human Alliance Leadfoot & Steeljaw	$31.79	Target
08
	X-Men First Class Minimates	$17.16	local comicshop
21
	Minimates MAX Search and Rescue	$6.61	TRU
	Bride of Frankenstein/Villager Minimates	$6.62	TRU
	B/W Frankenstein/Dracula Minimates	$6.62	TRU
	Fantomex/Mr. Negative Minimates	$6.61	TRU
24
	Psylocke/Nightcrawler Minimates	$6.35	TRU
28
	DCD Prehistoric Batman	$17.41	lcs
	DCD Witch Hunter Batman	$17.40	lcs
	DCD High Seas Batman	$17.41	lcs
	DCD Wild West Batman	$17.41	lcs
Totals	11 purchases (21 figures)	$151.39
October
05
	GI Joe Renegades Duke	$7.39	Walmart
	GI Joe Renegades Snake-Eyes	$7.39	Walmart
	GI Joe Renegades Cobra Commander	$7.39	Walmart
	GI Joe Renegades Firefly	$7.39	Walmart
09
	Marvel Universe Darkhawk	$8.47	Target
12
	Logo Ghost/Killerwatt Minimates	$7.94	TRU
	Walking Dead B/W set	$33.38	local comicshop
14
	SW Heroes C-3PO/R2-D2	$5.13	TRU
	Marvel Universe Avengers	$17.11	TRU
19
	6" Thor	$15.77	Walmart
	6" Loki	$15.77	Walmart
	6" Captain America	$15.77	Walmart
	Dracula Minimates	$17.16	lcs
21
	Stretch Attack Venom	$6.35	TRU
	TF DOTM Skyhammer	$10.90	Walmart
22
	Curse of the Mutants Minimates	$17.17	lcs
25
	TF DOTM Human Alliance Roadbuster	$21.19	TRU
27
	Gremlins Lenny	$10.17	TRU
Totals	18 purchases (32 figures)	$231.84
November
02
	Frankenstein Minimates	$17.16	local comicshop
	TF Legends Goldbug	$2.11	Gabe's
	TF Legends Trailblazer	$2.11	Gabe's
08
	Femme Fatale Minimates	($17.16)	lcs
09
	Gremlins George	$10.17	TRU
15
	JLU 7-pack	$65.55	Mattel
16
	TF DOTM Ironhide	$38.15	TRU
	Nanoblock Neuschwanstein	$15.89	TRU
	T2 Steel Mill T-1000	$15.89	TRU
	Police Station T-800	$15.89	TRU
25
	JLU Batman/Joker/Gray Ghost	($34.99)	Amazon
29
	TF Prime Arcee	$9.53	TRU
	TF Prime Starscream	$9.53	TRU
	Young Justice Robin	$5.29	Target
30
	DCUC19 Sandman	$17.33	CornerStoreComics
	DCUC19 Atom	$17.32	CornerStoreComics
	DCUC19 Stargirl	$17.33	CornerStoreComics
	DCUC19 Kobra	$17.33	CornerStoreComics
	DCUC19 Hawkman	$17.32	CornerStoreComics
	DCUC19 Magog	$17.33	CornerStoreComics
Totals	20 purchases (34 figures)	$311.23
December
06
	MLP FIM Pony Collection	$6.49	TRU
08
	Boar Predator	$14.46	TRU
	Shaman Predator	$14.46	TRU
	Gears of War Anya Stroud	$13.10	TRU
	TF Junkheap	$11.58	TRU
12
	Iron Man Crimson Dynamo	$5.28	TJ Maxx
	Iron Man Initiative War Machine	$5.28	TJ Maxx
14
	GL Brother Warth	$18.11	local comicshop
	GI Joe Techno-Viper	$7.39	Walmart
	GI Joe Renegades Ripcord	$7.39	Walmart
	GI Joe Renegades Scarlett	$7.39	Walmart
	GI Joe Renegades Tunnel Rat	$7.39	Walmart
	GI Joe Renegades Cobra Trooper	$7.39	Walmart
15
	Kingdom Hearts Sora	($30.95)	Amazon
20
	GI Joe Zombie-Viper	$6.35	Walmart
	GI Joe Lifeline	$6.35	Walmart
	GI Joe Sci-Fi	$6.35	Walmart
	GI Joe Resolute Airtight	$6.36	Walmart
	GI Joe Resolute Law & Order	$6.36	Walmart
25
	GL Hal & Bzzd	$--.--	gift
	GL Hector Hammond	$--.--	gift
	MU Power Man & Iron Fist	$--.--	gift
	MU Spider-Man & Captain Britain	$--.--	gift
	Green Hornet	$--.--	gift
	Kato	$--.--	gift
	MU Guardians of the Galaxy	$--.--	gift
	MU Fantastic Four	$--.--	gift
	TF Prime Bumblebee	$--.--	gift
28
	Predators 2-pack	($31.79)	TRU
	Assassin's Creed Flying Machine	$45.56	Gamestop
	MvC3 Phoenix/Morrigan Minimates	$8.17	CornerStoreComics
	MvC3 Dormammu/Trish Minimates	$8.17	CornerStoreComics
	MvC3 Deadpool/Dante Minimates	$8.17	CornerStoreComics
	MvC3 Iron Man/Sir Arthur Minimates	$8.18	CornerStoreComics
Totals	34 purchases (59 figures)	$235.73

Well, there it is. If that's not everything, then it's darn close. There were 95 days in 2011 where I bought something, and the majority of those trips involved multiple purchases at multiple stores - that works out to be a buy every four days or so. Though I'm still over-budget, I spent about $1,000 less than last year, which pleases me. My trend of buying DCU Classics and Minimates online continued, but I was less-often caught off guard by the charges. I'd still prefer to get those figures in person, but that's the brick and mortar stores' fault, not the companies'. A few notes: a five-figure box set counts as one purchase, but as five figures. Build-A-Figures are not counted in the totals, even if I buy all the pieces to assemble them. Things that I got in trades aren't included on the list. I get a 10% discount from my regular comicshop, which is included. Any coupons or sales have been subtracted before the items go on the list. Here are some numbers: Total number of purchases: 288 Total number of figures: 447 Total money spent: $3,274.89 Average spent per purchase: $11.41 Average spent per figure: $7.34 Average per month: $272.91; 23.92 purchases; 37.17 figures Average per week: $62.98; 5.52 purchases; 8.58 figures Average per day: $8.97; 0.79 purchases; 1.22 figures By store: TRU: 75 purchases CornerStoreComics.com: 43 purchases Walmart: 39 purchases Comicshops: 29 purchases Target: 22 purchases Amazon: 14 purchases Entertainment Earth: 6 purchases Kmart: 5 purchases TJ Maxx: 2 purchases Ross: 1 purchases Five Below: 2 purchases FYE: 0 purchases Longest gap between purchases: 14 days (Apr. 16-29) Most days in a row with purchases: 5 (Aug. 8-12) Most expensive day: March 01 ($318.33) I got less toys this year, but that also means less things have gone un-reviewed. The main category that dropped off the radar was Star Wars: while I would have liked to get a lot of the SW figures, their prices were just too high, and something had to give. Oh, and when things finally did go on sale, nothing good was left. Notice that the ratio of figures to purchases is better than 1.5-to-1: multipacks mean you get the most toys for your money! 2011 was an improvement over 2010, but I still hope to do better next year.