Points of Articulation yo go re What I bought - 2014 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 better job of sticking to the budget this year. Is that good or bad? Let's see if we can tell from the monthly breakdown:

January
02
	Venture Bros. Monarch	($9.99)	Entertainment Earth
07
	Walking Dead Michonne & One-Eyed Zombie	$5.29	calendar store
	Walking Sailor Zombie & Leg Bite Zombie	$5.29	calendar store
	Walking Dead Andrea & Stabbed Zombie	$5.29	calendar store
	Walking Dead Amy & Stabbed Zombie	$5.29	calendar store
	ML Captain America	$14.83	Target
	ML Red Skull	$14.83	Target
	ML Hydra Trooper	$14.83	Target
	ML Baron Zemo	$14.83	Target
	ML Superior Spider-Man	$14.83	Target
	ML Electro	$14.83	Target
	ML Black Cat	$14.83	Target
	ML Ultimate Beetle	$14.83	Target
	ML Carnage	$14.83	Target
	Team Fortress 2 BLU Heavy	($22.52)	lcs
	Team Fortress 2 BLU Soldier	($22.52)	lcs
28
	Wasp Predator	$12.71	TRU
30
	Colonel Stars & Stripes	($23.48)	Amazon
	TF Ratbat	($40.18)	Amazon
Totals	21 purchases (26 figures)	$182.17
February
02
	Robocop: ED-209	($23.95)	lcs
08
	Marvel Legends Original X-Men	$76.31	TRU
	ML AIM Soldier	($21.19)	Kmart
	Simpsons Tom Hanks	$10.71	TRU
	Simpsons Hugh Hefner	$10.71	TRU
	Tomb Raider Scavenger & Archer Minimates	$6.35	TRU
	Tomb Raider Storm Guard & Stalker Minimates	$6.35	TRU
	Aliens Sgt. Windrix	$14.41	TRU
11
	MiWorld Dairy Queen	($15.87)	Walmart
17
	MOTU Classics Modulok	$54.29	MattyCollector
21
	GI Joe Cross-Country	$44.00	GIJCC
22
	Minimates Wolverine/Ultron	$4.29	TRU
	Minimates Thor/Absorbing Man	$4.29	TRU
23
	Pacific Rim Knifehead	($28.61)	Amazon
	Pacific Rim Tresspasser	($28.61)	Amazon
24
	BioShock Infinite Motorized Patriot	($38.99)	Amazon
25
	ML Boomerang	$15.89	TRU
	ML Spider-Girl	$15.89	TRU
	ML Toxin	$15.89	TRU
	Marvel Universe Mysterio	$9.00	TRU
	DCD Arkham Origins Anarky	($11.50)	lcs
Totals	22 purchases (29 figures)	$287.30
March
05
	Pacific Rim Cherno Alpha	($22.25)	Amazon
	Pacific Rim Coyote Tango	($22.25)	Amazon
06
	ML Black Widow	$19.07	Target
	ML Stealth Captain America	$19.07	Target
	ML Winter Soldier	$19.07	Target
	TF Generations Mini-Con Assault Team	($15.86)	Walmart
17
	DCSC Aquaman	$33.29	MattyCollector
18
	Arrow Oliver Queen & Deathstroke	($45.04)	lcs
22
	Marvel Universe Cloak	$8.47	TRU
	Marvel Universe Dagger	$8.47	TRU
Totals	10 purchases (13 figures)	$107.44
April
03
	GI Joe Cobra Commander	$5.30	Five Below
	GI Joe Duke	$5.30	Five Below
	Walking Dead Eugene/Emaciated Zombie	$6.35	TRU
	Walking Dead Abraham/Military Zombie	$6.35	TRU
	GI Joe Snake-Eyes	$8.47	TRU
	Star Wars Black Series Storm Trooper	$15.89	TRU
08
	TF Skywarp	($15.86)	Walmart
	TMNT Mutagen Man	($9.41)	Walmart
Totals	8 purchases (10 figures)	$47.66
May
03
	Simpsons Lucy Lawless	$12.71	TRU
	Simpsons Pete Townshend	$12.71	TRU
	Simpsons Roger Daltry	$12.71	TRU
	Simpsons John Entwhistle	$12.71	TRU
09
	Toon Tech Titans Bluster & Trench	$64.35	PlanetSteelExpress
14
	DCD Talon	($22.48)	lcs
18
	TF Cosmos/Paylod	($11.99)	lcs
	TF Swerve/Flanker	($11.99)	lcs
	Minimates Colossus/Rogue	($10.72)	lcs
	Minimates Wolverine/Brood	($9.94)	lcs
	Minimates Dazzler/Longshot	($9.99)	lcs
20
	Game of Thrones Daenerys Targaryen	($18.01)	lcs
25
	Minimates Human Torch/Blastarr	($8.23)	Amazon
	Minimates Alicia Masters/Moloid	($7.84)	Amazon
	Minimates Mr. Fantastic/Puppet Master	($9.97)	Amazon
	Minimates Invisible Woman/Moloid	($9.99)	Amazon
	Minimates Wolverine/Brood	($10.99)	Amazon
Totals	17 purchases (28 figures)	$115.19
June
03
	Game of Thrones Jon Snow	($16.95)	lcs
10
	Game of Thrones Hound	($16.95)	lcs
11
	GotG ML Star-Lord	($21.17)	Amazon
	GotG ML Drax	($21.17)	Amazon
	GotG ML Iron Man	($20.16)	Amazon
13
	TF Skrapnel/Reflector	($10.59)	Target
	TF Tailgate/Groundbuster	($10.59)	Target
	Game of Thrones Ned Stark	($16.95)	lcs
16
	DCSC Ice	$14.99	eBay
17
	Game of Thrones White Walker	($16.95)	lcs
	Super Mario	($22.52)	lcs
21
	MOTU Unnamed One	$28.00	Twitter
24
	Super Mario Playset A	($18.01)	lcs
Totals	13 purchases (15 figures)	$42.99
July
01
	Super Mario Playset B	($18.01)	lcs
	Earth-2 Wonder Woman	($22.52)	lcs
08
	GotG ML Rocket Raccoon	($21.16)	Walmart
	GotG ML Gamora	($21.16)	Walmart
13
	Iron Factory DinoArmor	$23.99	eBay
14
	Pacific Rim Crimson Typhoon	($24.48)	Amazon
21
	Spider-Gremlin	$39.74	TRU
	Portal ATLAS	$26.49	TRU
	Portal P-Body	$26.49	TRU
27
	Walking Dead Tyreese/Farmer Zombie	($10.77)	Amazon
	Walking Dead Hershel/Farmer Zombie	($5.95)	Amazon
	Walking Dead Dexter/Dreadlock Zombie	($3.98)	Amazon
	Walking Dead Riot Gear Rick/Guard Zombie	($8.91)	Amazon
	Selvig/Dark Elf Minimates	($5.00)	Amazon
	Darcy/Dark Elf Minimates	($4.00)	Amazon
	Thor/Malekith Minimates	($7.50)	Amazon
	Loki/Heimdall Minimates	($7.50)	Amazon
Totals	17 purchases (25 figures)	$116.71
August
02
	GotG Yondu/Sakaaran Minimates	$7.49	TRU
05
	DCSC Doomsday	$46.99	MattyCollector
	DCD Earth-2 Batman	($22.52)	lcs
	Hot Wheels Let's Go	($1.03)	Target
12
	X-Men Legends Storm	($20.71)	lcs
	Buddy Christ/Mooby Minimates	($9.00)	lcs
18
	Loot Crate	$16.37	Loot Crate
19
	X-Men Legends Stryfe	($20.71)	lcs
24
	McFarlane's Monsters Hunchback playset	$4.00	lcs
	McFarlane's Monsters Dracula playset	$4.00	lcs
	McFarlane's Monsters Wolfman playset	$3.00	lcs
	World of Springfield Barney Gumble	$2.00	lcs
	The Shadow's car	$5.00	lcs
	The Shadow's cab	$5.00	lcs
	Cadillacs and Dinosaurs car	$5.00	lcs
27
	Days of Future Past Minimates	$19.99	AFX
	Walking Dead Days Gone Bye Minimates	$19.99	AFX
	Sin City Bloody Marv	$16.88	AFX
Totals	18 purchases (33 figures)	$155.71
September
03
	ML Agent Venom	$21.19	Walgreens
	New 52 Orion	($22.48)	lcs
06
	Simpsons Penn	$10.80	TRU
	Simpsons Teller	$10.80	TRU
	Simpsons Bret Hart	$10.80	TRU
	Simpsons Leonard Nimoy	$10.80	TRU
	Pacific Rim Scunner	$26.49	TRU
09
	NFL Brandon Marshall	$15.89	TRU
	Super Mario Bowser	$18.01	TRU
	Kill Bill Minimates	($18.01)	lcs
15
	DC Total Heroes Batman Beyond	$30.29	MattyCollector
16
	X-Men Legends Cyclops	($20.72)	lcs
	Pulp Fiction Minimates	($9.00)	lcs
17
	TF AOE Hound	$21.19	HasbroToyShop
	Marvel Universe Death's Head	$8.47	HasbroToyShop
	Marvel Universe Thor	$8.47	HasbroToyShop
	Marvel Universe Valkyrie	$8.47	HasbroToyShop
	Marvel Universe Rhino	$8.47	HasbroToyShop
23
	X-Men Legends Magneto	($20.72)	lcs
	New 52 Red Hood	($22.52)	lcs
30
	Universal Select VanHelsing	($22.52)	lcs
	Magic the Gathering Chandra Nalaar	($23.42)	lcs
	TF Generations Jhiaxus	$12.71	HasbroToyShop
	TF Generations Windblade	$12.71	HasbroToyShop
	TF Generations Jetfire	$38.15	HasbroToyShop
Totals	25 purchases (30 figures)	$273.71
October
04
	GI Joe Battle Below Zero	$42.39	TRU
07
	Magic the Gathering Ajani Goldmane	($23.42)	lcs
08
	Simpsons Mr. Burns	($13.77)	Amazon
	TF AOE Slog	($18.01)	Amazon
	ReAction Rocketeer	($10.37)	Amazon
14
	Kre-O Zarana	($3.17)	TRU
	Magic the Gathering Liliana Vess	($23.42)	lcs
	BioShock Infinite Booker Dewitt	($22.52)	lcs
	Mystery Minis Ghostface	($7.20)	lcs
	Mystery Minis Predator	($7.20)	lcs
	TF AOE Stinger	($8.45)	Walmart
17
	OMFG 4	$12.00	Kickstarter
21
	Magic the Gathering Garruk Wildspeaker	($23.42)	lcs
	Mystery Minis Jayne	($7.20)	lcs
	Minimates Aliens Warrior	($5.40)	lcs
	Minimates Aliens Attacking	($5.40)	lcs
	Minimates Aliens Battle-Damaged	($5.40)	lcs
	Minimates Aliens Wierzbowski	($5.40)	lcs
	Minimates Aliens Spunkmeyer	($5.40)	lcs
	Minimates Aliens Burke	($5.40)	lcs
	Mystery Minis Bloody Leatherface	($7.20)	lcs
22
	WWE Hawk	$20.13	Target
	WWE Animal	$20.13	Target
25
	New 52 Red Robin	($22.48)	lcs
28
	Magic the Gathering Nissa Revayne	($23.42)	lcs
	TMNT Leo the Knight	($9.41)	lcs
	TMNT Donnie the Wizard	($9.41)	lcs
	TMNT Mikey the Elf	($9.41)	lcs
	TMNT Raph the Barbarian	($9.41)	lcs
Totals	29 purchases (36 figures)	$94.65
November
01
	Jetpack Robocop	$23.54	TRU
	Armor-Up Baymax	$18.84	TRU
04
	Marvel Legends three-pack	$39.75	Target
11
	Sin City Minimates	($21.19)	lcs
	Clerks Minimates	($21.19)	lcs
	Pulp Fiction Minimates	($21.19)	lcs
	Elder Predator	$21.19	TRU
	Bad Blood Predator	$26.49	TRU
	GI Joe The Eagle's Edge	$21.19	TRU
15
	ReAction Wolf Man	$5.66	TRU
	Plants vs. Zombies Mad Scientist	$9.27	TRU
	Plants vs. Zombies Foot Soldier	$9.27	TRU
20
	1989 Batman	$33.98	eBay
21
	Plants vs. Zombies All-Star	$12.60	TRU
	Kre-O Zartan	$2.69	TRU
28
	GI Joe Tread Ripper	$--.--	Big Lots
	Marvel Universe Juggernaut/Colossus	$--.--	Big Lots
	Wolverine Silver Samurai	$--.--	Big Lots
	Amazing Spider-Man Lizard	$--.--	Big Lots
	GI Joe Kre-O Arashikage Dojo	($14.99)	TRU
	GI Joe Kre-O Firebat Attack	($7.49)	TRU
	Pacific Rim Gipsy Danger	($19.99)	TRU
	Pacific Rim Tacit Ronin	($19.99)	TRU
	Lego Metalbeard	($34.97)	TRU
Totals	24 purchases (55 figures)	$224.47
December
02
	Lego Rocket Raccoon	$5.29	TRU
	GI Joe Social Clash	$11.12	TRU
	BTAS Batman	($22.48)	lcs
03
	Avengers Assemble Leader	$5.30	Five Below
09
	BTAS Catwoman	($22.48)	lcs
16
	TF Arcee	$12.71	HasbroToyShop
	TF Chromia	$12.71	HasbroToyShop
	TF AOE Snarl	$12.71	HasbroToyShop
	GI Joe Night-Viper	$7.40	TRU
	NES Batman	($22.48)	lcs
	Marvel Zombies Villain Minimates 2	($18.01)	lcs
	DCD Son of Batman Damian Wayne	($17.94)	lcs
23
	BTAS Mr. Freeze	($22.48)	lcs
	Game of Thrones Jaime Lannister	($18.01)	lcs
	Game of Thrones Brienne of Tarth	($18.01)	lcs
	Planet of the Apes Luca	$7.40	TRU
30
	Alien Queen	$100.69	TRU
	New 52 Thrasher Suit Batman	($31.53)	lcs
Totals	18 purchases (23 figures)	$182.76

Well, there it is. If that's not everything, then it's darn close. There were 77 days in 2014 where I bought something, and the majority of those trips involved multiple purchases at multiple stores - that works out to be a buy every five days or so. But this year is also the least amount of money I've spent on toys since I began tracking my spending this way in 2007. But the main reason for that is that I got most of my things through my local comicshop, using store credit rather than cash. What's really shocking is how few purchases I had at normal retailers - I got more things from Hasbro's website than I got from Walmart, for instance. Toys Я Us continues to outpace all its competition, though. 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 15% 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: 222 Total number of figures: 323 Total money spent: $1,830.76 Average spent per purchase: $8.25 Average spent per figure: $5.67 Average per month: $152.56; 18.5 purchases; 26.92 figures Average per week: $35.21; 4.27 purchases; 6.21 figures Average per day: $5.02; .61 purchases; .88 figures By store: Comicshops: 71 purchases TRU: 56 purchases Amazon: 28 purchases Target: 18 purchases HasbroToyShop: 11 purchases Walmart: 7 purchases Mattel: 4 purchases Longest gap between purchases: 26 days (Apr. 9-May 2) Most days in a row with purchases: 5 (Feb. 21-25) Most expensive day: Jan. 7 ($169.46) I bought a lot, but not everything I wanted. For instance, if Star Wars Black Series had actually appeared in stores, I likely would have spent much more than I did. Notice that the ratio of figures to purchases is not even 1.5-to-1 this year: clearly I didn't buy enough multipacks.

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