Following the example set by Dino over at Chaosbunker, starting last month, I will abide by a simple rule:
Every month I have a budget of $25 for my hobby.
Hobby spending never stops! As much as I’m struggling to follow this hobby budget rule, there is another hobby rule that I follow without failure – if there is a new Bolt Action Campaign book, I buy it. Thus, I truly never had a chance to hold my $25 for November. I made a second purchase as well, the follow-up to Undaunted: Normandy (my favorite game of 2020), Undaunted: North Africa!
I have not yet had the chance to play but I cannot wait to give it a go. Undaunted: North Africa adds vehicles to the game along with asymmetrical forces, LRDG vs. Italian Army. Ben and I played through all 12 of the Normandy missions (Ben narrowly won the overall campaign) and I also played through many of the missions solo. On top of that, there is the recent Undaunted: Reinforcements announcement, it’s a great time to get involved with this game.
Now for the other purchase. I dive into detail in the Hot Take but Italy: Soft Underbelly is a mixed bag. I love Bolt Action and I love new Campaign books but Soft Underblley was a bit of a disappointment.
| Month | Funds remaining | Item |
| April | $13 | Stug Ridders ($12) |
| May | -$5 | Zodiac Kickstater ($15), Jaws Board Game ($15) |
| June | $1 | Campaign: D-Day: US Sector ($24) |
| July | $11 | Warhammer Armies: Ogre Kingdoms ($14) |
| Aug. | $-9 | Wargames Atlantic Skeletons ($19), Tomb Kings bits ($15) |
| Sept. | $-2.26 | Paint ($27.26) |
| Oct. | $-33.26 | Settra the Imperishable and Screaming Skull Catapult ($80), Battlemat ($102), Bitz trade sales (+115) |
| Nov. | $-4.00 | Campaign: Italy: Soft Underbelly ($25), Undaunted: North Africa ($4) |
| Total | $-37.26 |
Damn. Still in the red. December is where I must draw the line and hold the funds in an effort to claw my way back out of this hole.
– Andrew
Back in the black! No Black Friday temptations here. Focus on the mission, that is what matters.
I picked up a pair of hot glue sticks and finally pulled the trigger on a Kurgh, a 3D sculpt turtle warrior to finish my Sarus Guard unit. I’m going to add a Predator mask to make him an intergalactic space warrior. I sold a random model to continue offsetting costs.
One more month to go, but should close out the year positive!
| Month | Funds remaining | Item |
| May | $10.05 | PoweredPlay circuit board ($14.95) |
| June | $14.01 | Ring Light ($10.99) |
| July | $0.00 | Egyptian Horus Guard ($13.19) and General’s Handbook ($42.25) |
| Aug. | -$25.67 | Green Stuff, magnets and 28mm Predator masks |
| Sept. | -$3.95 | Magnet bases, transport tub, metal sheeting ($38.95) + Sales (+$35) |
| Oct. | -3.00 | Sales (+$50), Vallejo, primer, airbrush paint ($50) |
| Nov. | -$25.75 | Hot glue ($5), Kurgh ($20), sold a model (+$4) |
| Total | $11.25 |
– Jeremy
Seems like I have been again a good boy, or should I say a “busy” boy? This month flew by in no time, work being overwhelming, but who am I talking to? 😀
For November, I just bought a rulebook. This rulebook I have been waiting for and it kinda got released out of the blue, with just some teaser here and there on their Patreon – the Black Powder Red Earth Patreon that is. Yes, I am talking about the Black Powder Red Earth 28mm Skirmish Rules. If Andrew is ok with it, I will do a “Hot Take” on it (Andrew is very ok with it – Ed.)
Along with that, I finished four minis that I 3D printed from Combat Octopus, which are meticulous and magnificent multipart modular ultra-modern miniatures – that’s a lot of “M”s!
But back to the funds! This lavishly illustrated rulebook set me back for 33,-€ which was a bit over the monthly budget, but thanks to last month’s “conscious spending” *cough cough*, the Hobby Bank Account still remained in the black.
| Month | Funds remaining | Item |
| June | 5.02€ | Campaign: D-Day: US Sectors (19.98€ ) |
| July | 30.02€ | x3 Rubicon Models Schwimmwagen (39.71€) |
| Aug. | -88.56€ | Sale of terrain (+140€), Big Spectre order (243.87€) |
| Sept. | -5.12€ | Sale of terrain (+79.17€), Exploit Zero PDF (-20.73€) |
| Oct. | 25€ | No purchases! Is this even possible?! |
| Nov. | -33€ | Black Powder Red Earth rulebook |
| Total | 11.88€ |
– Daniel
The Fine Print
The $25 per month limit applies to models, rules, paint and supplies. It does not apply to event tickets or travel costs.
