When I first heard of the concept of otome games, I scoffed at the idea. And now, I’m the joke.
I thought it would be harmless when I got into this trending otome game. My friends were playing it, and they praised the game’s stunning graphics and captivating plots. So I thought, why not give it a try?
I was in control of my finances, and I made myself promise that I would not spend a dime on this game.
At first, I had it all under control. In exchange for exclusive pulls, I put in time to check in and complete daily missions to earn diamonds, instead of topping up with money. Until one day, my impatience got the best of me.
It started with that one moment when I was aching to know more about the male character’s lore, and it was extremely time-limited that it felt like it was now or never. That was the first time I ever topped up in the game.
It was only $5, so it did not hurt my wallet at that time. However, it started to influence me to continue to top up every time I wanted to know about the story. And before I knew it, the top-ups would then reach the rather large amount of $1,200!
I didn’t even notice the amount I spent until I checked the game’s transaction history later on. I was so shocked because I did not feel money was oozing out of my wallet slowly, and how those small transactions had added up to such a staggering amount.
Okay, hear me out. I am considered mild compared to other players who have spent an average of over $1,000 per month on these games, while I only spent that amount over the span of months. But I promised myself that I would not spend so much on virtual things that don’t bring much value.
I am all for spending money on things you can enjoy if you have the funds. But I made a mental note to be careful with my hobbies like gacha games as they can quietly rack up costs. Every now and then, I check how much I am actually spending on my entertainment. I will pay for joy, but not for impatience.
This article is part of TSS Confessions, a weekly column where we delve into personal finance topics that are unscripted and genuine real accounts from people.
