But I do get the Anime Network On Demand!
Lots and lots and lots of free anime that I can watch right on my TV anytime I want.
Do you have DirecTV? Then you may just have a great source of free anime!
If you don't have DirecTV but would like to try them, just send me an email, cagethesilver@hotmail.com , and I will send you a link that will give you $100 in bill credits when you sign up.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Ok, so you really don't want to drive back and forth to the convention.
But you still want to save money?
Roommates.
Search the anime convention's forums and you will likely find one dedicated to the hotels at and near the convention. Here you will usually find people advertising for roommates to lower the cost of getting a room at the con.
Note: I do not advocate stealing from the hotel by stuffing more people into a room than you are paying for.
Hotels have a limit set for safety and also usually charge more per night when there are more than two people in one room. So, if you're going to be or have roommates, do it right. Don't risk getting kicked out in the middle of the night and possibly being charged with a crime.
First off, decide whether you want to get space in someones room or rent space in your own. In either case, the deal should be to split the total cost of the room, including all taxes, evenly by the number of people staying in the room. Again, don't try to cheat the hotel. Obey the rules.
If you are the one renting the room, then make sure when you check in to pay cash rather than using a credit card. Also, make it clear to the hotel that you do not want any charging privileges for your room. No phone calls, no pay per view, no room service. (If anyone want's room service they can always pay cash.) You will have to pay for the entire stay plus a deposit set by the hotel, but this is the safest way.
Make sure that the rules are clearly understood by all involved. I suggest no smoking or drinking in the room. No drugs. And no sex in the room.
Whether you are sharing space in someones room or renting space in your own, don't do it alone. Have a friend with you, someone you really know, not someone you met online or at the con. Never be in the room without your friend.
Sharing a room can be a fun experience and can really cut down on the costs. But be clear on the rules, don't cheat the hotel, and always be safe!
Roommates.
Search the anime convention's forums and you will likely find one dedicated to the hotels at and near the convention. Here you will usually find people advertising for roommates to lower the cost of getting a room at the con.
Note: I do not advocate stealing from the hotel by stuffing more people into a room than you are paying for.
Hotels have a limit set for safety and also usually charge more per night when there are more than two people in one room. So, if you're going to be or have roommates, do it right. Don't risk getting kicked out in the middle of the night and possibly being charged with a crime.
First off, decide whether you want to get space in someones room or rent space in your own. In either case, the deal should be to split the total cost of the room, including all taxes, evenly by the number of people staying in the room. Again, don't try to cheat the hotel. Obey the rules.
If you are the one renting the room, then make sure when you check in to pay cash rather than using a credit card. Also, make it clear to the hotel that you do not want any charging privileges for your room. No phone calls, no pay per view, no room service. (If anyone want's room service they can always pay cash.) You will have to pay for the entire stay plus a deposit set by the hotel, but this is the safest way.
Make sure that the rules are clearly understood by all involved. I suggest no smoking or drinking in the room. No drugs. And no sex in the room.
Whether you are sharing space in someones room or renting space in your own, don't do it alone. Have a friend with you, someone you really know, not someone you met online or at the con. Never be in the room without your friend.
Sharing a room can be a fun experience and can really cut down on the costs. But be clear on the rules, don't cheat the hotel, and always be safe!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Eliminate the biggest costs of attending anime conventions.
Not go to the Dealer's room? Are you nuts!?!
No, I don't mean the Dealer's room, the Artist's Alley, or even the Art Show.
The biggest costs of attending an anime convention is the hotel. So, sleep in your car? No.
I suggest, for anime conventions that are within a two hour drive, that you drive back and forth each day. This is a hassle, yes, but consider just how much money this saves you.
At most anime conventions, even with the discount rate for con's room block, you are paying enough each night to buy a box set of a good anime series. Is this worth it? I don't think so.
Driving back and forth will likely give you a better night's sleep. The chance to eat breakfast and give you a lot more money to spend in the Dealer's room, the Artist's Alley, or even the Art Show.
No, I don't mean the Dealer's room, the Artist's Alley, or even the Art Show.
The biggest costs of attending an anime convention is the hotel. So, sleep in your car? No.
I suggest, for anime conventions that are within a two hour drive, that you drive back and forth each day. This is a hassle, yes, but consider just how much money this saves you.
At most anime conventions, even with the discount rate for con's room block, you are paying enough each night to buy a box set of a good anime series. Is this worth it? I don't think so.
Driving back and forth will likely give you a better night's sleep. The chance to eat breakfast and give you a lot more money to spend in the Dealer's room, the Artist's Alley, or even the Art Show.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Do you Hulu? Free anime, the legal way.
Hulu.com currently has 69 different anime series that you can watch for free.
http://www.hulu.com/channels/Animation-and-Cartoons/Anime
Frugal Otaku Tip: If you're like me, you may not like watching anime on a laptop or PC screen. So, take your laptop or PC and hook it up to your TV screen. You can use an "S" video cable or an RGB cable or, if you have a newer PC and a HDTV, you can even use an HDMI cable.
Free legitimate anime. Both older classics and new series.
Enjoy!
http://www.hulu.com/channels/Animation-and-Cartoons/Anime
Frugal Otaku Tip: If you're like me, you may not like watching anime on a laptop or PC screen. So, take your laptop or PC and hook it up to your TV screen. You can use an "S" video cable or an RGB cable or, if you have a newer PC and a HDTV, you can even use an HDMI cable.
Free legitimate anime. Both older classics and new series.
Enjoy!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Buying sets of anime, one dvd at a time...
I was watching Excel Saga again last night. I went to find the DVD and saw that I had the first DVD in the series and a thin pack containing all episodes on six DVDs.
I popped in the individual DVD and found the quality was much better. Also, there were extras that were not included in the thin pack.
So I got to thinking that maybe I could use the entire set on individual DVDs instead of just having the thin pack. But how much would this cost?
It cost quite a bit, $60 on the average. Too much for the Frugal Otaku to replace a set he already owns just to get better quality and some extras.
But then, I looked at the price for individual DVDs on Ebay and found that they could be had for around $6 each, including shipping!
So, going forward, if you are looking to get a set, price out the cost of single DVDs as well as the box set total price. You might not only save a buck or two but also get some extras!
I popped in the individual DVD and found the quality was much better. Also, there were extras that were not included in the thin pack.
So I got to thinking that maybe I could use the entire set on individual DVDs instead of just having the thin pack. But how much would this cost?
It cost quite a bit, $60 on the average. Too much for the Frugal Otaku to replace a set he already owns just to get better quality and some extras.
But then, I looked at the price for individual DVDs on Ebay and found that they could be had for around $6 each, including shipping!
So, going forward, if you are looking to get a set, price out the cost of single DVDs as well as the box set total price. You might not only save a buck or two but also get some extras!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
T-MODE, the best little con on the East Coast
http://tmode.org/
T-MODE 2010 will take place April 16-18, 2010 at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town in Alexandria, Virginia, right outside of Washington, DC.
In the past, T-MODE has offered more entertainment than any of the other area conventions, but has had only a couple hundred attendees! This allows for some really intimite settings with the guests and bands.
However, due to the very small size of this con and, so far, the lack of scheduled guests, The Frugal Otaku recommends spending only Saturday here this year. Don't bother getting a room, just show up Saturday morning and plan to spend a few hours.
Money saving tip! Even though you are only planning to stay one day, go ahead and pre-register for three days! You will save $5 and, who knows, you might want to come back on Sunday!
T-MODE 2010 will take place April 16-18, 2010 at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town in Alexandria, Virginia, right outside of Washington, DC.
In the past, T-MODE has offered more entertainment than any of the other area conventions, but has had only a couple hundred attendees! This allows for some really intimite settings with the guests and bands.
However, due to the very small size of this con and, so far, the lack of scheduled guests, The Frugal Otaku recommends spending only Saturday here this year. Don't bother getting a room, just show up Saturday morning and plan to spend a few hours.
Money saving tip! Even though you are only planning to stay one day, go ahead and pre-register for three days! You will save $5 and, who knows, you might want to come back on Sunday!
So enters the Frugal Otaku
I like anime. I like it a lot. But I don't have a lot of money and I don't endorse illegal downloading, nor do I support stuffing extra people into a hotel rooms at anime cons.
So what's an Otaku to do?
On this blog I will offer various solutions, tips, etc., for enjoying anime and anime conventions on the cheap.
Please feel free to chime in with your own ideas and comments!
So what's an Otaku to do?
On this blog I will offer various solutions, tips, etc., for enjoying anime and anime conventions on the cheap.
Please feel free to chime in with your own ideas and comments!
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