Yay! I got a job! What to buy?

[SweetShark]

I like quite a few genres, it's kind of hard to say. That's why I left it open, allowing Escapists to recommend their favourite games. If I was pushed to say, I've been playing a lot of rpg's lately, and my favourite franchise is Halo, so anything along those lines will be a plus, and also some strategy games. I do want to expand my gaming experiences, so I will listen to any and all recommendations if you've got any.

Ok then, I will suggest some games I like because I have both systems:

Here is the list I have for PS3:

http://www.listal.com/list/finished-videogames-for-ps3

And for 3DS I recommends
SMT IV
999 sequel
The new Ace Attorney
Luigi Mansion
Fire Emblem

I hope I helped

 

[Miyenne]

Congrats on the job.

Don't spend the money.

If I'd known what being a grown up was like when I was working as a kid...

If I had saved all that money I spent on useless shit, we would literally have been able to buy a house in cash. (Combined with some inheritance we got.)

Or I would have been able to pay off my car years sooner.

Or I'd have been able to retire a couple of years earlier if I'd put it straight into retirement savings plans and such.

Or at the very least, divide your paychecks. I'd say a good 60% plus put into savings, and keep the 40% or less for entertainment.

If you're saving for university, 30% savings, 50% university savings, 20% entertainment, or something along those lines.

You'll still get your gaming system soon enough.

But please, please trust everyone here saying save the money for something really important later on down the road. I look back on all those things I had to have (game systems included) and I get a twist in my stomach knowing what a waste of money that was because I do not use them now, most I sold off for a fraction of what I bought it for when I was in desperate need of money.

Please please please do the smart thing and save a good chunk of every paycheck now, while you don't have bills to pay. You will be so beyond ecstatic that you did when you're older.

The more cash you have for your big life purchases, the less interest you'll have to pay on them later. Paying an extra $1000 when you buy a car or house can actually save you way more than double down the line, depending on your interest rates.

 

[Miyenne]

So, Escapists, when I get my first paycheck in a couple of weeks, what should I buy?

Sorry to sound patronizing, but the advice I have actually regards keeping the job so that you can keep these paychecks flowing in. If you already know these things then wonderful, but a lot of new people have been hired at my workplace recently and I am ASTOUNDED at how many of them don't seem to know these very basic things.

- Don't call into work unless you're dead or dying. Your first few months at work are the ones that will shape how your boss sees you. If you call into work just because you have a light headache or you're a bit tired, then that'll be their impression of the kind of worker you are.

- Unless you have something VERY important to do, if they call you in, go in. Again, this'll show your boss your level of dedication.

- Don't excessively complain about stuff. Yes you'll get tired, yes your feet might hurt, yes you might even have to work late. But nobody--not your boss or your coworkers--wants to hear you go on about it. If others bring it up you can relate, but just keep in mind the work still has to get done. Complaining won't help, and will only annoy your coworkers and your boss.

- If you need off for a day, give them plenty of notice. Like, two weeks minimum, ideally three depending on how far out your schedule is made (if you have a schedule that changes a lot).

- There's always something to do, so never do nothing. Even if you technically have nothing to do, find something to do. Find something to clean or organize, or get a head start on something you'll have to have done later. This is something that's annoying the shit out of me with a few coworkers recently. It's a retail store, and for some reason when there are no customers who need helping, they just stop working. Even though there is stuff to get back out on the sales floor, stuff to organize, and clothes to fold they just...do nothing. Or worse, stop and chat. One in particular will stop working and walk through two whole sections just to say "hi" to other employees. That's nice and all, and I'm sure they appreciate it, but even more than a nice chat your coworkers enjoy getting out on time and having everything done. And you can talk while you work, that is almost always possible. Just don't stop working in order to talk, and while you're talking be sure you're accomplishing something or on your way to doing so. If you don't know what to do, then ask what needs to be done. And while we're on that subject of accomplishing stuff:

- If you have your pick at what task you are assigned to complete, don't always pick the easiest task. Choose the one others tend to avoid. This shows initiative, and it raises everyone else's morale which helps get other stuff done faster. If somebody comments, just play it off casually and say "Hey, it had to get done." Because that's what work is. Getting stuff done.

So, yeah. Whatever you choose to spend your money on, have fun. Just make sure you get in good with the boss to keep the money flowing

(I know I just posted, but I only just saw this post.)

As a former retail manager, THIS.

I had to listen to my staff whining about 8 hour shifts, when I regularly worked from before open until after close several times a week because people felt sick or tired and went home, or didn't show. My average work week was 60+ hours. Try doing that.

When my staff didn't do what they were being paid to do, I had to do it.

I worked 12 hour shifts when I had pneumonia and my doctor wanted me in the hospital. I had no choice.
I worked 12 hour shifts when I had thrown out my back so badly from working so much that again, I was supposed to be in the hospital.


It may not be a good job all the time, but trust me, the manager has it worse. The extra pay didn't make up for it. Please be nice to your manager, work hard, be nice to your fellow employees, and it won't take long to get into management yourself.

And when you have good staff, the job's a breeze and the pay is great.

When your staff sucks, you quit like I did even if the money's great.

 

[PoolCleaningRobot]

PS3 and the Last of Us. Other exclusives I would say Metal Gear Solid 4, Uncharted 2 (skip 1 and 3 unless you find 3 cheap), and Shadow of the Colossus and Ico HD. Savings accounts are for paycheck number 2. And I hope you have fun at your first job

 

[SouthernStar]

I'd wait for the ps4 to come out or just buy a really cheap used ps3 until then.

 

[CardinalPiggles]

I would recommend waiting until the next gen consoles come out, then buying a PS3 seeing as it will be cheaper once the PS4 is out.

As for the 3DS I have no idea what games are even on the system or much of anything about the hardware so I can't really say.