FanimeCon 2024 Forums

I will be attending fanime for the first year this year, and I want to get a feel for how much I should save up
I know, I might have a heart attack, but I'm making my own cosplay and someone else is driving me (=no gas)
So hopefully it wont be THAT bad (although I AM a sucker for otaku goods XP)

So, in past experiences, how much have YOU spent on fanime? Was all of it worth it? What do you recommend buying/NOT buying?

I spent like 150 last year. Included like 3 figures, a ps2 swap disc, and food (which was like for only one meal, I didn't eat).

200 last year, 250-300 this year

I've put aside $1600 for my Fanime Fund for this year.

Though admittedly a very large portion of that is going to a plane ticket, and another large portion is going to a hotel for five nights rather than the usual three, since I've got a lot of travelling to do ><

I'm budgeting around 350 for food, drink, and dealer's room goodies. Possibly a bit more for the dealer's room if I can get the plane ticket for less than the estimated $800 I'm looking at right now.

$100 is reasonable for non-dvd and non-figurine purchases.  I spent $120 last year for a Hitsugaya figurine.

I have about $200 for Fanime'08 because I'm selling at the Swap Meet.

If you're a compulsive shopper, you will have a hard time not buying everything in site. There's lots of things to buy... XD

Anyway, last year I bought around $100 worth of stuff. I didn't wanna spend too much just in case something happens and I need money for something important.

$200...............................a day....................4 days....................$800...............thats not including hotel.....flight....and food......that was last year.................yes, i live with my mom still........   :P

<_<  >_>  ...way too much.
I live in the area, so don't have to pay much for transportation, and usually end up splitting room cost with friends. I also pre-reg early, and eat little at the con (I bring tea bags and instant ramen with me), so most of the money goes towards the dealer's room and artist's alley.

...which always ends up being a lot. I think last year I had about $200-300 set aside before con, and ended up withdrawing about $40, in addition to the $50 that I got from one of the group members (I was the organizer for a group, so was collecting payment for some people's badges at-con)

How much you spend will depend entirely on how impulsive a buyer you are, how much will-power you have when you see something you want, and how willing you are to risk that it'll be there the last day if it goes on sale. Also, on what kind of merchandise you like. Little phone charms and figurines are usually $10-20, figures can cost anywhere from $30-130, posters, pencil boards, etc. I'd recommend somewhere between $150 and $300. I know that my best buys have always been figures and posters, and sometimes those rare DVDs or box sets. I'm a sucker for little things, because I can have a lot of them and not have it clutter my room and piss off my roommates. I'm also a sucker for grab bags, so I end up with a lot of random stuff (hello swap meet! ^+^)

I spent close to $500 last year. sold some stuff at the swap meet, and that's where i get most of my funds for the con. This year, tax rebate, so that should help. I'll still do the swap meet though. :3

I spend roughly $300 to $500 on average including hotel fees and food each FanimeCon, and possibly more at AX. I'm trying to lower that number, though. It's just exciting when I see something I can physically buy without paying shipping and waiting for it to arrive if I purchase online, and something else might catch my attention and I'll end up buying that too. I am a compulsive shopper, but now that I've been forced to learn how to budget under certain circumstances, it probably won't be too much of a problem anymore. 8D

I brought $200 and spent about $125... that was excluding food ( I only ate like, three times. =.=;; NOT A GOOD IDEA, by the way) and excluding room (though I only spent $75 together on 3 nights. But mommy paid for that :3) I didn't buy much at all, but the things I did buy was expensive.... though I forget what...
I don't remember much of Fanime, it was too fun and I was too sleep deprived/food deprived. =.=;
I'm bringing $300 this time. Maybe I'll actually buy things I'll use/keep. And eat. GOSH did I need food. Maybe I'll bring some...

I'm projected to spend $750 @ Fanime this year...that includes reg, hotel, food, spending money, and some other costs

This year, zero.  :'(   
But with a room, food, and what I've spent on goodies in previous years, usually about $500-$650 (depending on what I got from dealers and the swap-meet).  I guess it really depends on how much you buy, if you're sharing a room / transportation, and if you can find other ways to save money.

Right now, planning around $300-400 to spend in dealers room (mostly on figurines). Maybe a little more for food at restaurants outside the convention center but for the most part I'm bringing my own food.

not including my room cause i didnt have a room mate, i spent about 300 combined on food, dealers room, swap meet and artist alley.

I didn't buy anything in the dealers room last year. Fanime to me is more of a place to hang out with friends then go shopping.

astroboy's expenses:
1) hotel with 3 roommates for 3 nights
2) gas
3) badge - free (I'm staff)  ;D
4) going out to eat:
a Vietnamese noodle soup
b Hydration - bento box+bubble tea
c Pizza my heart
d Lee's sandwiches
5) cosplay outfit

I have this theory that cosplayer's don't really spend much on anime merchandise, if you know what I mean. *wink*

If you want a general idea, check out this thread with a basic break down of expenses. Of course, depending on travel costs and what in particular you want to buy, you'll have to add/subtract as necessary.

http://forums.fanime.com/index.php/topic,8446.0.html

I will be spending ~$1000 not including room/food.

It's about how much I brought and spent last year...and is sufficient to purchase almost anything and everything I want over the 4 days of the con.

W00t...fanime.

Well I've already spent $280 on the reg and plane tickets..plus $200-300-ish for whatever else.

i spent almost 2k last year and went broke. i dont recomend that to anyone at all. but i think i will cut it down to 600-800 if i can get that together. woot for having b-day 2 weeks b4 the con. *dances*

The thing that kills me is hotel rooms. D: I just can't pay for them all. I don't have any friends (;____;) and the ones that I do have and do come never can (or want to) share a room with me.

My first year I just didn't stay overnight. My second year, I shared with one friend, and I didn't end up making her pay for her half, even if she was a crazy psycho betch, (I hate her now), my third year I staffed and shared a staff room with other people and there was a bad experience with a masturbater, so needless to say, I'm not going to be doing that again, and my fourth year, which was last year, I spent on my own, and I have to say, it was depressing. I want to share rooms with friends, but all my friends are pretty much female and come with their families. ;___;

I spend the regular 50 bucks on a con badge unless I get out of it, and last year I took a train so that cost me a bunch too. I rarely buy anything from the Vendor's Hall anymore though. I've outgrown manga and anime. (At least un-free anime I can't watch online. >___>) I never really collected stuff. I decide to eat, and depending on where I go, it usually amounts to 50-75 bucks total of my entire trip. (Avoid buying food from the con.)

As the years passed on, I found that I was spending more and more money on something that had become less and less fun. I'm not sure if I want to go this year.

i spent about 600 bucks... dont ask.

I spend around $300 or $350 for food, stuff to buy at the dealers room, and hotel room.

Quote from: Long on February 20, 2008, 11:31:19 PM
my third year I staffed and shared a staff room with other people and there was a bad experience with a masturbater, so needless to say, I'm not going to be doing that again,

0_0; ....I-I'm sorry to hear that

I have a feeling I would be scarred for life if I was you X[

I spent no more than forty dollars. I just bought a T-shirt, a hand-drawn portrait of a girl, and booze. It depends on which type of anime fan you are. I'm a really casual anime fan, so it's not necessary for me to spend a lot of money on memorabilia. I just buy shirts and key chains.

Quote from: zemric on February 20, 2008, 10:53:57 PM
i spent almost 2k last year and went broke. i dont recomend that to anyone at all. but i think i will cut it down to 600-800 if i can get that together. woot for having b-day 2 weeks b4 the con. *dances*

So is mine! Mine's May 11th! What's yours?

Edit: And because I'm a mod and I should set a good example, I'm staying on topic...

I spend about $200. This year, I don't think I'll be spending any. I live about 5 blocks from the convention center.

my bday is the day before the con may 22 so fanime is my birthday present

OMG MY BIRTHDAY IS MAY 22ND TOO!

happy birthdayyy tooo ussss ~

(and yes I'm seriously serious)

Oh boy oh boy will I have to save up for the con...

XP I like hearing about past experiences that you guys had though, good foundations to learn from!

Honestly, I spend more money on food and snacks rather than anime merchandise. I don't plan to spend more than $100 total for the con, merchandise and food. If I can buy something normally everywhere, I necessarily don't need to buy it at Fanime (even with con discounts; the reg fees offset the sale), especially when there are anime stores everywhere.

There are very few decent anime stores around here, hell, most of the anime toy merchandise I own comes from the store I work at... So for me it's a good opportunity to buy things that I'd only otherwise be able to get online, and save on shipping costs. So I probably spend more than most people.

This will be my first time at Fanime. But going on what I've spent at other cons in the past, I can easily say I will probably spend around $300-$600. Which does not include: my hotel room,. food, and the cost of gas for the drive there and back. My truck has a somewhat thristy V6 so...I'll just have to wait and see.

I spend around 60-100 bux??  I'm hoping to get some cool stuff at fanime.

My school's club pays for the rooms, though we still have to contribute $50 for registration. From there, my costume budget is usually $150, $100 for food, and at least $150 for DVD's. So, the ususal cost comes out to about $350.

too much. *sigh*

well in total here is what i spend prepairing for fanime
$500- making costumes
$500- for room
$300- for dealers room ( i know i spend alot there)
$100- for food
and transportation i just bummed a ride from my parents

Plane ticket: $300
Room for 3 nights, split between 4 (plus parking): $100
Food (with one nice dinner and alcohol): $150+
Dealers room: $100 or less

Total: $650-$700

Plus, I'm spending a few days in CA with friends before Fanime, so that's even more I need to save for food and stuff to do.

Cosplay: bloody fingers and $50




Miku Hair Cut:  $16.67 plus tip




Five Gas Stops:  $150




Five days & Four nights w/ SasuNaru Yaoi:  $87.20 and a nose bleed




Once a Year Fanime w/ Otaku and Glomps:  PRICELESS

What my daughter wants me to spend and what I want to spend are two totally unrelated numbers. I'm freaking out about the thought of her in a room full of goth loli stuff. I'll give her $20 and a swift kick in the butt.

I'm such a good mum.  ;D

However, I hope people will come to my booth and buy things, because that's sort of the point of going to the con for me. Although, being an anime geek, I'm sure I'll pick up some great items too.

Oh goodness, well lets break it down:
Hotel room: $280.68 according to my reservation email  Probably end up at $300 after parking fees.
Badge: $50
Driving there and back: $10 maybe?
Food: $75 maybe?  I usually over budget this to $100 just in case
Drink: $50-$100 What can I say I enjoy good stuff and I share with friends
Dealers room: I usually bring around $200-$300.  I rarely spend it all though.

So I have an $840 budget.

Plus I'm planning on buying a new camera.  So if you want to include that there's another $600

At most 1k. But I am hoping nothing over 500 including my cosplay.

I know a lot of people don't eat. A friend of mine only had like, a sip of water and a few pocky sticks, considering she wanted to save all her money for stuff. I'm hoping to have around 200. Maybe three, saving off some for food.

Make sure you have food money!

hotel 100, food bout 50, merchandise bout 100
so 250 ish to 300

air fare-250 ish round trip from utah
hotel 5 nights 150.00
food money and limited fun money 200.00 , more if i can save more by then
reg, pre-reg fee...was purchased as an early b-day present from a good friend
35.00 for a dress to wear at the B&W ball if I go
90.00 for one new cosplay if I decide to, but i do have 2 1/2 other outfits to bring

total 600-725

also this may not seem alot if you have a full time job. On the other hand I dont use ant of my job money for cons.
I earn all my con money through online sales and crafts ^_^.

Hmm...
Hotel: $400 ~ 500
Transportation (Air Ticket): $150 (round trip)
Food: $200
Merchandise: $100 ~ $2000 >_<
Funny pranks on anime club members: priceless XD

Quote from: kyochan on March 14, 2008, 02:08:30 PM
Hmm...
Hotel: $400 ~ 500
Transportation (Air Ticket): $150 (round trip)
Food: $200
Merchandise: $100 ~ $2000 >_<
Funny pranks on anime club members: priceless XD

THEIF!!  jk   but what is that big gap between mechandise?

This year I should have close to 1200 for everything.  That's more then enough for my hotel, food AND fun stuff.  YAY!

XD A LOT more than previous years I've going. My roommates are lucky that they don't have to pay except for parking and food. With pre-registration, hotel room, and food, it should be less than $800. XD.. I'm very selective at dealer's room so I spent less there than food.

Hotel-50
Food-50-80
Dealers Room- 100-300
Fun stuff- ?
I guess it'd be around 600...probably 200 less then that.

I spent about $120 last year...but I don't think I will be able to spend as much this year because my source of money is from my parents (who REALLY hate that I love anime).
Last year's expenses included messenger bag, t-shirt, and other small accessories from the artist alley. I didn't own any anime merchandise before that. ^^; Just manga manga manga xD

Oh, and Sushi+Pocky too. <3

Oh, just spending? Thank god. At first i thought this thread included the cost of cosplays, in which case I've already probably spent close to $1000 >.< I'd rather not total it all up...

Anyway, so far this year, I have spent the $50 for full-weekend pre-reg, and I plan to have around $200 (at LEAST) for food and fun. I'm turning 18 in 1 week, though, and all I asked for is money....so maybe I'll have a lot? XD I didn't buy much last year at all, because I'm a very cautious buyer :P And as for food....I don't eat much during Fanime XD Fanime is 4 days of no sleeping no eating followed by a week or so of being absolutely dead XD

I'll have 600 saved up from work by the week of the convention, if I get lucky with selling my text books, an extra 100 or 200 to add on top of that. Not too worried about rooming, if the friend plan fails, then my house is just a bus ride away. Gotta love the 23. Food... 100 bucks MAX. I may do some pre shopping for some grub. I'm lucky I'm not a big eater, despite my size.

If I can manage to spend 400 bucks in the dealers room, then I'll be a happy camper. If I spend more, then that's what the extra cash is for. Buffer room. Gotta take advantage of the swap meet.

55 - admission
50 - food
?? - dealers room
20 - parking if im lazy D:

i spent an average 150-200 at every fanime when it came to finding out how much i spent. that dealers room... curses... i lose all control once in there

I'm spending ANY money I can find right now.

I'm even selling my soul on E-Bay right now (Top bid so far is 53 cents )

How much do I spend? Well, outside of food and hotel, as much as I can (given how much I have). Unless you count last year....I had less than $100 for five days... :'(

Ugh, lets not even go there.

But I actually spend the most on cosplay >_<;;

Gas, food, and merchandise are all close seconds.

Let's see ...

Pre-reg was $50, hotel will be about $90, food (I'm buying from the grocery store and bringing it with me) will be about $40, and I have about $400 to do whatever the hell I want with. So that's $580? Honestly, I thought it was going to be a lot more than that.

I think I spent about $300 last year.  But I'm local so I don't have to get hotel/airfare and can eat at home too.

If you don't add the registration and hotel cost, I usually spend anywhere between 100-200 dollars.

last year I spend around 500 bucks it was like a 100 each day.That wasn't including the room.
and This year....hmm.. I think 400

because i'm too young to have an actual job, (not many places hire 14-year-olds) I've saved up about $202.23.

I tend to spend a grand total of 700 bucks at fanime:
300 for room
100 for registration (I go with my partner so that's for 2)
300 for anime crap (I usually spend a little under this but 300 is a general rule of thumb, once I spent over because those damn perfect grade Gundam Z model kits are so expensive ><)  I like to get a lot of manga because you can find good deals at the swap meet and sometimes in the dealer room.  I get DVDs and import video games only if the price is nice (the internet and user's side has spoiled us!).  Most of it is spent on toys or little trinkets (cell phone straps, pins etc).

I usually bring food from home which saves a lot of money... although I do tend to eat out at least once at La Vics, and PMH >.>

If all goes well, Lt will have little over $100 to spend on anime junk.

Oh you know, somewhere around 6-700, that includes the whole shebang.

I spend as much money I can get. D:
Well for Registration I spent 50$
Then for cosplay I spent about 85$
Then gas will be 30$+ (we don't live that far)
THEN to spend there I'll have about 150$
D:

hmmm

my cosplay(s) should be $200

food is $30 since i barely eat till i ge home to forage off leftovers

dealers room i brought 150 last year but this year i want to save 300 but we will se how that goes

plue the 20 for arcade that machine this year was so adicting the one where u spin the wheel and hope u get a 5 and the prize falls down

anyway wow lucky my b day is the 22 or i would be drounded in bills

This year I spend around $250, on buying 4 video games, 1 yugioh card deck, and a pencil board, and the rest is food.

$300.00 out of 400.00.

A lot of Gundam stuff.

If I get a job before fanime, I'll be spending 160 on hotel (I'll have roommates), 100 on food, and try to get at least 300 for spending on junk'n'stuff (I am aiming high on this bar however).

I spent 350, 200 or so on the hotel and the rest on food and souvenirs. Looking to save a lot more for next year, but I need a better job.

i spend more on girls than I do on myself...

go figure...  ::)

oh Hai Kegan_flame (aka KeganMonster)  :P

Surprisingly, I tend to spend only around $200-$300. However, I was a bit disappointed in the vendors and their products this past year so I don't think I even spent $100.  :o Most of my money is saved for AX and Kinokuniya in LA/SF, so I have to ration it all out.

I'm concidering getting a second job to support my anime addiction.  Seriously, if I work 10-20 hours a week I can afford fanime in style as well as one or two more conventions.  They cut my hours at my real job, but gave me a raise at the same time.  So now I make the same ammount in 6 hours I used to in 8.  If I commit those 2 extra hours to something else I could have some good money to spend on conventions next year.   ;D

I spent $110 Gil Pre Reg/Hotel [F.F Mog terms Gil for Money XD]
$20 Gil on Gas there
$27 Gil for an An cafe CD
$25 Gil for a Reno action figure
$5 Gil for a Hikaru no Go Sai Plush
$15 Gil for Death Note Vol.13
$69 Gil for The Death Note Art Book
All together that was : $271 Gil
Food we brought our own from Home because we are cheap XD

Gas- 75ish?
Reg- 50
food- 20
goodies- 0 ._.
hotel- 250 maybe?
Parking- 40

It's pretty easy to budget.

500 on gifts and things I bought. Another 100 just for the hotel room...and next year I have two friends coming from England to join the fun but I'm gonna need more cash haha

40-50 on prereg
110 on room
150 on food, an approx. number that is
700+ on items for myself and my friends.

I may not spend this much, but this is pretty much the budget I give myself. Good thing I have a decent enough job. lol

K sooo...this year I spent

Hotel - NOTHING my friend left and this was her going away present from her family
Costume - 60 and I'm SO buying my costume next year
Merchandise - 300
Snacks - 50
Food - 30

hahah I spent more on snacks than on food...

Awesomee! Now I know how much to bring next year!

Food, about 50 bucks a day (Thurs, Friday, Saturday, Sunday Monday) = 250 Dollars.
Hotel Room = 85 bucks.
Parking = 15 Bucks for the whole weekend.

So about 350. Most of it was on Food, but damn I ate like a king a lot of meals. I also spent a lot on Tea @ starbucks everyday. I had 2 Green Teas a day. I might just bring my own shit next year (hot water heater) and do it myself.

My final total for Fanime 2008 was $644.85.

I plan to surpass that in 2009.

I'm a horrible person. I spent $7 in the Dealer's room (two mangas for $4, a magazine for $1, and a $2 tiny ruler that saved me in Geometry).

I didn't eat on Friday or Monday, but I ate one meal during Friday and Saturday, for $5 each.

Fanime entrance fee was $45.

I spent $62.

I wonder if I'll surpass that in 2009...

I know I'll surpass it next year. With hotel, food that I'm buying, cases of water bottle, registration, gas, and whatever they have in dealer's room. Most of it will go to hotel as usual. I plan to bring my own microwave too since I'm planning to have my roommates to save up for other stuffs. *nod nod* So probably, it will range up to $800. Okay. Time to budget it again.

Too much!  so much i think its the only reason why i work >_> ya know aside from those bills that have to keep coming in the mail that i never want to pay for.....(but i DO!! ::hides from the collection agency:: I SWEAR! I paid you last week ;.;)

Think my total last year including food, hotel, and dealer room came to somewhere around.....$600 to $800 give or take a penny

Last year was the first time I attended Fanime and ended up spending aroung $1,200 for everything.

Well, last time i went, I spent a couple hundred. THIS time, however,I have a cosplay group, so I need to buy some cosplays so we can make our debut. Including those, the hotel, getting into Fanime...

Oh, about $730 XD

And that's not even yet including things I'll be buying at Artist's Alley, food (if I can get any ^^;), and any other assorted things. Or the props I need to make...

Crap, I might be going higher... better bring my own microwave so I can eat XD

Last year I spent like 200 dollars, one mainly merchandise no food for like 4 days, except eating at 1 am at my friends house. Almost fainted at the con and my firned had to buy me food.

For 09' I plan to have around 1400 just for prep before fanime, then for the con I hope for about 400.

Quote from: MaruKyuu on August 31, 2008, 11:52:37 PM
I'm a horrible person. I spent $7 in the Dealer's room (two mangas for $4, a magazine for $1, and a $2 tiny ruler that saved me in Geometry).

I didn't eat on Friday or Monday, but I ate one meal during Friday and Saturday, for $5 each.

Fanime entrance fee was $45.

I spent $62.

I wonder if I'll surpass that in 2009...

/cry Plz eat people!

its weird at fanime i dont get hungry maybe taht should be the newest diet the fanime diet

Quote from: Mr Anime on September 03, 2008, 06:47:37 PM
Last year was the first time I attended Fanime and ended up spending aroung $1,200 for everything.

.....You...spent how m-much? :-X

cant you read 1200

Quote from: Mr Anime on September 03, 2008, 06:47:37 PM
Last year was the first time I attended Fanime and ended up spending aroung $1,200 for everything.

*cry*

Quote from: Mr Anime on September 03, 2008, 06:47:37 PM
Last year was the first time I attended Fanime and ended up spending aroung $1,200 for everything.

What the HELL?

My final tally last year ended up being just over $1700. However, that included round-trip airfare from eastern Canada, the entire hotel bill for five nights (I will get paid back when my best friend's life settles down later), and a few nice dinners as well as the regular fast food.

But as I've said before in a similar thread to this one - Fanime isn't just the con for me, it's my yearly vacation and a time to catch up with someone I only see once or twice a year. So a lot of our budget isn't directly con-related.

Let's see ... gas was godawful, something like $120 for the round trip.  Hotel was about $420, parking included, arriving on Day 0 and leaving on the last day.  I think I spent perhaps $50 total on swag, including gifts for some people, another $50 or so on food (we brought a lot of stuff up, so I should probably add another $25 on for that -- food was perhaps six meals total out).  My sister went halvsies on the hotel (it was just the two of us), and a friend who got a lift with us paid for half the gas, so grand total for my share was somewhere around $450 when you add in registration.  It would have been a little more, but Starbucks thwarted my caffination plans repeatedly by being out.  T_T

However, if I were to count how much I'd spent on my cosplays, that'd be another matter entirely.  I do tend to spend more when I go to a con I don't drive to, between airfare and shipping (it's cheaper than paying to check my swords on the plane) and not being able to bring food along.  When you factor those sorts of things, plus possibly not sharing a hotel room or floating the bill for others, I can see how it creeps up -- my AX hotel bill, before we divvied out shares, was almost a grand for five nights.)