If we're including pins AND the parts, I'd say I try to keep it under $5k/year. I wouldn't say I have a BUDGET, it's whatever money that isn't work income.

My pin budget is what my wife tells me it is.

I agree a out the first year is filled with learning experience and building up your pins to swap out latter on or selling to up grade latter on after you enjoyed them for a while. My current line up is Theatre of Magic, Terminator 2, Star Trek Next Generation, Indaina Jones ( Williams ) Twilight Zone and Taxi. .. It's hard trying to find good pins at good price thru out the last couple years I have been burned couple times and learned how to make good deals on buying pins. I enjoy the hobby and have met allot nice people.

Smart man. After all, we are the ones who have to live with our wives. It would be different though if we were buying Yankee Candles, curtains, shoes, Bath and Body Works products, etc.

Crap, there is a budget? lol, I kid, I kid. I have a rule that I do not pay for any pinballs with credit! I only pay CASH!

Lol I am the wife and its my hubby who has to put the brakes on me!

I've got a pretty sweet arrangement with my business partner. Since I buy the pins and keep them up, we agree that our company pays for all repair parts/enhancements.

What is a budget? I buy machines I want and tell my wife they cost a whole lot less than what they actually do and maintenance is what it is, gotta be done.

im into mine for about $33,000 plus maybe the grand ive spent on parts and paper towels to keep'em running smooth and clean, overall id grade myself an A- for being able to assemble what I have for that amount in this wicked so cal market.

Depends on how much crap I sell thats laying around.

Trade you. Not a bad deal if new Sterns are on the "approved list". I got a little crap for bringing home a $500 EM game from the Expo!

Shhhhhhhh, I didn't tell her yet

My budget is $0. My actual expenses are a lot more.

No pinball budget. Comes out of overall "play" funds - vacations, entertainment, toys - never credit, always cash. Tends to equal what I earn on part-time job. Always a special game I'm looking/saving $/saving a space for, so I always keep shopping money on hand just in case.

There's a "budget" ?? I never knew but I'm pretty sure I blew it out of the water years ago. However the entire collection is paid for and then some.

John P. Dayhuff
Battle Creek, MI.
269-979-3836

What the budget is set at VS what is actually spent is quite drastic in my case lately. (I voted less then $1000, but have spent probably $7000).

New roof next year!

EDIT : omg I forgot if things go as planned I have to spend another 3 grand in the next 3 months for something else pinball related. The madness never stops.

This. I sold TZ, WH2O, Stargate and a few other great pins at crazy low prices. I don't like to "hoard", but each game that comes through my home represents 20-40 hours of hard work. So now I put them in storage and rotate them. They're also folded up and ready to go to shows and tournaments.

There are of course some games I don't miss at all, but as I get better at picking winners it's harder to sell the ones that make the cut and end up in my gameroom.