I've probably mentioned this before, but I feel the need to really dig deep into this topic, as it is the reason I am able to post here today. Last year during the video game awards, they were giving out Steam Decks every minute. I entered the comp and watched the show, hoping for the slim chance of winning one.
Of course, I did not. But it made me realize I wanted a Steam Deck pretty bad. There was no way I could afford one, or at least I thought. In a "there's no way this is going to work" moment, I applied for a credit card, and managed to get it. I was happy. I had a bad experience with credit cards a long time ago, but I felt this time I could do things differently. Be more responsible.
I picked up the Steam Deck, but just like the switch, I found it hard to use on complex games (in handheld mode). It became my Vampire Survivors machine for a while, but I mostly kept it in the case collecting dust because I couldn't find a proper use for it. More recently, I also used it to play Diablo IV when my PC was out of commission for a while.
Over the year, I applied for a few other lines of credit, and they gave me quite a limit. I picked up an upgrade to my music program, among other things. Still, keeping it simple.
But then my girlfriend lost her job in February. She would not get a new job until the end of October. In that time, the credit cards kept us afloat by using them to pay her portions of the rent, and the bills she normally took on (Internet, Phone Bill, etc).
It was extremely damaging to my credit score, but we still have a roof over our heads, which is the important thing. The credit cards have very high balances now, and it's about to be made worse by an unexpected car repair.
Anyway, I just wanted to share that story. Things are looking pretty rough from this point on. I don't know if I can afford the monthly payments on the cards without sacrifice. I'll end this post by saying what I usually say about money. If anyone has any they can spare, it would mean a lot to me and would go towards the balances (in the thousands) of the cards. I don't expect any money, but it's worth a shot.
I'll find a long-term use for the Steam Deck. FFXII runs great on it. Been meaning to play that game for a while. Hope everyone is doing well.