How You Can Save Over £500 This Year by Borrowing Board Games Instead of Buying

Let’s be honest, board games aren’t cheap. One look at the latest releases and you’re already looking at £40 here, £60 there, and don’t even get me started on the big box games that can set you back £80–£100 a pop. If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably been tempted to buy more games than you have time to play. It adds up fast.

So I sat down recently with a cup of tea and started crunching the numbers. How much would it actually cost someone to buy the same number of games they could borrow over the course of a year?

The result? Well over £500 saved, and that’s being conservative.

The Real Cost of Buying Games

Let’s say you want to try a new game or two every couple of weeks, totally reasonable if you're hosting regular game nights or have kids always asking, "Can we play something new?"

That could easily add up to 30–40 games a year.

If you were to buy those, it might look something like this:

• 15 family or party games at £25 each → £375

• 15 mid-weight games at £40 each → £600

• 6 big box games at £70–£90 each → roughly £450

Total: £1,425. 😬

Even if you were savvy and bought some second-hand or in bundles, you’re still looking at £700–£900 minimum for a good-sized, varied collection.

Or… You Could Just Borrow Them

Here’s where the lightbulb moment happens: you don’t need to buy every game you want to play. With a board game subscription from Love Board Games, you can borrow board games as often as you like, without breaking the bank.

Here’s how the plans stack up:

The Beginner plan – £19.95/month → Borrow up to 2 games per month

The Weekly Gamer plan – £24.95/month → Borrow up to 4 games per month

The Ultimate Gamer Plan – £29.95/month → Borrow up to 6 games per month

If you're on the Ultimate Plan, that’s up to 72 games a year for just £359.40 (or £299 if you pay yearly). That’s the cost of maybe six or seven new games if you bought them outright.

Even on the Beginner plan, you’re getting to try 24 different games a year for less than £240 total (or £199 if you pay yearly).

Compared to a £700–£1,400 spend on buying? You’re easily saving £500 or more per year.

And It’s Not Just the Money You Save

Sure, the savings are brilliant, but what really convinced me to launch Love Board Games was the freedom that borrowing gives people.

You can try games before committing to buy.

You don’t have to worry about shelf space.

You always have something fresh to play.

You avoid those "£60 regret purchases" after one play

You get to explore games you’d never normally pick up

And most of all, you get to keep game night exciting.

Why Buy When You Can Borrow?

Every time I see someone light up over a new game they’ve just discovered, it reminds me why I love this. Board games aren’t just stuff, they’re shared moments, laughs, connections, challenges. That shouldn’t come with a hefty price tag or a crammed cupboard.

So if you're someone who loves to play but hates wasting money on games that only get played twice, give board game rental a try. You’ll save a fortune and keep the fun going all year round.

Ready to save hundreds and still enjoy amazing game nights? Take a look at our plans and start your board game subscription today.

www.LoveBoardGames.co.uk