The fourth quarter of the year is always a tough time on the pocketbook of gamers. With the mad rush to release for the holiday season and the countless sales in digital distribution, it’s a no wonder why we and our bank accounts are always so fatigued by the first quarter of the new year.

CNN.com advises that spending beyond your limits is dangerous. But if you do, you’ve got plenty of company.

“Government figures show that many households with total income of $50,000 or less are spending more than they bring in. This doesn’t make you an automatic candidate for bankruptcy – but it’s definitely a sign you need to make some serious spending cuts.”

In order to keep yourself from overspending it is a good idea to take a look at the upcoming releases and plan for which ones you want to buy at launch and which ones  can afford to join your collection a little while later. Here’s a list of some of the titles to watch out for in the early stages of 2012.

Don’t forget you’ll also see the release of the PlayStation Vita on February 15th in North America as well. This new handheld will run you  $249.99 for Wifi systems and $299.00 for Wifi and 3G enabled systems.

So no matter where your gaming interests lie, there is something out there for everyone in the first quarter of 2012. With the spending fatigue of the holidays be sure not to get yourself into financial woes. Examine your ‘must have’s and your ‘must have now’s and ensure that your gaming hobby remains a balanced and healthy part of your 2012.

Don’t forget to check out some of my other articles here at GFN. 

• Hands On: LBP for the PSVITA
• Great Games for your Family Library.   
• 10 Reasons Dating a Gamer Rocks!
• Let’s Discuss: Video Games aid in The Demise of Guys?