How much money have you spent on chess?

What are you talking about?

What are you talking about?

Sorry about that.

Unfortunately, chess tournament fees are high (even with econ option) in my area; so a lot of my chess costs is also in tournament fees.

I’ve been playing since 2014 and within only two months, I was already good enough to play in tournaments all over the county.  While I haven’t won many at all because, well, I haven’t won any at all. The 34,000 dollars for chess tutelage and needless chess accoutrements have been worth every dollar I’ve shelled out and more.  I’m a GM but many people don’t know this yet because I’ve laid kind of low if you feel me.  I doubt you can feel me, but at any rate, I love blowing money and like eating green Jelly Beans and drinking Drano.  If I can help you, let me know.  I’m always in demand.  

ZERO

lol.

My answer to the OP's Post is "Not as much as I would like to"!

I'd love to buy a couple of spankin' chess sets but am a minimum-wage earner in west vancouver who, wait for it, smokes! I was just talking about this very topic (smoking = no chess sets) last night and I thank you for your inspiration.

I don't have a clue.  Tournament fees are a big part of it as are books.  I was paid to sponsor and coach our high school's Chess Club and OTB-rate team.  But that was only $600/year in the '90's and 00's but I spent most of it on chess clocks, boards, books, entry fees, etc. for the team and club and I did it without pay for a couple years when there were school funding crises.

I spent very little on club fees and books for decades. Didn’t play in many tournaments abroad (where travel costs, lodging and food become much more substantial for some on a limited budget...) I was poor when I was younger but 2100 USCF, now that I’m older and close to retirement I can spend much more on chess books, programs and travel, yet I’m U2100. 😝

Being a strong player and winning money at quite a few big events Ive entered has not allowed me to break even with costs of travel, gasoline, books, clocks. However, one can spend VERY VERY little on chess and become very strong - so ability is not about money. 

If you comtemplate trying to MAKE money playing chess, you’d LITERALLY have better chances at a casino over time.

Sure I have several chess books, and sure the board and pieces cost something, but I would just like to throw out there that we are all "invested" into chess. Time is priceless. With that in mind, how many hours have you spent with chess? Of course this does not have to be a life-altering revelation; chess is often "fun" or at least enhances a certain standard of living. View chess as a hobby. "Normal" people will spend money on going to the movies, or clubs, or sporting events, and so forth on hobbies - which is enjoyable for them, but costs money. Now imagine how little is spent on chess in proportion to the countless hours it comes with. As a simplistic example, a person who devotes $100 to chess and spends 100 hours regarding chess has approximately $1 an hour as entertainment. Most of us have spent much more time and money, but are getting extraordinary deals. The key is how much you are enjoying chess: they say you can't buy happiness, but doesn't this chess element present in your life-style come close? I have spent some money and time with chess, but it is not how "rich" I am, but how much chess has "enriched" me.

I don't pay anything my mom pays it

Dizzying, staggering amounts 

Comparing time spent on chess as relaxation and recreation and not time spent missing work (which isn’t always but can be no fun at all). KeSetoKaiba has got it. Read what he/she wrote. Chess is EXTREMELY affordable. Can even be FREE with a good selection of chess books in your public library. 

I've never played in a real tournament; what are the fees like for an amateur in the US?

Seems like in many ways, it has gotten much cheaper to learn chess. Chess has often been an interesting chance for regular people to challenge wealthy people on a level playing field. I think there are more chances now than ever to enter the arena.

There is a lot of free training here on Chess.com, and many other places, for example. Not to mention the fact that you can play an opponent at your current skill level 24/7 for free. Before online chess, finding a well matched opponent was much more difficult. I have 2 jobs and I am still able to get plenty of play/study time. My library has about 30 books, and can order from about 3000 books with a 2 week wait.

Luxury sets can be expensive,  but tournament sets are probably cheaper and better than they have ever been once you factor inflation in. 

Hard to find a hobby that is as deep and potentially rewarding as chess at a lower minimum buy in.

Eh, probably about $2,000. Don't play in tournaments anymore. I've only won like 400 dollars playing chess.

Good post! In terms of the time invested in chess, I always say chess is like a second job for me except that I don't get paid for it!

Re the OP question, most of the money would've been spent on the hundreds of chess books I own, plus many chess magazines. 

+1!  Chess is the least expensive hobby I've had in life, and the least expensive of all the pastimes of any of my friends through the years.  In spite of all the books and sets I've purchased... ;-)