Another thing that's changed dramatically for me over the last year is the way that I shop for gadgets. There are some absolutely incredible deals out there, especially if you're willing to deal with mail-in rebates. There are numerous web sites out there dedicated to keeping you up to date on the latest deals. My favorites sites at the moment are Techbargains (which also provides an RSS feed) and BensBargains. Recent snags included a 4 megapixel Olympus digital camera with an Epson 820 photo printer for $318 total (!!!) and a Netgear wireless router for my girlfriend for $20. Hell, I haven't actually paid for blank CD-Rs in months (thanks to free-after-rebate) deals.
If you're looking for toys, and have a modicum of self-restraint, take a look at some of those sites. Hell, I never even look at the Fry's weekend sales anymore...