2014 - share ideas for collecting on a budget

[Vintagevault13]

As the new year approaches, it is normal to set goals for what we hope to accomplish. Collecting-wise, 2013 was a good year for me as I reached my goal of obtaining all of the Topps regular issue Hank Aaron cards (I will continue to add non-Topps & "oddball" items as I can). For 2014, I plan to continue putting together the 1st series of the 1952 Topps set (1-80, mid-grade). As a middle-class educator with a wife and 3 teens at home, I have to budget my purchases carefully. I would love to see how fellow collectors in similar situations continue to add to collections on a budget when monthly funds are definitely limited. There are certainly many vintage collectors that have the funds to buy basically what they want. I hope that sharing collecting strategies for those on a budget will encourage others to get involved and show that this great hobby is for everyone that is interested.

Thanks for sharing and Happy Collecting in 2014!

[g_vezina_c55]

Congrat again on your aaron topps run.
I am sure you will add cool stuff in 2014
For my part like isaid in 2014 i will probably have less money to invest in my collection.

So my goals is budget.
1- Try to reach 100 sgc40 1933 goudey cards in my set
2- my main goal is finish my topps regular issue mantle cards. For the mick cards i look on cards graded 1-2 for the 50s mantle and 3-4 for the 60s

[Bestdj777]

My approach to managing funds while still being able to actively purchase has always been to focus on the lower grade cards. I'd rather spend $100 on a PSA 1 or authentic than $300 on a PSA 3, particularly if I can then buy two more cards.

[Samsdaddy]

My approach being on a very limited budget is two fold.

One, I do not purchase graded cards. Even when I had money to burn so to speak, I did not purchase graded cards. There are a small handful of dealers I purchase raw/natural cards from and I trust them when they state the condition of the card.

Second, stay very disciplined in what you collect. Now, this point has always been a problem with me in the past. I might be working on a vintage football set as I am right now, but I do like to look for other cards so as to provide a little variety in my collecting efforts. So, I like to get some vintage baseball cards of some favorite players of mine as well. But, I keep it limited to just a few players.

As I stated, in the past, I would lose focus and start spreading my collecting focus way too thin. The problem is when you do that nothing gets completed.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

I will echo some of what others have said. Focus is a big deal...not that I am exactly a model for that. However, I have learned a lot about collecting this year, and I have a much clearer idea about what I want to accomplish. I need 11 more cards to finish 1941 Play Ball, so I will work on adding some of those in 2014. Also, I plan on purchasing mid-grade star cards from 57 Topps, 53 Bowman, and perhaps 52 Topps. I am going to sample these sets rather than try and complete anymore complete sets. 53 Topps and 41 Play Ball (I am sooo close that I will finish it) will be my only complete sets for the foreseeable future.

I do believe some of you guys have influenced me to make this significant change in my collecting strategy, and I am thankful for it. This had been on my mind for a while. For me and my limited budget, I feel it only makes sense to grab the cards that I really want, cards that really effect me. This will give me a chance to buy favorite cards from a multitude of sets, and that makes me happy. I prefer ungraded cards, but I am not opposed to slabbed cards at a reasonable price. I feel the need to make each purchase count. I have a wife, two young daughters, a mortgage, etc, so I am money conscious. This brings me back to where I started...staying locked in to my goals. I think it will be a great year! Happy collecting everyone!

[savedfrommyspokes]

As I collect on a budget, buying lots/sets of cards, pulling the cards I am seeking(within my range of condition) and selling the rest off as either singles or small lots to break even(in most cases) has helped me add many nice cards to my collection that otherwise could not have been afforded. In most cases my greatest expense is my time, the time used in selling of the extras to cover my costs.