2014 - share ideas for collecting on a budget

[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.

[frankhardy]

Team sets are a perfect way to collect on a limited budget, if you stay focused on base cards. If you branch out into test issues and certain inserts, it can get expensive. I worked on 1952 Topps to present with my Cardinals team sets and got them done in a relatively short period of time. They display great in albums and it is a fun way to continue your collection every year as a new set rolls around. Plus, it helps you keep up with your favorite team.

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by frankhardy

Team sets are a perfect way to collect on a limited budget, if you stay focused on base cards.

^^This^^

And to the OP, if you wanted to build Braves team sets, you've probably already knocked out the most expensive card within each year's team set (Aaron). Spahn and Mathews will be a little pricey, but probably not like the Aaron.

[Vintagevault13]

Great suggestions, as usual, from fellow board members. Many options to allow collecting on a budget (raw cards, lower grades, focus, lots, team sets, etc).

Happy collecting in 2014. Looking forward to seeing everyone's additions.

[Samsdaddy]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

^^This^^

And to the OP, if you wanted to build Braves team sets, you've probably already knocked out the most expensive card within each year's team set (Aaron). Spahn and Mathews will be a little pricey, but probably not like the Aaron.

If you are lucky and are a fan of the Chicago White Sox as I was, you don't have to worry about any expensive cards because they had no superstars.

Kind of kidding as they did have Nellie Fox, Luis Aparacio in the 50s and into the 60s and Dick Allen for three years in the 1970s, but compare that with teams such as the Yankees, Cardinals, Braves, Dodgers and even cross town rival Cubs, and you just don't have the upper tier superstars that those teams had.

[Vintagevault13]

Originally Posted by Samsdaddy

If you are lucky and are a fan of the Chicago White Sox as I was, you don't have to worry about any expensive cards because they had no superstars.

Kind of kidding as they did have Nellie Fox, Luis Aparacio in the 50s and into the 60s and Dick Allen for three years in the 1970s, but compare that with teams such as the Yankees, Cardinals, Braves, Dodgers and even cross town rival Cubs, and you just don't have the upper tier superstars that those teams had.

Erik

😄 funny comment about the White Sox. To be honest, growing up in the 1970's the Braves didn't have many stars except for Aaron and, to a lesser extent, Phil Niekro. After Aaron left, Dale Murphy singlehandedly carried the torch until the 90's when Glavine, Smoltz, Maddux, Jones, etc. came on the scene.

[frankhardy]

Originally Posted by Samsdaddy

If you are lucky and are a fan of the Chicago White Sox as I was, you don't have to worry about any expensive cards because they had no superstars.

Kind of kidding as they did have Nellie Fox, Luis Aparacio in the 50s and into the 60s and Dick Allen for three years in the 1970s, but compare that with teams such as the Yankees, Cardinals, Braves, Dodgers and even cross town rival Cubs, and you just don't have the upper tier superstars that those teams had.

It could still get very challenging if you branch out from base team sets and get into test issues, inserts, etc.

[Samsdaddy]

I couldn't resist the comment about the White Sox.

The only year I have put together is 1975 because it was the first year I collected baseball cards.

Seriously, most of us here collect because of the love for it so if it happens that your team does not have a lot of valuable cards, so what. Heck, I tell the story all the time how back in 1975 I traded a Hank Aaron straight up for Dick Allen because Allen was my favorite player at the time.

Though I was more of a White Sox fan growing up in the suburbs of Chicago in the 70s, I prefer collecting some Chicago Cub legends such as Billy Williams and Ron Santo over any White Sox player from the 60s and 70s.

[Samsdaddy]

Originally Posted by frankhardy

It could still get very challenging if you branch out from base team sets and get into test issues, inserts, etc.

Yes, you are correct.