Thoughts on baseball card budget

[JoeDfan]

I have an "ok" budget; which I think means more than some, but certainly less than others.

I have always been amazed at what you can acquire IF you are willing to do some research.
Now I am mostly into game used stuff, but even on a limited budget, I have found some REALLY cool gems.

That is what really makes me happy, doing the research and discovering new things!

[Anish]

Yeah, I think assembling a collection under a budget - like in consistent condition but not the highest grade - is just as impressive as building one in the highest grade.

Same for finding all of a player’s cards as opposed to his RC in the highest grade (which can usually be bought at any given time with enough money).

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

I agree the constraints are actually what adds the joy. Saving, chasing, finding, and acquiring. That process is what is fun, to me. I also like trying to put sets together for free. I buy bulk lots keep what I need and sell off the rest. I do this until I'm down to a few cards and then bite the bullet and shell out. My best effort so far was a 1971 Topps set in EX- EX/MT that cost me a net of $11. It's a fun game if you have the patience.

[CobbSpikedMe]

My budget is pathetic and I'll sell some stuff to fund a slightly larger purchase if it's something I really want, but I'm mostly just acquiring cards I like. If I can find one in a particular set that I'm actually working on then that's just awesome, but I'll pick up whatever I can with my meager funds. I figure I can sell or trade it later for something I really want badly. But I enjoy all my cards and the hunt for them. Cool thread man.

[drcy]

I think if you could buy anything you'd wanted, you'd get pretty bored (and bored with the stuff) pretty quickly.

In the past I've bought an expensive, rare item only to find out when I have it that I like some of my cheapo items better.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by drcy

I think if you could buy anything you'd wanted, you'd get pretty bored (and bored with the stuff) pretty quickly.

In the past I've bought an expensive, rare item only to find out when I have it that I like some of my cheapo items better.

I have had the same thing happen. For several years I was a card renter. I have owned a lot of the top cards in the hobby in lower grade for short periods of time. There were cool to own but not stuff I really wanted to keep.

As far as card budget. For the last 20-25 years I have only bought new stuff from the $ I got from selling old stuff. So I have not spent a penny out of pocket in a very long time.

[seanofjapan]

Working within a budget does allow you to showcase a certain amount of ingenuity that someone with unlimited funds can’t. I am more impressed with a collection assembled on the cheap by someone who put some imagination into it than I am by one assembled by someone just dumping a big pile of money on expensive stuff.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by seanofjapan

Working within a budget does allow you to showcase a certain amount of ingenuity that someone with unlimited funds can’t. I am more impressed with a collection assembled on the cheap by someone who put some imagination into it than I am by one assembled by someone just dumping a big pile of money on expensive stuff.

As someone who knows someone, who knows someone, with big piles of money, I can safely say that most of them enjoy their big piles of money and get excited just as much as us with little piles of money, if not more. They are no different. I guess I am a value collector, or try to be, myself. Because after my daughters Masters degree, first semester cost, my budget is quite a bit smaller. I have no choice but to be a value-collector.

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

I agree the constraints are actually what adds the joy. Saving, chasing, finding, and acquiring. That process is what is fun, to me. I also like trying to put sets together for free. I buy bulk lots keep what I need and sell off the rest. I do this until I'm down to a few cards and then bite the bullet and shell out. My best effort so far was a 1971 Topps set in EX- EX/MT that cost me a net of $11. It's a fun game if you have the patience.

That's awesome that you were able to complete your 1971 set for a net of $11. I have been considering taking this approach with my next set. My biggest fear is that I know myself too well...I think I'll be good with buying the lots, it's the selling off of duplicates that I would drag my feet on. I already have a closet full of stuff (including some old cards) that "I'll eventually get around to selling on ebay". Some of that stuff has been there for years