How do You Keep Track of Your Collection?

[mab]

The image Event site seems very cool for a small collection, or your most impressive cards. I am just coming back to the hobby in earnest, and like to collect some sets as well as individual cards. In addition, I sometimes buy things in anticipation of using them in trade down the road. As a result, I tend to accumulate more than I would want to add to Image Event.

[steve B]

In the past I used a bunch of different written methods. Notebooks, 3x5 cards, 3x5 cards punched for a tiny binder, sheets of paper with the list of numbers I needed folded in the box. All of those had big problems, Mainly access when I needed it, plus I would often lose the list and have to start over.

Now I'm putting them into excel spreadsheets, just a simple grid, numbered along the side and top, like a big checklist. Cards I have are checked off with a lowercase h if it's vg or less, uppercase if it's in decent condition. Graded ones I put the number in the box. T206s I've switched to the superset list with the colors removed in the field. It's much nicer than the one I made.

I haven't quite figured out how to handle variations yet. Especially on certain modern sets where there are hundreds. (And I suspect I'm the only one looking for some of them.)

Steve B