how much do you spend on cards per month and/or percentage of your entertainment budget??

kingraider75

Hello folks,

I feel like I have been spending a bit too much on the ole hobby lately. Between vintage, new wax, non-sports and what not, it's taking a toll. I am probably going to have to lay off. I just wondered what others spent on their card collecting hobby?

So what do you spend total per month from all sources, ebay, online dealers, shows, shops, etc.

What percentage of your extra income is spent on cards?

I know this is kinda a nosy question, so it's cool if no one cares to respond.

For me it's probably $400 and about 60% of my entertainment budget per month.

No wonder I haven't had a good vacation in a year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RipublicaninMass

@#(lol)

As far as the percentage of extra income, not really sure what extra is! I try to limit my sell to my paypal funds for buying on ebay. If the money is in there, I can spend it on ebay. NEVER works out that way however. I try to put grading on my credit card, and just pay it in full in one or 2 months, I can't afford to have rates jump, or pay interest when I don't even have the cards back yet! EXTRA is not really a term I can use. "Most" of my money, after everything is paid for, goes to the hobby. I do need to calm down. But as I said, I watch the markets, and just can pass some stuff up, due to it's potential resale value.

AHHHH! Vacations! I need to take the significant other out once and a while, but she is cool with Burger King(lol seriously), which is her favorite, and I dont know how she can keep her body the way she does after eating it. However I try take her out to the North End (boston) once a week, nice ($$) Italian style dining. And we have our accasional anniversaries where I need to spend a bit more. I love LAS VEGAS, and I go at least twice per year, and spend what I can afford to lose. This year I want to bring a large some of money ( can you say a bushel, lol) and go crazy, rent the ferrari for a day or so, live it up. I don't want to say how much per month I spend. I ask you this is the 500-600 you spend per month or year?? I would say about 60-70 percent of entertainment $$$ I spend on the hobby.

kingraider75

I have been spending about $500 a month per month, not year, lately. That's with grading cost, new wax, ebay, shows, shops, the whole thing. I didn't realize that I was spending that much until I really took a quick inventory. It kinda opened my eyes. My ebay sales are rather minimal in amount, so I don't really count that as part of my net. So I probably sell a $100 off ebay a month, so net I spend $400 on average per month. Of course some months more, some less. But that's about as close an estimate as I can make.

Vegas is always fun, as long as you know when to fold'em.

MajorDanby

too much. i know i said this earlier this year, but i need to lay off. I'm going to get some heritage boxes and upgrade my aaron 54 rookie. After that, no more. Too bad...i was staring at a koufax rookie for awhile on ebay. Was going to bid, but i logged onto bank of america just to remind me that my income is diminishing. I had to remind myself by repeating the following...$700 on a piece of cardboard...$700 on a piece of cardboard.....

After i got my mays rookie earlier this year, i said the same thing. A few more purchases and 2 months later.....i'm still spending way too much on cards.

Mac53

Budget? I ain't got no stinkin' budget! I'm also unfamiliar with the term "extra income." Ever since my wife saw how much I was spending and the shingle hit the fan, I've been banned from ebay. Officially at least. It's worse than drugs.

kingraider75

no ebay would be hard to do. But if I could go cold turkey from buying, it would save me money.

TheCARDKid

I don't know exact amounts, but a nice portion of my collection has been paid for by profits from card sales over the years.

There are always deals out there if you look. It'll never become a completely efficient market.

larryallen73

$200-300/month.
50% of ent budget!?

Knuckles

<< <i>Budget? I ain't got no stinkin' budget! >>



Hah, exactly what I was going to post!

lawnmowerman

I have been going nuts as of late. Buying graded cards left and right. I really have a hard time stopping. It's my crack ( if I can say that ). I kinda have a good a good situation. All my bills are paid on time and there is food on the table. Who cares if the roof is caving in. Actually I better fix it, my cards might get wet

softparade

Lately I have been spending more than I should. A SWEET 78 wax box here, a PSA 9 Molly there, upcoming BIG BY MY STANDARDS SUBMISSION TO PSA, Topps Heritage ...... WHERE DOES IT ALL END?

My wife is very cool with all of this but did throw me a look after following my wax box purchase with the Molitor Only because I tried to hide it from her

A761506

I too have been buying quite a bit lately... I'd guess I spent somewhere around $15K in 2004, of which at least $1,500 was for grading fees, as I had just got back into collecting in 2003, and I submitted the majority of my collection for grading during 2004, plus many of my new purchases that I made throughout the year.

I buy a lot of raw vintage stuff at local shows with the intention of flipping it, and I would do quite well at it if it weren't for the fact that I get attached to the stuff so easily, and I'm in a fortunate position where I really don't need the money (28 & single w/ no dependants & a good job). So, I just keep pretty much everything.

I anticipate spending somewhere in the vicinity of $500-1000/month in 2005 to continue building & shaping my collection. I look at it very much like an investment, although I get a lot of enjoyment out of it at the same time, but the majority of the stuff I buy I will always be able to recoup and likely profit from whether it's today or sometime down the road, so I can justify spending upwards of $10K a year on cards.