How do you prioritize your 'want' list?

mygotta

Sometimes I find myself just buzzing around eBay looking at cards, prices and soon I get deep into searches and start thinking about what might be good additions to my collection that are off of my want list. Do you often make spontaneous purchases on a hope and a whim that you scored? or do you keep strict with budget and want list? I recently won a card that is way off my radar but thought I got it at a good price (or hope).

ThoseBackPages

FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS

Focus is KEY to collecting.

someone once told me, its easy to go broke saving money on eBay

Foo3112

When I go on ebay, I usually type in the same searches to see whats newly listed for me to choose from. I don't go picking up random cards. For example, I think Thurman Munson 1971 Topps is a great card but it doesn't flow with what I currently have. That and there's at least 50 - 100 cards I want even before that one.

emar

On my speadsheet, I have each want-list item hyperlinked to search results.

I go thru a "procedure" before I expand my want-list. Recently I added more semi-star RCs.

My budget prices total is expensive enough!

Mapleleaf

I started by collecting 80's OPC, then expanded to the 70's, then cut it back to certain years to focus better. Prices have gone up a fair bit in the 4 years I've been collecting graded cards so in hindsight, I probably would have started with the older stuff first maybe even 50's and work forward. High grade 50's and 60's are out of my budget now.

CocoaBeachDodgers

It is so easy to get side tracked because there are so many great cards out there from all sports, teams, cities (even SF teams!). It is also hard to pass on that really good bargain, but I find that if you do wonder, it will take you longer to achieve your goal, or complete the sets you are working on.

Now of course, that great bargain card could be resold to help fund your collection, but it seems those bargains are becoming harder & harder to come by any more!