Budgeting, Patience and Goals
SpinFadeSplash23
Posts: 909 ✭✭✭
I was wondering how most of you deal with trying to achieve collecting goals that may take five+ years to achieve, or may never be completed at all. Do you allocate X amount a dollars a month to your hobby, and if you don't buy anything, it just builds up? Do you look for good deals when they pop up and buy based on best available market conditions? Or do you just say F--- it, and buy items regardless of perceived value, as we have no idea how long we'll be on this Earth and waiting too long may not be your cup of tea?
Right now, I am attempting to build a 1986-87 Fleer PSA 10 Base Set and Stickers (I have 25 Base Cards and 3 Stickers so far) and a PSA/DNA card collection of every NBA Hall of Famer (I have 35 players in so far). My biggest issue is tempering my patience and figuring out how to allocate my money in an intelligent manner. Trying to find "deals" on 86-87 Fleer PSA 10s in this current market is not easy, especially on the star players. My thought is to acquire the low to mid-range now and wait for a dip (hopefully) in the future to get the 4 figure plus cards. It is VERY tough to see the top end PSA 10s on Ebay and not pull the trigger. How do I squash this urge and stick to my plan?
Thoughts? Ideas?
Right now, I am attempting to build a 1986-87 Fleer PSA 10 Base Set and Stickers (I have 25 Base Cards and 3 Stickers so far) and a PSA/DNA card collection of every NBA Hall of Famer (I have 35 players in so far). My biggest issue is tempering my patience and figuring out how to allocate my money in an intelligent manner. Trying to find "deals" on 86-87 Fleer PSA 10s in this current market is not easy, especially on the star players. My thought is to acquire the low to mid-range now and wait for a dip (hopefully) in the future to get the 4 figure plus cards. It is VERY tough to see the top end PSA 10s on Ebay and not pull the trigger. How do I squash this urge and stick to my plan?
Thoughts? Ideas?
Joe
IG: goatcollectibles23
The biggest lesson I've learned in this hobby, and in life, is that if you have a strong conviction, you owe it to yourself to see it through. Don't sell yourself, or your investments, short. Unless the facts change. Then sell it all.
IG: goatcollectibles23
The biggest lesson I've learned in this hobby, and in life, is that if you have a strong conviction, you owe it to yourself to see it through. Don't sell yourself, or your investments, short. Unless the facts change. Then sell it all.
0
Comments
T222's PSA 1 or better
This right here. I try to build sets through a combination of grading cards myself and buying them. When buying, I do look for value, but on low pop cards needed to complete the set, I'm not afraid to throw VCP prices out the window by paying much more.
The trick, of course, is resisting the urge to buy something outside of the main focus when there is nothing available to purchase for the set. The flip side is resisting the urge to overspend when there are an abundance of graded cards available for the set. I "squash" the urge either way by pulling out my set and reviewing/enjoying it for what it is at the time and talking shop about the set here on the boards. Additionally, when there is an overabundance of cards but not enough in the budget for that month, I tell myself that there will always be another available to purchase in the future when I do have the cash. This is always true for the set I collect and I don't see that changing any time soon. And I think the set your collecting is just such a set.
It also pays to periodically review your goals to see if they are still reasonable. For instance, if you decide you're not going to spend any more than X dollars for a common card and the cards frequently go a bit higher than that, then you may want to readjust your dollar limit to something more reasonable or lower the target grade to meet your current dollar limit.
None of this easy if you're on a budget. However, you're title for this thread about sums up the best advice to follow.
+1. That's great advice. It pays to prioritize your purchases based on relative difficulty of the cards.
As for the 1986 Fleer Basketball set, absolutely stunning in PSA 10. I have all the stars in PSA except for Chris Mullin. He usually brings about $1,000 if I am not mistaken. Here is an example of foolish IMO. There is a guy on eBay that has a really nice one for $3,000 BIN. I sent an offer of $1,250, which I believe might be a new record sale on eBay and he hits me back at $2,500. In that case I don't buy. If he had hit me back at $1,500, I may have bought or countered at $1,400.00. In this case I use patience...
THIS
WTB: PSA 1 - PSA 3 Centered, High Eye Appeal 1950's Mantle
The only exception I am making right now is in some unopened packs. The unopened guys here (as well as receiving packs from past group rips) have convinced me to accumulate one pack from 1974. I have been able to accumulate a good bunch of the older packs, but there are still a couple from the 1970's I still need. I have already said 'eff it' on a couple of them, but given the recent direction of the price and availability, I may end up biting the bullet sooner than my collecting budget would allow. But for the most part that is my exception and not my rule.
How to squash the urge - you answered your own question - stick to your plan. Maybe allow yourself a splurge purchase (if your budget would allow), but remember that this is a journey. If possible, split your budget - one pile for the low and mid-range, and one pile for the big tickets. Keep your eyes open and when the opportunity knocks - pull the trigger.
Good luck with your collection - just remember to have fun with it.
Topps/OPC Hockey 1966-Present base sets
Jmaciu's Collection
https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/pdub1819/othersets/6204
Steady, this ship goes..... (/wave)
IG: goatcollectibles23
The biggest lesson I've learned in this hobby, and in life, is that if you have a strong conviction, you owe it to yourself to see it through. Don't sell yourself, or your investments, short. Unless the facts change. Then sell it all.
I have almost zero disposable income. I have completely done a 180 and now have to budget for any purchase I am to make. I rely on good friends/dealers that are kind enough to allow me to buy cards on installment plans, etc. With all that being said, I have never been more fulfilled than I am right now with where I am in my collecting. I appreciate everything (cards included) so much more than I ever dreamed about prior to this jolt to my life occurring. I struggle now. Sometimes I have to sell some cards every now and again to get by month to month, but as crazy as it sounds, I like it that way!
I wish you well in whatever direction you go with your collecting. The 86 Fleer set is a great set.
Matt
I collect: 80’s Rookies and 86 Fleer Basketball
<< <i>I will give you a slightly different perspective by which to consider.....I collect mainly fairly high grade HOF rookies. I have been doing so for quite some time. I historically have not ever budgeted for any purchase I wanted to make. If I saw a card I liked I bought it for the most part. There were some exceptions on really high dollar cards, but you get the idea. This year has been one of the toughest years of my life. My wife and I have separated, I see my kids about 50% of the time each month, I have 60% of my income going to my wife so she can live in our old home and we limit the impact on my kids, and I'm heartbroken like I have never been in my life.
I have almost zero disposable income. I have completely done a 180 and now have to budget for any purchase I am to make. I rely on good friends/dealers that are kind enough to allow me to buy cards on installment plans, etc. With all that being said, I have never been more fulfilled than I am right now with where I am in my collecting. I appreciate everything (cards included) so much more than I ever dreamed about prior to this jolt to my life occurring. I struggle now. Sometimes I have to sell some cards every now and again to get by month to month, but as crazy as it sounds, I like it that way!
I wish you well in whatever direction you go with your collecting. The 86 Fleer set is a great set.
Matt >>
Hang in ...I was in that place in 2008 after three years we divorced and started dating a month after divorce and back together again. She says the best thing to happen. I disagree but it works for us. We have been together 23 years. I started the hobby back a few years ago and it has helped with life in general and enjoy the way it calms my mind. Enjoyment is the key.