General Forum

Obviously, you need money for your collection to buy recent releases, trade [postage], buy old stock, supplies, eBay, COMC, Sportlots etc. I mean the assumption would be more money, nicer collection. How much do you think you have spent collection wise during your card collecting days?

Are you a cheapskate? or just can't afford the hobby? If you had the chance to score on some really, really nice stuff, would you just drop $500 in a blink knowing the value is better than double and you really like the stuff? Could be a very interesting post, so let's hear it..................

I refuse to answer this question on the grounds that my wife might happen to see my response and ground me from my collection again.  

Way more than she would approve.

I really started going crazy with it around 1990 and haven't stopped since. I couldn't even begin to say how many thousand dollars I have spent and the more I think about it the more my head hurts!

In my collecting days? I'm not sure I could calculate it. Currently have a $50 a week budget, some weeks I go over, some under, but have the money in a sepearate account from the houshould bills. If there is money in it  can buy something, if not, then I can't. There are the occasional splurges over the years that require opening up the piggy bank. My wife's uncle has a saying that we stick to in our house...If all the bills are paid, the savings have been put away,  and you can afford to pay it off by the end of the month, then you can afford it.

In general though, I am thrifty with my spending. I prefer completeing team sets, so it's alaway base 1st, then parallels for newer stuff. For older, I skip the graded and am content with mid grade cards. I NEVER prospect! For every prospects who pans to become a superstar, there are 99 who don't. So for the Mookies, Bentintendis, and Devers that are selling for big money now, check with me in 10-15 years and I'll probably be picking them up for much less than they sell for now. recently I have been filling in the holes in my Youkilis, Papelbon, and Middlebrooks collections!

Scott

Now, now, I'm sure she is a lovely young lady 

I specifically try not to think about how much I've spent. I limit myself to no more than $20 for one card but I usually spend a lot less. Sometimes my family will drop $20 into my COMC account as a surprise gift and I usually turn it into 15 cards or more. Thinking about the money spent would probably take all the fun out of it and drive me from the hobby forever.

I tend to feel guilty by spending money on myself so I try not to- and I've cut way back. 

My monthly average for spending on the hobby is about $30. I don't count the costs of shipping trades in that. So far in 2019 I've spent a grand total of $30 on a box from Dave & Adams. That's probably it for the month. 

I'm a cheapskate. Always looking for the cheapest cards that I need.  I prefer to have 10 cards then one card for the same amount.   The last couple of months I have changed my focus a little.  As the commons keep going up.  I have purchased some of the older stuff for just a little more.  Filling in some spots in my collection vs going after the newer commons.   Picked up a Skybox Rave S/N /150 just .50 more then the base on COMC.

How much have I spent over the years.  I do not want to know.

It is hard for me to drop $10.00 on a card even if it is worth $50.00

It is appearing that cost of the card / shipping is driving me out of the hobby.  Harder to find guys with more then a few cards that I'm willing to pay the price for.  I have spent 4 hours so far and have not gotten enough to make a shippment worth it.

My name is Bill and this is my story...

My addiction peaked around this time last year..I was buying multiple card lots on eBay daily and the mailman was pulling up to our house to deliver the packages because I had so many..I easily spent 3-4K in a few month period maybe more..I was also buying lots off of craigslist, FB Market place, etc. Yep, it was a fun time but also a sign that I was addicted..

Luckily some life events happened (out of state move) and it forced me to get my habit under control..

I have no idea what I have spend over time but I do spend a fair amount on postage..I don't buy any waxboxes though and I rarely buy a card unless can't trade for it and need it to finsh a set..

I'd caution everyone to know that while we all enjoy this hobby, it's a very long shot that you are going to get rich from your cards..I sold many cards/sets last Fall and it was a shame how cheap I sold them for..

An interesting thread here! I just dabble in the hobby. I started in 1990 and left for many years until recently coming back to work on different card collecting projects. I currently spend an average of less than $30/month I am from Canada, and with the exchange rates and shipping costs, I have been mostly trading the past 2 years. If I had to guess my total spent it would likely be around $5000 over 29 years including shipping costs. It would be a bit less than that if I subtracted money from cards I resold.

A lot more than my collection is worth.