General Forum

Now I keep my purchases to a minimum because my income is limited. My big splurge is putting $100-200 in to my COMC account over the year as I have money. Otherwise I am now trying to keep purchases under $50 a month.

Keep them threads coming, some similar, some very different. 

interesting topic, but think the results could be skewed. i would be more interested in seeing the percentage of money spent

I've gone through stages over the years where I overspent.  But cards were cheaper then, and I had a lot more to show for my money.  I dont really spend much these days.  Too many other things I prefer to do with my money.  Plus, I witnessed a close relative's marriage end largely because of his card addiction, so that memory keeps me in check.  And some of my other hobbies are free/cheap so they get increasingly more of my attention once the weather improves.   Although I must confess, I did finally buy myself a $20 card last year. That was a first for me.

I like to think of myself as a cheapskate but as I reflect that’s not totally true. I won’t spend more than $3 on a card unless I’ve banked some cash on sportlots. I do spend around $20 a week on eBay though. Like someone else said I’d rather have 10 cards from a set than to spend that money on one card.  Been on disability for a while now and I know I’ll have to cut back soon but it’s hard to do.

We had a thread similar to this last year, I think. I'm too lazy to go find it. But it revealed people's budgets pretty clearly. Hmmm, I wonder if I was the one who started that? I don't think so. 

Anyway, after I got a new job a bit over 4 years ago, I gave myself a strict budget. It started at $600/yr. Stayed there in 2015 and 2016. I moved it up to $720 in 2017 and $750 in 2018. I am about $55 under the total budget for the whole four years. Of course, birthdays and holiday gifts have helped supplement that budget. I do not worry too much about how much I spend on any particular card. If I really want a card that's gonna cost me $100, I'll buy it. It just means I don't get to buy other cards for a couple of months. I mix it up and am an opportunist. If I see a card I've been hunting for months at the right price, I grab it. The 1969 Ryan and T207 Cubs Hall of Famers will kill a month or three's budget. But then I can buy the entire Gypsy Queen 2019 set and that will keep me occupied for a few weeks. And if I run out of budgeted money completely, it's time to look through the entire collection. 

All that said, and given that I've spent my career working with impoverished people, it's hard to justify sometimes. Buying one piece of cardboard for $150, no matter now old and/or beautiful, is tough on the conscience. 

But I get over it....

v3 

I remember that thread v3.

I never have kept track, it's more than a hobby to me, but it's still only a hobby - if that makes any sense. :)

I guess I could put it better this way - my collection and collecting is a lifestyle to me. While selling and/or trading is strictly a hobby to me.

Keeping track of what I spend on cards (& supplies, postage, etc.) would be the same as keeping track of how much I spend on gas for commuting, or clothes, or concerts, or groceries. I'm going to spend wha tI spend, and as long as the bank accounts and investments are moving in a positive direction, I'm fine. They start moving the wrong way, spending on everything slows or stops.

That is probably the best way to say what I was thinking. To caveat, I've spent more than I normally would a few times in the last 9 months as I've been playing catch up after being gone for so long (and starting from scratch). But as Dan points out, bills are paid, investments are funded, money goes to my son's and my savings account, etc. so I have what I have to enjoy what I love. 

I'm with vroomed and jimetal7212. I have hung on to receipts and I just tallied $219.72 spent this month and $67.00 sold on eBay so $152.70 and I am the proud owner of a very nice 300 Card 1975 Starter Set and a 950 Card  late 60s and early to mid 70s purchase. In that figure also is a purchase for 153 more 1975 Topps which netted me 101 more Cards towards the Set (in very nice condition). I am happy with that. It is Basketball Season and I officiate three days a week on top of my job which pays well so it has not been an issue. The $219.72 also includes other single Card purchase I have made at Card Shops and all the Postage for Trades I have made. I travel a lot and have many Card Shops I frequent during my Lunch Break. I hang out spend a few dollars on Cards and get a decent deal. They know 2018 Topps is about to hit and I am gonna spend more. I have an allowance I allow myself every week, if I spend it in Cards I am packing my lunch. I would rather eat a Sandwich and buy Cards but sometimes I get tired of Sandwiches and have to pass the Card Shop up for a Restaurant. FYI if you have a George Brett or Robin Yount Rookie For Sale or Trade...I may be your guy.

For me, I buy what I want to buy if at the right price.  I don't overpay (in  my mind) no matter how much I like a card. But I do have the freedom to spend money without a budget per se.  All my bills are paid and there is still money in the bank.

When the previous thread on this subject was started, I decided to keep track of what I spent - that was beginning of September last year.  I kept track of everything in three columns - Cards, Supplies and Postage.  It is interesting to see the totals climb.  If others did the same, they might be surprised at how much they really do spend. Postage alone averaged to $45/month and January 2019 has been not much different.