[petillo64]

So, I'm 80% of the way towards my target of 5k for my second -5.5 month old child's college fund... Other than some of the bigger pieces, My yelich/Bregman collection has not needed to be touched, which is pretty cool, and I still have a ton of BIN's up. I have had a hard time, not collecting over the past few weeks. The bottom line is that collecting makes the game of baseball more fun for myself. However, I don't think I'll ever feel right about having cards that could bring in several hundreds of $ in a single sale, especially when they are young players who could tank and be worthless.

I hate to be one of those "I'm out of the hobby, I'm back into the hobby" guys. The bottom line is that I love baseball and collecting is a great part of it, but the way I was collecting had to change. I've decided that I want to keep collecting, but focus PURELY on the fun aspect of things. The whole stress of "prospecting" and worrying about selling at the right time, and hoping a prospect who I have several hundreds or thousands of $ in doesn't tank turned out to be more stress than fun. I want my cards to have a personal and monetary value, but with my non-yelich/bregman stuff it was far more monetary than personal.

My ideas on future collecting and possible PC:
- Picking up my favorite cheap late 80's early 90's RC's/Cards in BGS quad 9.5 grade.
- Picking up autos of my favorite players from childhood, players who I have a great deal of respect for and have enjoyed watching or who have a cool story behind them (Jim abbott, king felix, josh hamilton etc...)
- Picking up A's cards that have some sort of personal significance... whether it be a RC from a memorable season, or a pie in the face card etc... I'd probably start with the coco crisp glove stories from gypsy queen because I was at the game and the fact it was commemorated on-card is pretty awesome.

I was just curious about how you guys budget or focus your hobby money... or any systems you might have with the way you collect? I'm thinking of giving myself a small budget of about $40 a month to toy around with. Thanks in advance!

[tucker251]

Well I'm looking to buy so I can start building my collection if ur willing to sell.

[paulkellyjr]

Hopefully to stay involved in the hobby - even if scaled back. My plan for the last ten years (3 young kids) was to buy 1 box of each Bowman, Bowman Chrome and Bowman Draft plus the Topps Factory set. After that, I allocated roughly $500 per year for trade expenses and new purchases (eBay, blasters, etc.) Reality tells me I can't wait all those long months between Bowman release not to open something. Regarding purchasing single cards, I seldom buy single cards anymore. If I can't trade for it, I just live without it. I gave up a long time ago in being the top super collector for any player and accepted being the biggest super collector I can be and still have a wife and family (happy wife happy life) ;-)

[petillo64]

Well I'm looking to buy so I can start building my collection if ur willing to sell.

Have a ton of yelich/bregman left. I do have some BINS still up on eBay that I would give a deal on off eBay due to the lack of fees. Let me know what you're interested in and I'll see what I have.

[thepointguard_10]

Since I'm out on my own now, I'm also in a similar budget situation. I allot myself $40 per month to spend. However, with my graduation money I decided to invest it in buying for resale at shows in my spare time (I work in summer collegiate baseball!) so that helps me fund a little more spending on my own collection- and its fun, I love it!

Good luck to you in figuring out your budget my friend, glad you're sticking around!

[swjrp10]

I sit, watch ebay, and cry

[animie67]

I sit, watch ebay, and cry

I'm in the same boat now..... Just trying to trade and sell on ebay to get rid of the cards I don't want.

[petillo64]

I sit, watch ebay, and cry

Haha. This has been me the past two weeks lol. Of course the second I start selling off some PC, the cards on my want list pop up for the first time.

I was thinking the $40 bucks a month road... And maybe $150 on my bday or something. On that tight of a budget, I'm likely looking at singles instead of wax, but I think I'll have fun being highly selective on my singles and looking for good deals.

[muz0]

I had to slow down drastically. I am going to focus on 1 set a year since I love building sets. Maybe pick up a few random packs here and there but that's all no big spending. I don't even spend 50 bucks a month anymore on cards. I've only purchases a few packs thi syear so far and that's it (until topps chrome comes out as that is my next set)

[michaelstepper]

My spending has been a little much the past year but I remember when I had a $25 a week (I was paid weekly) limit on what I could buy myself. Taxes or bonus came in that was different. I remember looking forward to the mail more and appreciating my pickups more.
I still enjoy collecting just as much but some of the appreciation isn't there I think.
I wouldn't limit yourself crazy if you don't have to and don't set a large amount for yourself either. I think there's a happy balance and only you'll know what that number is.