How much do you spend a year and how can you afford it??!!

[jkeys]

I've recently moved to a "sustainable" model. That is, I'll only spend money that came from selling part of my collection. I probably have $4k or so wrapped up total, and I'm always tinkering with a $20 to $50 card or lot it seems. As long as I break even (net, after fees and shipping) or turn a little profit I'm happy. On occasion I make a decent profit (30%+) on a card or lot, but on a year I'm lucky to increase 10% I'd say.

I think this model is great for people who don't have alot of discresionary income. And btw, I rarely bust wax, if ever. That is usually a negative return waiting to happen...but it is fun! 2010 Bowman seems like a rare exception. That was pure magic, and I didn't even cash in on Chapman like I should have! : /

- jkeys

 

[KandKCards]

I spent a little over $20K in 2009 but sold around $50K total (a lot, probably at least $10K of that was commissions though).

 

[Mudcatsfan]

It's really interesting to find out that some of you cap your spendings - I guess you all like to do what I do which is look at what everyone else is pulling and grovel and wish you had that kind of luck. I think there's a thread on the board where it was asked something along the lines of what your best pull of the year would be - other than for an auto Jeter which was pulled with only a few retail packs, most others spent a boatload on multiple cases, which is what prompted myself to open up this thread.

I understand risk vs reward, but I find it amusing that someone will spend $1000 to $2000 on a case of shiny stuff with minimal potential.

Is there a thread on the board, or if YOU have done this, a quick re-cap of what the odds are of you making your money back if you play the volume game? In other words, has anyone spent a $1000 on a case of cards, took all those cards, and resold them - would you be plus or minus? This is strictly out of curiosity.

Busting cases is 99% of the time a losing prospect. Please dont be swayed by the tales of 2010 bowman, that was a once in 10 years opportunity because Strasburg blew up, and the USA cards featuring #1 pick Bryce Harper. It wont happen again soon.

Some who can afford to buy 10-20-50 cases at a time make money by creating 20 count lots of players and selling them that way, but again, one case at a time, you're going to lose money if you dont' hit the 1:20 cases great case.

Buy cards for fun, dont' expect to make back any more than 10-50% of what you spent on them.

 

[miguelcabrera]

I spent a little over $20K in 2009 but sold around $50K total (a lot, probably at least $10K of that was commissions though).

WHat type of job do you have? Have you graduated yet?

 

[wickedliquids]

I've recently moved to a "sustainable" model. That is, I'll only spend money that came from selling part of my collection. I probably have $4k or so wrapped up total, and I'm always tinkering with a $20 to $50 card or lot it seems. As long as I break even (net, after fees and shipping) or turn a little profit I'm happy. On occasion I make a decent profit (30%+) on a card or lot, but on a year I'm lucky to increase 10% I'd say.

I think this model is great for people who don't have alot of discresionary income. And btw, I rarely bust wax, if ever. That is usually a negative return waiting to happen...but it is fun! 2010 Bowman seems like a rare exception. That was pure magic, and I didn't even cash in on Chapman like I should have! : /

- jkeys

Very interesting, and great, choice of words referring to the "sustainable" model. Perhaps I should have gone even further into detail when asking because after reading the many responses, I forgot that there were two forms of collectors - the flippers and the non-flippers.

I agree with the few other posts about the 2010 Bowman being the rare opportunity - I liken it to 1989 UD (low series) and 1992 Bowman. I doubt I'll ever buy a case of anything - probably mostly single packs or an occasional box, but nothing more - I focus more on individual cards now.

For those that responded that seemingly fall into the "flipper" category, and I apologize if I miscategorize you, as we're all collectors in one form of another, I think it's pretty cool that cards are more than ever seem like stock options.

When I was a kid, I would definitely compare cards as a form of "stock" as it can follow the same terminology and financial characteristics (i.e., player does better, so do the cards, player does bad, so doe the cards - you get the point). And I think when I watch the Youtube videos of collectors with an un-ending SEA of cards stacked on their desk that keeps getting higher and higher after every video posted, it truly makes me wonder if they reached a point where they no longer "enjoy" the hobby as a collector, but may have subconciously turned themselves into a seller for the cards - I'm only pointing this out as I see so many people bust some wax, get a pretty cool card, only to immediately say the phrase, "Going on Ebay."

 

[Wes]

It's really interesting to find out that some of you cap your spendings - I guess you all like to do what I do which is look at what everyone else is pulling and grovel and wish you had that kind of luck. I think there's a thread on the board where it was asked something along the lines of what your best pull of the year would be - other than for an auto Jeter which was pulled with only a few retail packs, most others spent a boatload on multiple cases, which is what prompted myself to open up this thread.

I understand risk vs reward, but I find it amusing that someone will spend $1000 to $2000 on a case of shiny stuff with minimal potential.

Is there a thread on the board, or if YOU have done this, a quick re-cap of what the odds are of you making your money back if you play the volume game? In other words, has anyone spent a $1000 on a case of cards, took all those cards, and resold them - would you be plus or minus? This is strictly out of curiosity.

Busting cases is 99% of the time a losing prospect. Please dont be swayed by the tales of 2010 bowman, that was a once in 10 years opportunity because Strasburg blew up, and the USA cards featuring #1 pick Bryce Harper. It wont happen again soon.

Some who can afford to buy 10-20-50 cases at a time make money by creating 20 count lots of players and selling them that way, but again, one case at a time, you're going to lose money if you dont' hit the 1:20 cases great case.

Buy cards for fun, dont' expect to make back any more than 10-50% of what you spent on them.

If you know what you're doing the percentage goes way down. It's not hard to make money on cases if you buy enough quantity and know how to sell em. Even without hitting anything decent. 07 BDP, 08 BDP and 2010 Bowman w/Chrome are great examples of this for me. Didn't hit one auto worth jack. Still made a very strong profit by grading, selling the right sets and lots in the right intervals.

In response to the OP, I spent roughly $10,000 in 2009 and $15,000 this year.

 

[tikitomoka]

I've spent over $1K in the last year. Makes me sick to think how 1) honestly how little I really have to show for it and 2) how many different, cool non-card things I couldve purchased instead. Also too much, imo, for a 15 year old who's only job is selling autographs. I am 100% self sufficient though with my spending (as in, $0 come from my parents) when it comes to cards and autograph stuff

 

[jumbojohnny]

I spend approx: $2500-3000 a year. I have a seperate account for cards and video games. I sell cards and video games through various channels.

My work income is (after taxes) $32500 estimate. This year I am up an additional $2780 in games and cards (mostly games, I had a great summer). The side money also supports the side business.

 

[KandKCards]

I spent a little over $20K in 2009 but sold around $50K total (a lot, probably at least $10K of that was commissions though).

WHat type of job do you have? Have you graduated yet?

Senior now. Trying to get a job as we speak :lol:

 

[miguelcabrera]

I spent a little over $20K in 2009 but sold around $50K total (a lot, probably at least $10K of that was commissions though).

WHat type of job do you have? Have you graduated yet?

Senior now. Trying to get a job as we speak :lol:

what are you looking into doing?

 

[Mr.Whipple]

Before marriage and a kid, I would spend an eay 40k-50k a year on cards and rarely sold them. Traded most of the time to get what I wanted. I now spend about 10k-15k a year on singles as my wax habit has turned into singles. But as of late, I am taking a buying break and probably wont spend a grand in the next year.

 

[wickedliquids]

Before marriage and a kid, I would spend an eay 40k-50k a year on cards and rarely sold them. Traded most of the time to get what I wanted. I now spend about 10k-15k a year on singles as my wax habit has turned into singles. But as of late, I am taking a buying break and probably wont spend a grand in the next year.

Wow, nice, 40K to 50K is a healthy dollar amount. Do you mostly collect the newer stuff? Or a mix?

I focus heavily on vintage and at any given time, I'm involved with several auctions and bid up to $60K on the older material.

 

[FortyFour]

Maybe $350 a year.

 

[jswaykos]

I think it's funny that some people brag about no wife/kids/car payments/house payment/whatever and that they spend all their money on baseball cards like it's a GOOD thing

That said, I give myself about $100ish a month in spending money. Sometimes it mostly goes to baseball cards, sometimes it goes to golf, sometimes to video games, sometimes to clothes/sunglasses I don't really need (but want). SO... $1,200 a year goes to "junk".

 

[Tomlinson21RB]

I think it's funny that some people brag about no wife/kids/car payments/house payment/whatever and that they spend all their money on baseball cards like it's a GOOD thing

That said, I give myself about $100ish a month in spending money. Sometimes it mostly goes to baseball cards, sometimes it goes to golf, sometimes to video games, sometimes to clothes/sunglasses I don't really need (but want). SO... $1,200 a year goes to "junk".

I don't know that I bragged about that, but I did mention that's where my disposable income comes from. I'm not sure it's a good thing, but also not a bad thing. I have a long time girl friend, but we don't live together and aren't married. Good job, with company car. I do have a mortgage, that I pay extra towards the principal each month. I hang out with friends and have plenty of sources of entertainment beyond cards. With all this I still have a large portion of money beyond bills and what I save each month, so I buy cards. Not a good thing, but certainly not a bad thing.

 

[All The Hype]

When I started buying on the internet, I didn't really have a large budget to work with. Money from prospecting has helped me maintain my card habit.

It really varies for me, some months I'll be buying heavily into a certain player as investment, some months I'll just pick up a few things for the collection, and some months I'll make a single large purchase. In total, I'd estimate that I spend between 2000-2500 per year.

 

[chromerookies]

Hey everyone,
Well today I decided to stay home because I didn't feel like going to work. Around noon both my wife and daughter were sleeping and after reading this thread yesterday at work it made me want to see how much I spent and sold this year now that we are 3/4 of the way done. So after 2 hours of going thru my records starting at Jan 1st, I came up with these #'s:

Bought= $22,151.31
Sold= $22,123.27

I couldn't believe how close the #'s are. And I also couldn't believe how much I spent this year, especially when my take home pay is only $2,000/month.I really need to stop buying! ::facepalm::

-Dan

 

[TNP777]

up until a couple years ago (or thereabouts), I was spending $2-300 a month easy, sometimes more. As the economy showed no signs of getting better and as I anticipated a decrease in pay, I made the decision to severely cut back on buying modern product. As I look back on my decision, I'm really glad I did - I've found I haven't missed the chase even a little bit. I'm still doing a few Dodger sets every year (Topps base set, Heritage base and A&G base + parallels), but other than that, I almost pay no attention to modern releases. I don't see that changing.

That decision has allowed me to focus on filling in some holes in my vintage sets - sets that I had neglected for years. I've been really patient as I wait for the right raggedy card at the right price to come along. Since refocusing myself, I've picked up a few Dodger high numbers for nice prices, almost finished off my T206 set (one card left), and gotten pretty close on my T205s. Once the tobacco sets are done, I'll start picking off the last few cards I need to close out some late 60s/early 70s sets.

Now? Meh, $20-50 a month on average. I'm not in any kind of a hurry to finish anything like I used to be. Makes collecting a lot more fun now.

 

[CollectorsCorner]

so far this year I have spent 12,000 but have sold quite a bit as well

 

[Tom Oates]

I would say between $2,500 to $4,000 per year in spending. Offset by $1500 to $3000 per year in sales. Bottom line is I live within my means, save first, spend second. I could spend a lot more if I wanted but I have many other interests and I'm responsible. Cash and carry brother! If you can't afford to pay cash for it, you likely can't AFFORD it!

Tom