Thoughts on baseball card budget
 

I had some random musings about baseball card budgets and thought I'd share them here (because if I can't share random baseball card musings on Net54, where CAN I share them?)

I find myself from time to time getting frustrated that my budget never seems to allow me to get all the cards I want...not even close.

But as I thought it over, it's the budget that actually MAKES this hobby fun.

I know that everyone on this board has different amounts of money available for the hobby...but I'm guessing that almost no one has UNLIMITED funds to spend on cards.

Staying within budget allows me to search for cards online and at shows and my LCS to find that perfect fit of cards I'm looking for in the right price range. It let's me decide if I want to acquire lots of low grade commons, or save up for a special piece. It allows me the opportunity to browse listings and look for deals, and watch the seconds of an online auction tick down as I sit on pins and needles wondering if I'm going to "win" that card.

On the flip-side...if I had INFINITY amounts of money, then none of that stuff would matter. I could basically go on ebay and click "buy it now" on every card I ever remotely wanted, put outlandish top bids on every auction, and basically fill basement with old card board. And then what?

So it's actually the budget that gives me the satisfaction of searching, saving, winning, etc. And in that way, people with all budgets (whether you can only spend $5.00 on cards per month or $5000) can enjoy card collecting the same way. Yeah, the guy with a $5000 budget can go after different cards than the guy with $5.00, but the experience and enjoyment can be similar.

(And it makes it even better when both the $5.00 a month guy and the $5000 a month guy posts their cards on here so we can all enjoy them).

And because every post is better with a card picture, here is a picture of my Germany Schaffer card. My first t206, that I really enjoyed handling when I received it. t206's are on much thinner stock than I realized, and holding a 100+ year old baseball card is really cool...and I didn't need a very big budget to acquire it.

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Awesome
 

I have an "ok" budget; which I think means more than some, but certainly less than others.

I have always been amazed at what you can acquire IF you are willing to do some research.
Now I am mostly into game used stuff, but even on a limited budget, I have found some REALLY cool gems.

That is what really makes me happy, doing the research and discovering new things!

Yeah, I think assembling a collection under a budget - like in consistent condition but not the highest grade - is just as impressive as building one in the highest grade.

Same for finding all of a player’s cards as opposed to his RC in the highest grade (which can usually be bought at any given time with enough money).

I agree the constraints are actually what adds the joy. Saving, chasing, finding, and acquiring. That process is what is fun, to me. I also like trying to put sets together for free. I buy bulk lots keep what I need and sell off the rest. I do this until I'm down to a few cards and then bite the bullet and shell out. My best effort so far was a 1971 Topps set in EX- EX/MT that cost me a net of $11. It's a fun game if you have the patience.

My budget is pathetic and I'll sell some stuff to fund a slightly larger purchase if it's something I really want, but I'm mostly just acquiring cards I like. If I can find one in a particular set that I'm actually working on then that's just awesome, but I'll pick up whatever I can with my meager funds. I figure I can sell or trade it later for something I really want badly. But I enjoy all my cards and the hunt for them. Cool thread man.

I think if you could buy anything you'd wanted, you'd get pretty bored (and bored with the stuff) pretty quickly.

In the past I've bought an expensive, rare item only to find out when I have it that I like some of my cheapo items better.

I have had the same thing happen. For several years I was a card renter. I have owned a lot of the top cards in the hobby in lower grade for short periods of time. There were cool to own but not stuff I really wanted to keep.

As far as card budget. For the last 20-25 years I have only bought new stuff from the $ I got from selling old stuff. So I have not spent a penny out of pocket in a very long time.:)

Working within a budget does allow you to showcase a certain amount of ingenuity that someone with unlimited funds can’t. I am more impressed with a collection assembled on the cheap by someone who put some imagination into it than I am by one assembled by someone just dumping a big pile of money on expensive stuff.

That's awesome that you were able to complete your 1971 set for a net of $11. I have been considering taking this approach with my next set. My biggest fear is that I know myself too well...I think I'll be good with buying the lots, it's the selling off of duplicates that I would drag my feet on. I already have a closet full of stuff (including some old cards) that "I'll eventually get around to selling on ebay". Some of that stuff has been there for years :)

As someone who knows someone, who knows someone, with big piles of money, I can safely say that most of them enjoy their big piles of money and get excited just as much as us with little piles of money, if not more. They are no different. I guess I am a value collector, or try to be, myself. Because after my daughters Masters degree, first semester cost, my budget is quite a bit smaller. I have no choice but to be a value-collector. :eek:

Fantastic post and 100% true. Never thought about it this way, so thank you for this. I’m sure I enjoy my collection much more as a result of limited funds, knowing that I had to do without something else because I would rather own this.

I think the fun and joy in collecting is in the journey. My big project now (Red Sox T206 team set, each with a different back) could last another few years until the right (i.e. low enough grade that I can afford) front/back combo of one of the super rare backs comes along. But that's the budget I'm working with and I'm happy to go along for that journey. And when (or if) the ride comes to an end and the project is complete, I'll get a lot of joy and pride from the cards by remembering that journey and what it took to get there. I think it's much more fulfilling that way.