Have you ever wanted to just sell your Autograph collection?

[hawaiian bam bam]

Thank you all for yoyr responses. You are right curt , I do flip flop a lot because I don't know if I wntvto keep my collection. Or sell it, hence why I started this thread. I think maybe I need to get my priorities straight and also focus on one or two projects to collect Instead of 4 or 5 projects. And just sell the rest to pay down debt and enjoy life. I think 1 or 2 projects is enough and will keep me focused and not so spread outside with my collecting.

[Scott Garner]

Bam Bam,

Sorry, but I don't know your real name.
Virtually every collector reaches a fork in the road where you come to the realize that you can't collect everything for several reasons including the monetary side of things.

You are best to find a focus that really interests you and knock the crap out of that theme. At the end of the day you will find yourself enjoying the hobby more.

[Exhibitman]

Another consideration is resale. I realize when I win some auctions that I am probably not going to recoup my investment when I sell, but I also win some auctions 'knowing' I will do well breaking down the lots and reselling. In the end it seems to even out or make a modest profit. I just take it case by case. I've had some of my cards since I was a kid, some of them since I was a young adult at my first job with more money [a laughably small amount but seemed immense after 7 years of living the life of a poor student] than I could spend, and others I go into and get out of virtually overnight.

In the end it is all just 'stuff' and I try never to let having stuff trump having a life. There was a fellow here, now not, who publicly espoused the opposite view and he led a sad little life indeed.

[theshleps]

A collector friend of mine who had a massive collection decided to down size substantially a few years ago. One thing he said that struck me when we were discussing it is: "Cards don't love you back"

[Republicaninmass]

Originally Posted by theshleps

A collector friend of mine who had a massive collection decided to down size substantially a few years ago. One thing he said that struck me when we were discussing it is: "Cards don't love you back"

NOR do they hold grudges or complain!

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

Bam Bam,

Sorry, but I don't know your real name.
Virtually every collector reaches a fork in the road where you come to the realize that you can't collect everything for several reasons including the monetary side of things.

You are best to find a focus that really interests you and knock the crap out of that theme. At the end of the day you will find yourself enjoying the hobby more.

THAT IS HIS REAL NAME, and the appropriate form of address would be

Aloha, Bam Bam

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

THAT IS HIS REAL NAME, and the appropriate form of address would be

Aloha, Bam Bam

Good to know about his name, Frank!
I certainly wouldn't have guessed it...

[mr2686]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

Bam Bam,

Sorry, but I don't know your real name.
Virtually every collector reaches a fork in the road where you come to the realize that you can't collect everything for several reasons including the monetary side of things.

You are best to find a focus that really interests you and knock the crap out of that theme. At the end of the day you will find yourself enjoying the hobby more.

Scott, don't you know that when you get to a fork in the road, you take it? LOL

[hawaiian bam bam]

thanks guys for your responses i appreciate it. i wanted to clarify one thing. my credit card debt is NOT from buying cards. it is from unexpected life emergencies and other expenses but NOT from card collecting. i was using that as a reference to explain or ask, why do i have debt but a ton of cards meaning should i sell off my collection to pay off my debt. since starting this thread i have decided to refocus and re prioritize. the first thing i did was reduce my buying/spending i have cut my buying/spending on cards by 95%! second, i made two stacks, one was a thing to sell and one was a small box that i put everything i wanted to keep. once the small box was filled, that was it everything else i am selling! looking at my pile to sale if i sold everything i will be debt free! i will now just keep a very small percentage of my current collection and sell everything else. i mentioned the tires as an example of how nice it was to sell cards to pay for items i needed. This thread has been a big eye opener on me spending less and selling more. ive sold a ton of cards already and it sure is nice to have some extra cash to pay down my debt. now i ask you, if someone offered you cash for your collection would you sell it all? i would in a heart beat sell if offered cash for my collection!!

[Mr. Zipper]

Good news, Bam Bam. Sounds like you are making some wise decisions.

To answer your question, I would sell my whole collection if someone offered me a sick amount of cash. If I had to guess, I could probably sell 75% of my collection and not miss it too much, but that other 25% would be killer. That's what I would need the sick cash for.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by mr2686

Scott, don't you know that when you get to a fork in the road, you take it? LOL

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by hawaiian bam bam

Thank you all for yoyr responses. You are right curt , I do flip flop a lot because I don't know if I wntvto keep my collection. Or sell it, hence why I started this thread. I think maybe I need to get my priorities straight and also focus on one or two projects to collect Instead of 4 or 5 projects. And just sell the rest to pay down debt and enjoy life. I think 1 or 2 projects is enough and will keep me focused and not so spread outside with my collecting.

Hi Bam Bam, Personally I think you should change your name to Joe Rockhead...

You shouldn't have ANY credit card debt and if you are up to your limit, you should sell EVERYTHING to pay it off PERIOD> Giving the banks 10-25% interest on your credit card debt is MORONIC. Not having money for tires is just plain stupid and irresponsible. Things come up every month and credit cards are for monthly emergencies and for items you can easily pay off when the bill comes. This is Econ 101. I'm sorry you have to hear it from Fudd, but I feel bad for you. You should sell EVERYTHING and get yourself out of debt, especially credit card debt, the worst kind. You have NO F YOU fund and you are 1 emergency or job loss away from bankruptcy.

Sell Mortimer, sell sell sell.

[Mr. Zipper]

Agree with Fudd. If you can't pay for tires, yet have a house full of collectibles, you need to re-prioritize. Certainly there are some things you can easily sell without missing them too much. If you can't pay for something with cash, you can't afford it.

We haven't carried a credit card balance in many years. Yep... I've probably missed out on a few items because I didn't have enough cash in my fun account at the time, but it's a great feeling not having credit card bills.

http://www.daveramsey.com/home/

[mschwade]

Originally Posted by Mr. Zipper

We haven't carried a credit card balance in many years. Yep... I've probably missed out on a few items because I didn't have enough cash in my fun account at the time, but it's a great feeling not having credit card bills.

http://www.daveramsey.com/home/

Leads to another topic.... How does one build their fun account? Is it only from items you sell? Do you get an "allowance" each payday? Just curious how others work, specifically when you have another half.

[jgmp123]

Originally Posted by mschwade

Leads to another topic.... How does one build their fun account? Is it only from items you sell? Do you get an "allowance" each payday? Just curious how others work, specifically when you have another half.

We budget accordingly each month and have a set amount for "Fun/Spending"....Depending on your income this can get you pretty far in your collecting hobby or force you to look back to your 13 year old self and save up to get what you want. I have been collecting since I was an early teen, so the sheer amount of "stuff" I have collected has recently been sold to put the money towards other pieces.

I recommend factoring in any debt you have to the budget and aggressively get that taken care of before you begin making any major purchases. Once you are debt free and can budget for "fun things", your life will be much easier. I know it could be "easier said than done", but the way I look at it, if you are in debt then you don't need that next autograph or card.

[HexsHeroes]

.

Bam Bam. It is when a passion crosses over the line and becomes an obsession, and then an addition, that priorities become meaningless.

I wasn't going to comment much about this, but have had a change of heart, because this points towards an ugly truth, and is also personal.

At that point, there is only one priority; acquire that next item. It does not mean that "right choices" are not recognized, but that choosing is a
tormenting battle within. I have been there. Twice. And both times I sold a wonderful collection (first time coins; second time vintage baseball cards) inorder
to pay off the outstanding debt used to acquire those treasures, and to try and start clean again. Twenty-two years later, I now (happily) have a
small autograph collection, and virtually no debt.

Am I looking for sympathy or praise, or condone such action ? Absolutely not. I knew right from wrong, made poor choices and paid the consequences for
them. But whether I admit it or not, I had an addiction. And most days, it was a tormenting struggle.

So my advice for Bam Bam, realize you may have an addiction, and seek help.

Thanks.

[Luke]

I agree with everyone saying you need to take a step back and re-prioritize. I am pretty sure I would sell and get out of debt if I were you. I don't think I would quit collecting. I would start again with a portion of disposable income and make sure not to get into debt again.

One thing to think about: As long as you are in debt, you're basically paying a tax for holding your collection. You could do the math on how much $ you are paying each year on interest, and see just how much your collection is costing you. You're basically paying rent on having the collection. If you sell everything except for your favorite couple items and start again but this time within your means, you'll save a ton of money.