Collecting sets you can't complete

[irv]

With just 2 cards remaining to complete my 52 Topps set, I highly doubt that it will ever happen? Purchasing a Hoyt Wilhelm is one thing but trying to land an acceptable copy of Eddie Mathews is another.

About 35+ yrs ago now my father gave me 148 of them, and since 2016 I have amassed 257 (not counting dupe black backs and error cards) of them to get me down to those 2 remaining.

Hindsight being what it is, if I could got back and change how I collected those 257, I certainly would start at the high numbers first instead of going after the commons like I did.
With the current exchange rate at roughly 40% now and crazy shipping fees, (which also seem to be the norm now) my dream of ever owning them and completing my set gets more bleaker everyday. My dad is now 85 and I was trying hard to complete the set for him, and although, thankfully, he is still in good health, I know my days are numbered of ever doing so.