Posted By:
Joe DrouillardHere is how I look at a want list:
It gets pretty discouraging to look forward to completing the monster when you are about four-hundred cards (as I am) shy of reaching the prize. Especially, when you are a little picky about condition, as I am, and you have a limited amount of funds to work with. So, collecting the complete set of T206s remains a long-term goal. What keeps me moving along on this journey is making a list of cards that I hope to acquire within the next six-months--my "Want List."
For example, currently on my want-list is the Hal Chase (holding trophy) card. Why? because I have the other four Chase cards in the set and it would be an accomplishment to have all five. I'm also short, a Chance and Tinker card in completing the Cubs infield (I have Evers and Zimmerman) so I would like to pick the other two up sometime within the next six months.
In addition, I sometimes place cards on my list by grade and price. For example: I would like to add ten T-206 SGC commons graded 40-60 within the next six months. Or I would like to buy one large lot of T-206 ungraded commons by September.
Sometimes, good deals come along and you have to be flexible, but its funny how many times I still end up getting the card on my list, even though I've added a bunch that were not. I've made up these lists for the last few years and they have helped me build my collection slow, but steadily. Three to four years ago I didn't have any cards, now I have seven complete sets of Topps from the seventies. 130 T206 cards and I'm only twelve cards shy of completing my 1961 Topps set in EX-NM condition.
A "Want List" works for me because I enjoy each small step on the way to my bigger goal.
Best wishes and enjoy your collection.