How do you afford to collect high-end?

[Orion]

I am starting a Durant PC and took a thorough look through the Beckett today. So many of his high end stuff is ridiculously priced! How do some of you guys afford to collect players like LBJ, Kobe, MJ, etc. It's hard for a kid like me with a full-time (but minimally paying) job to secure cards of KD that I like.

[dherm360]

stop eating

[rjcla30]

I don't have much in the way of "High End" either. But all I can say is patience is the key. Just keep looking for the cards you want and you will get someone who wants to trade or you find a ebay auction with a good price, you just have to wait for it. Been there (young person min wage job trying to collect), it will come. However it doesn't get any easier later in life even if you have a good job...who knew a wife, kids, cars, house, dogs, etc etc cost money!

[pwskelly]

Set aside a certian amount of money every payday .... even if it's only $10 or $20 dollars. At the end of the year this easily adds up to hundreds of dollars.

[superpieman]

I am starting a Durant PC and took a thorough look through the Beckett today. So many of his high end stuff is ridiculously priced! How do some of you guys afford to collect players like LBJ, Kobe, MJ, etc. It's hard for a kid like me with a full-time (but minimally paying) job to secure cards of KD that I like.

bide your time and build slowly. i collect ernie banks and he is far from cheap to collect. im only 20 now and started when i was 14-15(with a break from ages 17 till about 2 months ago). i only have about 20-25 cards but they are nice cards. i had to just build slowly start picking off lower end stuff and maybe a nice auto here and there. trust me your collection will build before you know it. just remember your priorities in life, i feel like some people forget that on these boards.

[Orion]

I have a decent amount of money to allocate to cards, but I can't stop buying stuff I have to open instead of singles. I think about how cool it would be to have an awesome PC of some great players but it just gets tough to focus on, especially when some of my guys that I like have 3,000 dollar cards.

[Rookiecard78]

collect some mid end and someone will trade you high end for them every once in awile thats how i got mine

[hhliving1101]

I have a decent amount of money to allocate to cards, but I can't stop buying stuff I have to open instead of singles. I think about how cool it would be to have an awesome PC of some great players but it just gets tough to focus on, especially when some of my guys that I like have 3,000 dollar cards.

I was like that too, But ultimatlly You have to make a choice, do you want to collect, or do you want to buy/trade? I've read your posts before, Your in a hard place as you put yourself in harms way by working at a hobby shop, you have to see everyone opening the new stuff up, and if your like me, then have to buy some too...(we can't let everyone else have all the fun)

Your best bet to get some High end, Trade off what you don't want/need, yes it may take multiple cards, but you'll have your high end.....

Good Luck man

[dfr52]

To afford more expensive cards I've pretty much stopped buying any packs or boxes. I'll buy a few low end ($10) blasters during the season and that is it.

[Orion]

Yeah, I guess that's what I have to do. I just can't help buying a box of whatever the new basketball/football product is. Sigh... in the long run investing in the big names is going to be good for me though... won't waste nearly as much money. Though it doesn't help working full time in the card shop =D.