Budgeting for cards

[Craig2]

I'm just wondering if everyone sets aside a certain amount each week/month for cards, or whether you just buy something when it comes up depending on its attractiveness and cost.

I try to budget, but it's tough to pass up cards sometimes even if they fall outside of my best-laid plans. I'm just wondering what others do.

[xirxious]

I constantly save up money and when i get inspired or find a great PC card, buy it. I'm saving for a zetty gamer now and haven't bought much lately. Plus the nice deck I built this year gobbled most up.

[G0SHARKSG0]

For me when I sell a card I use it to buy PC cards. Rarely bust boxes but every once in a while when I go to the LCS for supplies Ill pick up like 10-20$ worth of packs

[v3rs3]

I'm horrible at budgeting. I don't really make a budget, bc I have no idea if I'll see a card that I need. I don't buy cards out of my needs and only buy boxes maybe 1-2 a month. I've been setting back $500 a month for the Expo for the last month and the rest of the months until November. Hopefully I find a huge card I need or I'm buying a case of UM10.

[FuriousD82]

I'm proud to say that other than some ebay purchases (under $100) i have not spent any money on the hobby in a month.

My creditors are thanking me.

As for budgeting, I'm thinking $300 per month for me is appropriate.

[skyride39]

just wanted to say card collecting for guys is equal to shopping for gals. It's no different. Window shopping at the mall = browsing ebay and SCF for deals. Not being able to resist a purse or shoes = not being able to resist a stamkos auto. A shopoholic with a credit card is as dangerous as a card collector with one. It's just hard to budget and resist when you really want something, unless somehow we all resist the hype and save up or sell something else while the market for some new release cools itself down and then we can pick up the pieces after. I'm just learning this after only starting last year when I was buying.

Now with what I've bought and overpaid for probably back then, I've sold the cards I don't want just so I have enough paypal to buy what's new. Unless you have unlimited funds, you may find yourself just turning over your collection just enough to fit in the new stuff and doing it again next year.

[MasonRaymond0320]

Iv been a little guilty of nearly spending all of the money that iv saved up. Ever since I got back home from holidays and discovered that I hadn't gotten anything I quickly went on the computer and have made like 5 deals in the past 2 days, while I have 2 trades pending...
So now if I follow through with the 2 other deals, I'll have spent the rest of my $

But I'm saving up for one date close to Christmas in which I'll spend like crazy. I guess that's where all of my money has gone :P lol

Usually if I see a great deal...i will do my best to earn back the money that I don't have...so I can spend it on the card that I'm itching to buy.

I usually set aside $20-30 each month, but usually spend more :(


Andrew

[30ranfordfan]

It really varies for me. I don't keep a set budget for cards. Obviously if there's something big comming up (UD Series 1 goes on sale, fall or spring Expo) I make a point to save some $$$ up before hand - so I can afford to spend what I want.

The rest of the time - card money comes from my 'disposable income'. Same place vacation money, movies, a night at the bar, or 'whatever' is coming from.

Normally I worry more about 'extra' cash on a monthly basis. If something comes up that think I HAVE to have, there's always the credit card... and it can be paid off a couple of weeks later.