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Financing your collections?


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#1 SamuraiCC

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Posted 28 January 2020 - 03:04 PM

Bit of a different topic...

The hobby we enjoy can become very expensive & addictive if not kept under control I've found.

For the people with stacks of surplus cash this does not apply lol.

But for us average Joe's i'm interested to know what strategies you guys have when it comes to financing your growing collections.

Trading duplicates/unwanted pieces is probably the most economical option I would imagine...

Do you have a set budget each week/month? Do you pay into a separate float regularly to spend on your collection?

Cheers

Carl
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#2 fisheye

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Posted 28 January 2020 - 04:19 PM

I don't really save or anything like that. If I come across something I want, I check how much money I have. If it's a decent price and I can afford it, then I buy. If I can't spare the cash, then I don't. 


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#3 SamuraiCC

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Posted 28 January 2020 - 04:30 PM

Cool man, thanks for reply.

Yeah that seems to be the straightford method but determing whether you can afford or have the spare cash can be a grey area (at least for me lol)

Definitely takes some discipline to say 'no I cant afford' especially when its a great deal that you 'cant miss out on'.
I've heard that saying a few times!
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#4 jason76basin

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Posted 28 January 2020 - 04:37 PM

I try to pick up spares to offload to help make what I keep cheaper. Also, I'll go months at a time that I can't find figures that I want. During these times I'll usually move like 30bux a week over to PayPal..... Then when a figure(s) I do need show up I've technically already paid for it since I moved the cash over. That way, even if it's an expensive figure, I've already paid for it by moving it to PayPal so it's not a pain on the wallet. This works best for me and doesn't put me in a bind financially
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#5 SamuraiCC

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Posted 28 January 2020 - 04:55 PM

Yeah, buying in lots for a good price & having a good share of spares to sell back to claw a good chunk of the money spent back is a good method. I use this one too & it can work well in certain circumstances.

Healthy strategy, I think as your collections grow theres less & less that your after so sounds a good idea to go periods of time where you dont buy & top up the pay pal funds with regular small doses in the mean time. Like it mate.

I guess the greater number of collections you have going on the more things you will see catch your eye.
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#6 Behemoth

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Posted 28 January 2020 - 05:11 PM

I spend my money like a complete idiot and hope for the best.


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#7 SamuraiCC

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Posted 28 January 2020 - 05:41 PM

Ha ha, thanks Behemoth for sharing your strategy lol.

At least your an honest guy, which holds some weight!

Your sure not the only one, most of us are probably all guilty of that from time to time.
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#8 fisheye

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Posted 28 January 2020 - 06:43 PM

Thing is when I got into collecting LRG a few years ago,(pretty much when I joined this site) I spent a lot of money on the hobby. I bought so much that I'm in an alright place in what I have. I haven't bought anything new in a while. Although I'm also into playing video games. I buy games left and right. Most of the time it's game that have out for a while. So I get them cheaper than new games. 

 

There are some figures I still want though. I'd ideally like to have a favorite sculpt of different LRG lines. Laser Beast would be the most expensive. I don't know if I'll ever justify spending a hundred+ on a figure from a line that I'm not completely into. But from what I understand, a hundred+ is what some are legit worth.(in this case I want Strong Hurricane Owl) I wouldn't even mind that Skull Grotess Dragon figure. But man that's sooo much more. 

 

This hobby is all about patience. There has been figures I'v over paid for so I can have them. This normally goes for figures that don't show up often. Thankfully this place exist and the collectors that have been around longer can chime in with their thoughts and advice for what's worth what. 


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#9 BadLarry

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Posted 28 January 2020 - 06:54 PM

I have a rental property with coin-operated laundry. I use the quarters from those machines to supply my Holy Grail fund - big purchases once or twice per year.

 

One time I used it to buy a vintage Ms. Pac-Man machine. I was quite pleased with how appropriate that was.

 

Thank you


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#10 plasticfiend

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Posted 28 January 2020 - 07:49 PM

I scalp mostly and sell off duplicates etc.  I try and pay for most of my collection by selling off stuff I already have and/or buying items in lots and selling off the excess. I try not to come too much out of pocket, but inevitable do.  

 

Also - I'm a HUGE fan of squeezIng an extra nickel out of everything I buy.  I take full advantage of Ebay's EBAY BUCKS program.  I will hold off on buying items until there's a sale or promotion w/ Ebay making sure that I get an extra 5-10% kickback when I can.  

 

I will also take full advantage of kickbacks and promotions that various credit cards offer, and try and maximize cash back options when appropriate while collecting.  

 

I've been using a lot of Ebates lately.  They have an affiliate program where you get cash back on everything from Ebay, Amazon, Groupon... pretty much anywhere I buy stuff, I click through their site first so that I get cash back.  

 

SPEAKING OF WHICH... here's my code if anyone wants to sign up:  https://www.rakuten....I200?eeid=28187

 

 

(complete transparency, I get a $25 bonus if you sign up, and you get a free $10 bonus)

 

But yeah - basically I go to great lengths to stretch my dollars.  And I try and flip what I can to justify keeping what I buy.  

 

PF


Edited by plasticfiend, 28 January 2020 - 07:50 PM.

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#11 Sydot

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Posted 28 January 2020 - 08:33 PM

Selling and trading is huge. Also patience and putting time into it. I’m a big flea/thrift guy because I love the treasure hunting aspect of it and you can get some great deals. I wouldn’t call myself a flipper but when I see a $1 battle beast I know better then to walk past.

That being said I still spend a bunch on toys but if it’s something real expensive I’ll often sell a few things to make it more reasonable.

I never let it drag down any real life finances though and I’m still on track to be a first time home owner in about a year.
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#12 SamuraiCC

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Posted 28 January 2020 - 08:43 PM

Thanks for the replies....

Brilliant strategy there BadLarry with the laundry thing. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best.

Appreciate the link plasticfiend, I've been oblivious to the things you mention but I can see how you have been capitalising so fare play to you.
It always feels better getting something for a lower price, I think we can all agree on that.

Fisheye I hear you man, 'patience Daniel Son'. Good luck in your quest.
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#13 SamuraiCC

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Posted 28 January 2020 - 08:56 PM

That's a good shout Sydot with the Thrift/Flea market scene, just takes some confidence that you'll find something I guess? It's so easy to give up before you've even started with those.

Good luck to you, sounds like you've got your priorities right whilst still enjoying the collecting hobby.

Edited by SamuraiCC, 28 January 2020 - 09:00 PM.

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#14 McCTXToys

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Posted 29 January 2020 - 04:21 AM

Sold stuff from my childhood that I wasn't interested in anymore.  Bought multiple copies of new stuff, especially on Kickstarter, sat on it, kept a copy or two, and sold the rest for profit.  Has worked for me so far.


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#15 108KickBack

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Posted 29 January 2020 - 09:56 AM

I usually save abit from each check and buy when i see something good.I only collect Battle Beast stuff.so it aint hard saving when things come for sale every 3 4 months only lol.
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#16 Sydot

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Posted 29 January 2020 - 10:12 AM

That's a good shout Sydot with the Thrift/Flea market scene, just takes some confidence that you'll find something I guess? It's so easy to give up before you've even started with those.

Good luck to you, sounds like you've got your priorities right whilst still enjoying the collecting hobby.

 

I frequently go home empty handed from thrifts and fleas. And I post a lot of what I find on insagram and people will comment about how i'm 'always finding great stuff' But I'm posting the one success i have for every 4 or 5 that I get almost nothing. But that's social media, right? Making everything look better than it really is, right? 


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#17 atilary

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Posted 29 January 2020 - 12:20 PM

Lol I see your posts and I'm always wondering why I only find dirty stuffed animals and half complete puzzles, but it sounds like you're hitting those things up a lot more frequently than it looks on instagram. I see you're in Philly, if you haven't you should check out Toy & Comic Heaven. I grabbed some KO muscle there back before Christmas when I was visiting family in the area but I could have spent hours there digging through their stuff. 


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#18 SamuraiCC

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Posted 29 January 2020 - 02:08 PM

Great to hear all your insights, ideas & strategies.

I guess it's all about enjoying the hobby but not letting it get in the way of 'real life' finances, which can be a fine line from my own experience.

It can be done & I hope to achieve this balance myself going forward :-)
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#19 Sydot

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Posted 30 January 2020 - 06:30 AM

Lol I see your posts and I'm always wondering why I only find dirty stuffed animals and half complete puzzles, but it sounds like you're hitting those things up a lot more frequently than it looks on instagram. I see you're in Philly, if you haven't you should check out Toy & Comic Heaven. I grabbed some KO muscle there back before Christmas when I was visiting family in the area but I could have spent hours there digging through their stuff. 

 

I actually live like 15 min from there. My thing says philly because its an easy reference point but I actually live in north wales. 

That place frustrates me. Most of the stuff is way overpriced and the guy who is always working doesn't know any prices and says to come back when the boss is in or some shit. Or he will call the boss to ask and wont get an answer. So i'll go in there and find one or two cool things and not be able to buy them. Plus they have very limited toy displays with mountains of stuff in bins on the side that you can't look through.

 

But yeah, for fleas I get there at like 7 when people are still setting up and go almost every weekend when its nice, and I hit a thrift by me like 3 days a week. 


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#20 atilary

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Posted 30 January 2020 - 07:04 AM

Fair enough. I was there and my youngest was throwing a tantrum so I didn't get to look through very much. We don't get out there very often but my wife is from that area. You every make it to the q mart in Quakertown? It's years since we've been there but at the time it was much better than anything we have here in south central pa.


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#21 Sydot

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Posted 30 January 2020 - 07:54 AM

Fair enough. I was there and my youngest was throwing a tantrum so I didn't get to look through very much. We don't get out there very often but my wife is from that area. You every make it to the q mart in Quakertown? It's years since we've been there but at the time it was much better than anything we have here in south central pa.

 

Yeah, they have a flea market out back on the weekends that can have some good stuff and there are two toy guys in the back buildings that are open with the flea market. Hit me up if you're ever around again. 


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#22 atilary

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Posted 30 January 2020 - 12:50 PM

The next time we're out there I'll see if I can sneak away for a bit.
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