Just wondering if anyone else has to change what they spend on cards do to the increased cost of gasoline, food, etc? It has for me so I have pretty much stopped going to that auction site. I will be able to possibly do one good purchase a month for awhile if I am lucky.

My answer is no but then i did not have much to spend in the first place.

Let's just say I'm glad winter's over. I'll be paying for the next 2 months, yet. I don't know how I'm gonna get through next winter, though...

Yeah, it's pretty well hobbled by collecting ability

It hasn't affected me yet...

...but soon it might.

Gas prices has directly effected my chances of going to one of the cards shows (CECE or Philly). Between gas there and back and hotel for one night I already have close to $200 into going to a show and I haven't even bought anything yet. That's too much money to make up even if I find a couple of good deals.

I have cut back on my spending because of the rising cost of most everything. So much that I probably won't be collecting any Marvel Masterpieces (MM2 or MM3) or Fantastic Four this year. In years past I would have bought cases.

--Tim

I have not changed too much based on the economy, but I'm sure it will be a factor soon enough. I'm buying less now because of how sets are being issued. I buy less Topps boxes due to the overwhelming odds of getting a poorly done sketch or multiples of a costume. RA makes so many of their best cards incentives or "limited" issues buying boxes of their products isn't very interesting or exciting. Inkworks hasn't issued a set I'm interested in for quite a while, and Artbox has been missing in action for a some time now. While I will still buy products that interest me, I am definately buying a lot less.

I guess a lot of folks aren't affected with all the changes. For those that are is an eye opening to say the least. We heat our home with propane and when I checked last week to fill up the 1000 gallon tank right now would be over $3000 and they said the prices will be going up. So with this, the fuel, food, insurance and everything else I will not be spending very much @ all other than necessities and going to shows (the few that we have) I might not be attending. Hopefully, later this summer/fall things will get a little better.
For the folks that aren't affected enjoy less competition and better prices on that auction site from those that are.

I can see things going downhill and it's definitely going to affect my card budget. I'm making 1 last fairly big purchase for heroes 2 (3 cases and 5 artists returned sketches so far) but after that I'm going to be very selective on which products I buy and even those will likely be limited to 3 boxes at most unless some absolutely incredible dream set comes to fruition (for example, a Buffy set with sketches). Money is definitely getting tighter these days.

It's affecting me every day.

I'm re-evaluating how far I can realisticly drive to a show. Allentown was 1600+ miles and I'm not sure any show will recoup that kind of expense. I'm looking to go to more shows in Chicago and Detroit as they are the only close 'big' cities.

Shipping also is costing more, so you have to be careful not to lose money on shipping.

Honestly, I'll probably start listing more on eBay in hopes that the people that aren't traveling will still buy a few cards now and then.

Ed

Gas prices are insane when you consider that its not a gas shortage, but corporate greed that is fueling (pun intended) these increases. It hasn't curtailed my hobby spending yet, but I am definitely cutting down on my driving and shopping closer to home.

My days of purchasing cases are now over. I'm also planning on liquidating a lot of the unimportant stuff from my collection so I can get my finances in order and finally purchase a home.

quote:

Originally posted by Raven:
Gas prices are insane when you consider that its not a gas shortage, but corporate greed that is fueling (pun intended) these increases. It hasn't curtailed my hobby spending yet, but I am definitely cutting down on my driving and shopping closer to home.

Yeah...my favorite was "it's not a supply problem but a "speculation" problem." So far all the excuses I have heard for why gas is so high are pretty lame.

As far as my collecting habbits go....I was forced to change harshly while making the transition from a military life style to a civilian one and I have maintained it since. I think if there was a box or two of something I wanted I would get it but the days of buying 3 and 4 boxes of one product are long over. Also, as stated before, many of the titles just arnt appealing to me and I almost always come out better in the secondary market for most topps products.

I can't believe how much groceries have gone up. I don't drive and I don't have a mortgage, so that hasn't affected me directly, but the food bill is out of this world. I haven't really cut back yet, because I don't spend thaaaat much on cards(card shows being the exception), but I may have to because things will get worse before they get better, I'm sure.

quote:

Originally posted by Scifi Cards:
It's affecting me every day.

I'm re-evaluating how far I can realisticly drive to a show. Allentown was 1600+ miles and I'm not sure any show will recoup that kind of expense. I'm looking to go to more shows in Chicago and Detroit as they are the only close 'big' cities.

Shipping also is costing more, so you have to be careful not to lose money on shipping.

Honestly, I'll probably start listing more on eBay in hopes that the people that aren't traveling will still buy a few cards now and then.

Ed

Even if you don't come as a dealer, I hope you can still attend as a collector

Absolutely -- other than a few promos, I have only purchased two cards and one binder this year. For the rest of the year, I'll probably only buy a few assorted cards and a binder from Doctor Who and that will be it. Cards are purchased with my disposable income, and I don't have too much of it these days.

I'm being a bit more careful about what I buy and how much I'll spend. I have been known to blanket-buy to complete a set but I'm being patient now. This is as much due to being a more savvy collector (thanks in part to some Card Talkers & NSU) than I was a year or two ago. Also with my children growing up I'm finding (as all parents do) that clothes, books, toys, etc. are more expensive for older children.

Everything is more expensive, so I just shop sensibly.

Fuel is running at £1.28 per litre at present, its expensive, but not having a direct impact on my car cost as I have a company car. However the price of food is spiralling. I spend £120 to £140 per week on my 3 veracious females.

It is starting to have an effect, and I am starting to reappraise. Sometimes I think of liquidising some of my cards, but the market conditions are not good at present. Over-production by the manufacturers is also having an effect.

Ask me in 6 months, and perhaps the affect will be more defined.

The cost of fuel and the economy is making me think a little more before I spend. However, I get a lot of joy from collecting so if the the right item comes along....ya' gotta go for it.

Fortunately for me though, the eBay Bucks test program I'm in gives me a 3% hedge against inflation. Not much compared to fuel, but it makes me feel better.

Yes I am now down to trying to collect 2 sets instead of everything I liked.. I'm doing more selling and trading to get what I need than buying these days

I find that the general increase costs of everything is having an impact on my card budget. However, the products that are currently being produced are also having an impact on my purchasing. A number of current and recent/future releases simply don't hold my attention, so I am able to devote my resources to the cards that I collect, including those sets and inserts that I have been seeking for longer than I care to remember. I am trying to do more trading and smart buying to complete my sets, instead of buying just becuase I can.