After seeing that guy post up offering $20,000 for the Lando ESB prototpye it really made me wonder what people's spending habits were. I've heard everything from people using spare cash only to almost selling a kidney to buy something they "need". There is no right or wrong here so I'd like to jsut here what people's habits are. Choose your poll choice but also reply here to expand on it!

I'll start off by saying that for me I try to trade, swap, flip to keep my vintage spending in a self contained ecosystem. I try to find a couple of big lots to divide up each year and then use the profit (or inventory) to fund future purchases. With a wife and two kids I personally feel that during a down economy it would be wrong to spend our saved money on any hobby or nicety. When the economy turns around I'll hopefully loosen up.

Darthberizing wrote:

After seeing that guy post up offering $20,000 for the Lando ESB prototpye it really made me wonder what people's spending habits were. I've heard everything from people using spare cash only to almost selling a kidney to buy something they "need". There is no right or wrong here so I'd like to jsut here what people's habits are. Choose your poll choice but also reply here to expand on it!

I'll start off by saying that for me I try to trade, swap, flip to keep my vintage spending in a self contained ecosystem. I try to find a couple of big lots to divide up each year and then use the profit (or inventory) to fund future purchases. With a wife and two kids I personally feel that during a down economy it would be wrong to spend our saved money on any hobby or nicety. When the economy turns around I'll hopefully loosen up.

Im pretty similar to you John.

I only spend what i can afford and i set myself a budget and very rarely go over that and if i do then its has to be something i really want and the extra money isn't an issue.

I like to live within my means or do without i guess thats a by product of growing up and not having much i wont have any form of credit bar my mobile contract and if i want something then i save up. The flip side is my girlfriend she was spoiled rotten as an only child and was given everything she wanted subsequently she is terrible with money as an adult! Its probably took me 5 years to get on on the straight and narrow in terms of getting her to manage her own finances.

Jay

Since I started collecting again, I've been saving up to fund my collection this time. This way I can have better examples of what I want instead of jumping on the first available thing and have a nicer collection to show off. But once I get the basic part down, I might start doing what John does, buy bigger lots to fund other pieces or trade for what I need.

I only spend what I can afford and if I can't afford it or sell to buy I normally let it go!

I would never get out of hand with spending on Vintage, I think its very easy to do, especially on the high priced stuff, you just buy and worry about it later but then you end up getting fed up paying it off and then eventually just sell off your stuff.

I enjoy my collection because it took so long to acquire and I worked hard for it

I agree with everyone here.

I usually only buy with spare cash. I have a separate account set up that I put $100/month into specifically for my collection. Once it's gone it's gone.

This year, I also discovered flipping (selling) things and keeping a small amount of money in my PayPal account, which has been really nice lately. I have on occasion had a moment of weakness where I put something on a credit card. Although, I've learned that lesson the hard way.

Just voted.

Dan.

Vote in. Mostly selling other stuff to fund my loose collection. With a little bit of saving as well.

I havn't been tempted to go over budget yet, but that's probably because the figures I've bought so far have been readily available and I've managed to get really good prices.

I think it will become more difficult for me to budget as I'm now nearing the final collection pieces I need like the last 17 which are much more expensive.

Having a young son is always the good leveller though, as nappies always come first

Well I have stoped getting new stuff for my collection. But maby it will change in the aurtum. I don't know but for now I most pleased with not getting new stuff.

I think I fit into the first two options some times. However, anytime I charge anything I come up with a plan of action so that it is usually paid of within two months at most. If it is a very common item I will just wait until I have the cashed saved up, but some times things come available that I'm not planning on so I have to make the decision of either going with out or biting the bullet.

Im a trader by nature, i own an Ebay shop selling Warhammer stuff and branched into Vintage star wars as i gained duplicates of my own collection this is how i feed such an adictive hobby

huh ho look's like we got one for going in debt to buy vintage.Now that's my boy, i'm real huge in debt too.

Ledy's come in real hard.$$$$$$$

Dan.

Wish I could say that my habits are as responsible and good like most here.

There are so many things that I have wanted to buy, such as proofs, that I have spent beyond what I should and taken on some debt. In August I will be done with a long-term payment plan for proofs and cromalins. Two years ago I actually took on an extra contract in order to use that money just for my collection.

Still, lately, I have been focusing on not purchasing more items and with good results.
I am trying to reign myself in to pay off debt, prepare for CV and save money.

I chalk my behavior up to me not having the ability to spend in the past.

For Example: Darth B., it is painful keeping myself from purchasing my first 2 pack from you... but I am fighting the urge.

I have tried to stay responsible with my spending.

A few times over the years I have dropped some big money on some stuff but I have been better and more patient.

I was a modern SW collector and have decided to sell off most of my modern to support my Vintage SW collecting.

And to free up some space in my basement and spare room.

Jetson wrote:

For Example: Darth B., it is painful keeping myself from purchasing my first 2 pack from you... but I am fighting the urge.

Man I wish I started a "Frivilous Spending is Good" post

Recently I have been having a lot of luck buying things that "slip through the cracks" on Ebay and flipping them. With that money I use to help support my hobby feeling a little more guilt free (two kids and wife).

I'm a hoarder not a seller so my Star wars spending is all pocket money(beer money). I've been saying for over a year that I'd only spend what I make from selling my doubles (& triples) this plan is NOT going very well The only debt I've ever had is my mortgages & that plan will never change.

I'm pretty much the same as James.

But i'm a Ledy hoarder.



Dan

First I was responsible with my spendings , but then, it just got crazy!!

Here is what I vote for:

go into debt like everyone and deal with it later

With Ledy´s findings, you can´t wait any second!! .... I really "need" them...LOL!!!!

I could be called a bit of a SW hoarder i spose.
I've bought a few things over the last couple of years & sold......well........nothing really, lol.......ever!

When it comes to Ledy's and their mint i buy it now.

Darthberizing wrote:

Jetson wrote:

For Example: Darth B., it is painful keeping myself from purchasing my first 2 pack from you... but I am fighting the urge.

Man I wish I started a "Frivilous Spending is Good" post

LOL, I want to be a frivilous spender but cannot be anylonger! Saving my money for CV!!! Still, I will be up for your next raffle DB as the last one was a real hoot!

What I have been doing is to not even go to the classifieds sections or Ebay. Now I just read books.

Very smart man Jetson is.

Jedi knight he will become,Yes.



Dan.

Well reading trough this tread makes my say i am a budget collector. I like to hunt more than buying things, useaully i keep searching for the item i need in the condition i want at the price i have in mind.

I do hav ean idea off what i want (or want agian) but i have to take it step by step as my budget can easily crossed by the stuff i am looking for (and no i ain't looking for the most expensive stuff, just my sw budget is not that high currently.)

But i have to admit i aquired i aquired some nice pieces over time.

Cheers, Dennis.

i try to keep to a (monthly) budget some times going over then next month drop down, as like most peeps on here i have a mortgage and young son (18 weeks) so most my spare money goes there, i dont own a credit card so if i aint got the cash i cant have it , simple ( at times frustrating ) but there a couple of kinds souls who will keep stuff for a couple of week ( till pay day) which is a massive help !!

Had i still been living on my own and not had a son i would no doubt have been spending more than i currentl am, but there is no way i could ever justify some of the prices that ive seen stuff go for, hundreds and in some cases thousands for carded figures ,

i know some see it as an investment , some of the rarer ( pricey ) items value is only going to go up????

i think most people would love a designated room at home full to the rafters with mib and moc but in my case anyway thats light years away

However one thing ive learnt from talking to other collectors is all vintage is good no matter whats been spent on it

Andy

i trade and buy collection additions with the profits if i feel i can justify it.
i will never spend money i do not have on anything,i have a mortgage to pay and the mrs has lost her job in the last 6 months so the belt is even tighter.
i try to never spend my wages on collection additions but try to make my collection self sufficiant by buying and selling.