omartheterror
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Jan 12, 2020 5:37:35 GMT -5
Posts: 452
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Post by omartheterror on Aug 13, 2020 3:32:59 GMT -5
I know this probably doesn’t technically fit in the Mattel forum so apologies if it needs to be moved but this is the forum I I frequent so I posted here.
We all know collecting is expensive. Just wrestling figures alone, but most people seem to collect at least one other line as well whether it’s Joes, TMNT, Star Wars-the list goes on forever. My question is how do you afford it? I know things have been a little crazy lately, but you have people paying $500 for 123 Kid Hasbro and people with that much or more tied up in various preorders. I’ve dropped a hundred on one figure myself several times.
Me personally, I couldn’t afford it without a part time side job. I’m middle class(more upper middle than lower middle) but I have a mortgage, car payments, 3 kids, and a lot of bills. After all expenses, I couldn’t hardly afford any figures without the side gig. I basically put most of the money from that toward collecting. I’m just curious how others pull it off.
I made a poll so people can answer anonymously if you want. Doesn’t necessarily need to be a discussion but certainly can be. I’m just genuinely curious how people are able to spend so much money collecting.
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Old Zeke
Main Eventer
'Fraid old Zeke, he rides up here with me. Can't trust a pig with watermelons, you know.
Joined on: Jun 24, 2019 13:46:50 GMT -5
Posts: 3,093
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Post by Old Zeke on Aug 13, 2020 3:36:12 GMT -5
Low cost of living for me.
I live at home with my Mum and my Nan - they both need looking after (they aren't invalids, but they both struggle without help) so they split the bills between them, and I pay a small amount of rent every month in addition to doing the food shopping etc.
I'm very selective with what I buy as well, so that always helps.
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TeamKennedy
Superstar
WF 10+ Year Member
Original Join Date: June 2008
Joined on: Jul 11, 2011 18:44:25 GMT -5
Posts: 593
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Post by TeamKennedy on Aug 13, 2020 4:05:28 GMT -5
I know this probably doesn’t technically fit in the Mattel forum so apologies if it needs to be moved but this is the forum I I frequent so I posted here. We all know collecting is expensive. Just wrestling figures alone, but most people seem to collect at least one other line as well whether it’s Joes, TMNT, Star Wars-the list goes on forever. My question is how do you afford it? I know things have been a little crazy lately, but you have people paying $500 for 123 Kid Hasbro and people with that much or more tied up in various preorders. I’ve dropped a hundred on one figure myself several times. Me personally, I couldn’t afford it without a part time side job. I’m middle class(more upper middle than lower middle) but I have a mortgage, car payments, 3 kids, and a lot of bills. After all expenses, I couldn’t hardly afford any figures without the side gig. I basically put most of the money from that toward collecting. I’m just curious how others pull it off. I made a poll so people can answer anonymously if you want. Doesn’t necessarily need to be a discussion but certainly can be. I’m just genuinely curious how people are able to spend so much money collecting. That right there. I'm in my early 20's living in the midwest with virtually no other expenses besides rent, electricity, water, internet, groceries and a phone bill that together only takes about a fourth of my income pre-tax. I don't go crazy like some people and buy out entire series but I do average a few figures a month and spend TONS more towards my other hobby (video games, comic books, etc). I think the average person is like me and buys $200 max a month and aren't the $500 for a Hasbro 123 Kid like you mention. I also assume that if a person can buy a figure for $500 they either are super passionate about the hobby or $500 is not a ton of money like it is for me or you. |
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Post by LK3 on Aug 13, 2020 4:08:13 GMT -5
I'm not sure any of those apply to me 100%. I guess it depends how much money "plenty of discretionary income" is referring to. I wouldn't say I have plenty, but I have enough to afford the action figures that I want. All my online purchases are with a credit card, but I pay whatever the balance is every month.
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Post by mcfclee on Aug 13, 2020 4:12:37 GMT -5
I'm not sure any of those apply to me 100%. I guess it depends how much money "plenty of discretionary income" is referring to. I wouldn't say I have plenty, but I have enough to afford the action figures that I want. All my online purchases are with a credit card, but I pay whatever the balance is every month. Was thinking something quite similar. You don’t have to be wealthy to buy a few figures each week. I buy some with what’s left after my bills each week. I don’t go out much anymore since I had kids and coach soccer 4 times a week. The money I spent on nights out in my 20’s is more than I spend on figures. |
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Post by WalterF on Aug 13, 2020 4:21:10 GMT -5
For me, I don’t make a ton of money but mostly live pretty
Inexpensively. Have a mortgage but no debt, no kids and mostly eat at home and don’t buy too many extra things. Also, because I collect several lines I’m definitely a cherry picker and only get figs I consider a must
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Post by CM Tusk on Aug 13, 2020 4:25:24 GMT -5
I deliver pizzas. Pull in around $4000 a month on average and my monthly bills are are $1500. I usually spend my money on traveling but with Covid hurting that, I’ve been able to start a good sized collection. Trying to stop myself from starting a MOC Legends collection though. Haha
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Post by Vamp55 on Aug 13, 2020 4:26:26 GMT -5
Me and the wife have good jobs, we have a mortgage and 2 kids... I get “pocket money” every 2 weeks (as does my wife) and we get to spent it on anything we want... I don’t don’t drink much or smoke, so I buy little plastic toys in boxes - lol
All the rest of our money pays the bills and we save for travel, entertainment and home improvements
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Post by mcfclee on Aug 13, 2020 6:40:35 GMT -5
Me and the wife have good jobs, we have a mortgage and 2 kids... I get “pocket money” every 2 weeks (as does my wife) and we get to spent it on anything we want... I don’t don’t drink much or smoke, so I buy little plastic toys in boxes - lol All the rest of our money pays the bills and we save for travel, entertainment and home improvements Nailed it. |
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Post by Da Handsome 1 on Aug 13, 2020 6:59:31 GMT -5
Both my wife & I have good jobs & we split everything 50/50.
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Post by JokerFC on Aug 13, 2020 7:17:42 GMT -5
Ive a good job and my cost of living is slowly decreasing here in Ireland. I collect several things but always try to keep on top of what wrestlers I want because the 2nd market is insane to be honest.
I keep my eye on whats inbound and plan basically so I dont get caught out?
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Post by ZDB on Aug 13, 2020 7:20:48 GMT -5
Stopped collecting current era figs, focused in on flashbacks. Way more enjoyable for me and easier to keep up with $$ wise.
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Post by Mr. Show on Aug 13, 2020 7:56:43 GMT -5
I deliver pizzas. Pull in around $4000 a month on average and my monthly bills are are $1500. I usually spend my money on traveling but with Covid hurting that, I’ve been able to start a good sized collection. Trying to stop myself from starting a MOC Legends collection though. Haha $4000 a month delivering pizzas??? Wow I picked the wrong career! |
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Post by TheHitmanKid on Aug 13, 2020 8:36:12 GMT -5
How do I afford it?
I dont buy every figure.
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Post by plastictaxicab on Aug 13, 2020 8:47:26 GMT -5
I'm in a predicament where I make a good amount of money, but decided to focus of eliminating my debt as quick as possible, which is why I recently sold off my collection and decided to focus on Ultimate Edition flashbacks only, and some exclusives. I have student loans from a 4 year private college, a car payment, and 3 credit cards. I'm doing the snowball payoff method, so it's a pretty aggressive attack on my debt, but a lot of my extra money goes toward that. I should have my debt eliminated in less than 5 years this way, where if I paid minimums every month, it would take around 20 years with interest stacking. Not to turn it into a financial discussion haha, but that's where I'm at right now.
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Post by shanieomaniac on Aug 13, 2020 9:18:34 GMT -5
Option 6 - I choose not to eat in order to support my figure habit
No really, I exist off canned pasta and frozen chicken so I have money to buy figures. Once a month I treat myself to homemade stir-fry. Some nights I visit my parent's house for dinner. Some nights I eat crackers for dinner. My bills get paid but I spend almost all my extra cash on these things. Action Figures are one of the few sources of happiness in my life. Due to Covid destroying my social life/support structure, I'd go nuts without having something to bring me joy.
My payee told me to decide what my priorities were. I told her she wouldn't like the answer I gave. I was right, she didn't.
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The Coach
Superstar
Joined on: Dec 23, 2018 15:54:24 GMT -5
Posts: 721
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Post by The Coach on Aug 13, 2020 9:21:11 GMT -5
I deliver pizzas. Pull in around $4000 a month on average and my monthly bills are are $1500. I usually spend my money on traveling but with Covid hurting that, I’ve been able to start a good sized collection. Trying to stop myself from starting a MOC Legends collection though. Haha $4000 a month delivering pizzas??? Wow I picked the wrong career! Yeah idk how on earth this guy is making that kind of money delivering pizzas lol |
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Post by CM Poor on Aug 13, 2020 9:30:02 GMT -5
I'm usually a "scrape by when I have extra money" kinda guy. I have a decent job, but other things like the mortgage, the bills, my wife's schooling, my son's care/needs/wants, and general family affairs come first. At the same time, with Covid, I'm saving a ton on gas, car care, and general travel related expenses, so I've been a bit buck wild with it lately. Eventually I'll need to reel it back in, and that's fine.
Occasionally, if I'm feeling the need to get reckless, I'll some old things on eBay to fund newer things I want. I've got a gold mine worth of old Toybiz Marvel Legends.
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zen411
Main Eventer
Joined on: Apr 18, 2019 21:20:38 GMT -5
Posts: 2,411
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Post by zen411 on Aug 13, 2020 9:51:10 GMT -5
None of these really define me. I find a little extra money once the bills are paid and use it to buy figures. I only buy flashback legends from the 80s and early 90s so I only really need to preorder figures ever so often. I'm still trying to catch up on figures I missed but only feel comfortable at the 40 or so range. Guys commanding top dollar on the secondary market are usually out of my reach.
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HardyKOfan01
Superstar
Proud Follower of Mattitude and member of the #YEPmovement
Joined on: Apr 11, 2016 9:39:00 GMT -5
Posts: 962 
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Post by HardyKOfan01 on Aug 13, 2020 9:54:41 GMT -5
I work a retail job, and use my credit card to buy something if it catches my interest, or if it’s an Owens or Rollins figure (I buy pretty much all of them). I’m still young, so I live with my parents and my older brother, and while I do pitch in a little bit when it comes to paying the bills, I mostly have a lot of money on my card. The fact that I don’t drive (yet) and don’t have to worry about car payments like the rest of my family probably helps too.
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I dont know good luck 