Comic Addiction & Financial Repercussions1454
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Darkga private msg quote post Address this user | |
My name is Darkga, and I'm a comic book addict.   I'm half laughing and half crying after calculating how much I have spent on comics in just the last four months since joining this forum. I'm trying to recover and rehabilitate, but it's hard when you see a book for sale at a great price. From reading into a few of the posts on this forum I have been able to surmise that I am not alone in this struggle. Therefore, I have created this thread as kind of a support group for us addicts. I know it makes as much sense as holding an AA meeting in a bar, but what the hell.  |
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QuaBrot private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I try to make my addiction pay for itself - somewhat successful, but not at the level where I'll be opening a comic book/collectibles store anytime soon (we can dream, can't we?). If I took stock of how much I have sunk in comics etc. I'd probably cry, so I just soldier ahead and enjoy myself . . . |
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 You think I'm joking, I'm not.
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earthshaker01 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Don't look at the numbers spent, madness will ensue. I have spent a lot in grading since the start of cbcs. I assume it will all payoff in the end. You can always make more money, but you can't make more comics that you like. | ||
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dielinfinite private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I've recently dug myself into something of a hole but I'd like to think it's a few unexpected/new expenses that I didn't well account for, like sending books off to NYCC with Matt, or planning a vacation in February. As long as I can curb my soending for a couple of months, I should be fine (he says with $100 worth of comics in his ebay cart) |
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ZosoRocks private msg quote post Address this user | |
| First and foremost, Darkga, I've been where you are. It is fun, but exhausting. It is eye-opening, yet surreal. It can be addicting, or it can be a hobby. I learned a long time ago.....you can't buy everything. Granted there are a lot of good things to buy, but it just isn't conducive to your health. Buy what you really like and those items that make you happy. I have a couple of rules I live by that helped me overcome this addiction: - If you find something you can afford, buy it, because it may never come around again. - I only buy things that I know I have money available - either in my pocket to pay cash for it, or it is a payday and I know I am within my bi-weekly entertainment budget. - I prioritize my family and current needs before my hobby. - I sell items for my collection to increase the collection with better items. I hope these help. Seriously, you will be surprised on what you really don't need to buy, and how silly some of the things you do buy - really are. :o) Good luck! |
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 Collector
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BluSkyComics private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Hi Darkga. My name is BluSky and I'm a comic book buying, auction-sniping, original sketch on a blank variant-commissioning, signature-facilitating, get it pressed to get a 9.8 or nothing before slabbing addict. Thank you for this support group. I feel better already. |
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 I bought a meat grinder on amazon for $60 and it's changed my life.
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kaptainmyke private msg quote post Address this user | |
You really don't want to know what I spend on turtles. Seriously. If you only knew.  |
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 "Forum Overlord" bah ha ha ha...
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JustThatGuy private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by kaptainmyke |
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I bought a meat grinder on amazon for $60 and it's changed my life.
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kaptainmyke private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I'm ignoring that video. | ||
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You think I'm joking, I'm not.
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earthshaker01 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Oh do tell what do you spend on comics. Of you tell I will, lol. | ||
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Collector
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Darkga private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Ok fess up everyone; I'll go first... I have spent over $11,000 on comics so far this year. Whew! Just saying it hurt. |
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I bought a meat grinder on amazon for $60 and it's changed my life.
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kaptainmyke private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I'm afraid to publicly state my spending on toys and comics. | ||
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 Collector
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roarzola private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I used to spend a lot but then I got some advice, "Try not to get caught up in the game" That helped a lot. I try not to buy a book just because it is a first issue and I try not to buy every single variant, unless it is Godzilla. |
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Darkga private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by kaptainmyke Dude, don't puss out on us. What's the number? |
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 Beaten by boat oars
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Studley_Dudley private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I would say in the last 3 years, it's been easily in the $30,000-$35,000 range. | ||
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Beaten by boat oars
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Studley_Dudley private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I guess comics are my new cigarettes. | ||
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Deadpoolica private msg quote post Address this user | |
| The struggle is real | ||
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Collector
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ZosoRocks private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Darkga WOW!! Your budget for the year is $10,750.00 more than mine.....LOL For me...I try to buy low and sell high.....I mean....buy real low.... The local "Hastings" were going out of business....I spent about $65.00 over a couple of weeks on about 60 books. One of the two receipts showed - $34.00 dollars spent, and a savings of $215.00. I'm thinking I probably spent about $300.00 on toys, comics, artwork, and LPs. I did a quick total of about 8 items I purchased. Total spent was about $135.00 for these items, and the total resell value of them is about $3250.00. Buy what you like. Buy what makes you happy. 2400% profit should make anyone happy.....I know it does for me! |
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Collector
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ZosoRocks private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by roarzola See....it really isn't that hard to do!! :o) Nice going....and I bet you are quite happy now, huh? |
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Collector
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ZosoRocks private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Studley_Dudley This looks like retailer numbers, just to keep up inventory. I hope it is not affecting the children!! :o) I can see it now....."No Billy, Daddy is buying the ASM #1 instead of the Sit and Spin! Maybe next time." hehehehe |
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infinityG private msg quote post Address this user | |
@Darkga @Studley_Dudley  holy crap dudes. |
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| Post 22 • IP flag post | ||
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Beaten by boat oars
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Studley_Dudley private msg quote post Address this user | |
| In my case, I was out of collecting for about 7 years. When, I finally got back into it, I had a lot of catching up to do on the series/characters/keys I was interested in. Outside of buying a Hulk 181, I've been pretty good this year. Most of the money was spent in 2013-2015. I've been buying less lately, but higher quality. I do some flipping, but mostly I collect because I like it. That $30k was spent over a few years. | ||
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 COLLECTOR
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conditionfreak private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Money spent is relative on how much money you have coming in, or need for other things. One thousand dollars to one person, might be chump change. But to another person, it is a small fortune. I have spent maybe $22,000 over the past 45 years. That was probably $7,000 more than I should have. But sometimes it is a crap shoot when trying to ride that new character introduction wave. I don't drink, smoke, run around, or even take vacations that cost more than a few hundred dollars every five years or so. Comic books are an addiction for sure. But it is one I can live with. As a mater of fact. I am happy with it. But taking care of family matters comes first. Always. Stating on here how much money you have spent on comics, is pretty much meaningless for comparisons. Because it is all relative. Some of you are close to poor. I ain't. Some of you are close to filthy rich. I ain't. Many of you use comic books as a second income. I don't. It is one of my hobbies. But it was done with an eye towards possible financial reward in my golden years (like yesterday). |
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I bought a meat grinder on amazon for $60 and it's changed my life.
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kaptainmyke private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Well said @conditionfreak which is why I won't state what I spend because it's all relative. My wife and son come first no matter what | ||
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You think I'm joking, I'm not.
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earthshaker01 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| 15k in grading alone in last year an a half. Probably another 10k in purchases. | ||
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Collector
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Darkga private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I'm about to sell most books that are not a part of my main collection themes. Like a few of you have already said, "You can't collect everything." I would buy a book sometimes and then be like, "why did I even buy this?" and then try to immediately sell it. | ||
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OrbitCityComics private msg quote post Address this user | |
| You don't even want to know what I spent. I keep a running tally, and it's frightening to look at. I do offset my spending with selling. I can't say my ledger is balanced, but it is within about 10k, which is pretty good. A few tips: 1. Buy what you actually read, unless you plan on flipping it. 2. Do not chase books out of your range. A bit of savvy looking will you get you the book you want at a price you can afford. 3. Don't chase every variant to fill a collection. I only buy variants I like, the rest just get ignored. This will take a lot of pressure off of your wallet. |
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Foghorn_Sam private msg quote post Address this user | |
| At least comic books have residual value so you're not flushing your money down the toilet completely like you are with other vices like say drugs, alcohol and tobacco and oh, did I mention cosmetics.? Of course that rationality can be a trap in and of itself so you have to be careful. My biggest fear is that the market will collapse but there's a doomsday scenario with everything so you just have to keep on and not worry about it. |
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Collector
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BluSkyComics private msg quote post Address this user | |
| My obsession is more profit-based. The mission is finding a VF/NM KEY book, get it pressed and cleaned, signed (witnessed), graded with a 9.8, and getting a 200% plus ROI. I've invested maybe 25-30k in 18 months. But I pick what I want to keep for my grandkids. At least a short box of major keys. |
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