Do You Keep Track ?

Since 1987 I have kept a kind of balance sheet..items purchased vs. items sold...probably to keep me from going "overboard" on my stamp purchases..i have a couple of knowledgable friends who are advanced collectors and they say they do not know and do not want to know how much they spend..i am sure folks are all sorts of in between on this subject..i am asking for it !!

I did Phil. When I returned to the hobby, I created an Excel spreadsheet to track my expenses. I kept it updated for a long time, but in the past few years, I have neglected to update it.

I WISH I had kept it current, but in my mind it was always a 'chore' that detracted from my enjoyment of the hobby. But I would LOVE to know how much money (and time for that matter) I've spent over the years.

KirkS

Very Simple...I count the bruises and scars on the side of my head

Bams

Multiply by 10, take that number and multiply by $1.25..the average purchase price... and it comes out to $8,750.00

Once one worries about how much his or her's hobby costs...it's no longer a hobby. Unless, of course you're collecting money! I've never been very successful at that.
Allan

I knew there would be a spread...Bobgggg you and I are in the same ballpark !!

Allan, I guess I once dreamed of it being a profitable hobby..like raising chickens....to me its still the greatest hobby,pastime, therapy etc;

Bobgggg:

You are the man! I'm laughing out loud

KirkS

Allan:

I'm not sure I totally agree with you...

What if you wanted to insure your collection or otherwise document it's value. What if you wanted to sell it, or give it to a relative?

Documentation could put the collection in a better context for the next owner.

On the other hand, as I said, if the record keeping turns into a chore, it definitely detracts from the hobby.

KirkS

I think they're completely analogous.

Our source for free-range chickens (ready for the pot...not live) went from expensive to obscene this year. There was discussion around our house that now was the time to start our own flock, which was put forth as a cost-saving measure. The problem is...by the time you're going, you've got expenses that amortize out to about $300 per bird.

So its about exactly as profitable as collecting stamps, in my mind...

lol if stamps were profitable I would not be poor and on the verge of bankruptcy

CJD when I was a kid I took care of 3,000 leghorns..before and after school..if my Dad made any profit on them I was not cut in...My oldest son and his lady buy the organic stuff..whether they can afford it or not..i lasted this long on the chemical enhanced chicken breasts..kind of late to change now !!

i guess I was cut in..i had shelter, clothes and we ate well..its not like nowadays where you pay a kid to do a chore !!

Spock Spock ! did you put all your eggs in one basket..Stamps ????

I have never kept track of purchase price and have never sold any loose stamps. I did try to start cataloging my albums but that did not last long, too time consuming.

KirkS...The key word in my statement I think is "worries". Even though I'm an eastener, I've had a chicken flock. They were just for fun,and I guess that would qualify as a hobby. But if I didn't get a bunch of eggs every day, I didn't let it bother me. And how did we get from hobbies to buying and selling chickens?
Allan

Good point about "worry", Allan.

As for chickens, I don't know how we got there. But I do know raising your own chickens takes some of the fun out of eating them. Kind of like making your own sausage.