A Finance Question.

First of all, I want to take a minute and thank everyone for their help. The level of knowledge and expertise on this sight is astounding (and more than a little intimdating.)

Secondly, I would like to apologize if I am cluttering up the forum with a lot of newbie questions, but I don't have a lot of extra money for stamp collecting and I really can't afford to make bad decisions.

I save money until I have enough (usually $75)and then I will make a purchase. Here is the question. I would like to know what YOU would do.

If you have $75 would you buy an individual stamp with the money or would you buy 2 or 3 stamps that are obviously less expensive (but are still nice quality additions to your collection.)

Warrior --That is a easy question to answer .......I would search for something that is unusual and that nobody has . I would look for something that comes up for sale once every couple of years and do the research and write it up and mount it ,as a collection .
For example ----things I want to do in the future but to busy with other stuff for the next five years .I would love to make a collection of proper used U.S. post cards with all the different rates . Second a collection of plate number coils used . Third , worldwide collection of one stamp from every country/ government group and all the occupation overprints and sub-sections that issued a postage stamp . Fourth ,collect the stamps of South Viet Nam on cover .

You should consider what your goal is in collecting to best make that decision. Way quantity vs. quality in how you want to collect. Better quality and higher catalogue valued items will better appreciate in value over time. Lower end, lesser valued stamps, will tend to remain so over time. How your financial ability, disposable income, changes over time will also effect your choices. All that being said, its probably best to buy better material if you can now. But that choice is yours to make as you determine whether you what to fill the holes now or fill them gradually, focusing on better material now. I have some regrets I didn't do a better job getting the better material years ago when I could better afford it, but conversely, I've a lot of holes filled and I'm happy with what I have. Another thing: as I learned more about identifying stamps, I've been able to pick up some rather good, better material, that is overlooked by others, seller and buyer alike.

$75.....
I would buy the best #c18 50c Zeppelin, NH
Can get a very nice example.....probably with
plate # also.

Warrior - you ask a very good question. I learned to love stamp collecting from my dad. His opinion on that question was to take all your money and buy ONE good quality stamp with it. I have been collecting for 60 years now and I still disagree with his advice {and politics!}. I would rather buy a collection with 1000 precancels or perfins and have fun.

Just make sure whatever you get you happy with, there are many avenues you can branch out in within stamps. If you dont have a lot of money just pick one were the stamps dont cost alot. The only thing to make sure to avoid is dont buy a hoard of common junk. The best thing I personal have that make me the happiest is not worth much but its my set of all used ( I wont put new ones in there) of US with the best centering and nicest cancels I can find, you would be shocked at how hard it is to get all the newer stamps used. Sometimes I get something on ebay and I am happier with the stamps used to mail it than whats inside because I can fill a hole for free.

I keep a "want list" of stamps I am looking for. Anything that comes up on the list that is within my budget is fair game. I find myself being "picky" when it comes to actually spending the money.... I may want the stamp, but it must be acceptable for the price....so its sort of a balance between want & quality & price.

I like to get APS Stamp Circuits which contain about 10 books of "approvals". Going through the books I may find several copies of a wanted item but at different prices and conditions. Other times I may have to decide between one expensive stamp or several less expensive items.

The "hunt" is an exciting challenge.

Your money,your stamps, your time. Buy what ever you can afford and what you like. It's what ever you like that makes YOU happy not what everyone else likes or make them happy.

I just have to give my 2-cents on this comment. Obviously, one should do what ever one wants to do with his/her collection. Many people ask questions on this, and other, forums not to do what makes others happy, but to get advice from those who have more experience and try to avoid making the same mistakes that others have made.

We should not discourage those with less experience from asking questions by simply saying, they're your stamps, do what ever you want with them.

I would buy the two or three stamps that are less expensive but still good quality. This would give me more to look at in the future and a greater sense of accomplishment and progress. You eventually have to fill those spaces, anyway ...

For me it is the age old answer of "it depends."

Largely, it depends on which collection I'm focusing on. If I'm in the beginning stages of building a collection, I might opt for mixtures, packets, or box lots. Something like that. Then for my "more advanced" collections, $75 could buy one or two stamps that are a little higher value and that I currently don't have.

I think it depends on what you want to do. For me, I really get torn between fill a lot of holes in a collection versus filling THAT hole in a collection. I struggle with your question myself and I've been at this for about 35 years.

Surprised by the lack by others to stress education and learning . I think the building a collection with education is more important than buying something to fill holes or having a few treasures.

floortrader,

You have to keep in mind that different people collect stamps for different reasons. Some like to learn about the technical aspects of the stamps and stamp production, some like to learn more about the history and geography of the different countries, some are more interested in learning about the topics on the stamps.

I had an entomology professor in college who only collected stamps with butterflies and moths on them because that was his scientific speciality.

To each, their own.

If I had $75 to spend, and spendable stamp income did not come to me very often, I don't think buying 1 or 2 nice quality stamps would satisfy my stamping need. It would be nice to have them, but there would probably be a large gap of collecting between purchases, and my interest would probably lessen. Instead, I would opt to buy a collection, or accumulation of stamps and spend time sorting, learning, and hopefully making some nice discoveries along the way.

Just an opinion, but I am having a lot of economical fun with the 1938-39 Presidential Series. Fairly easy to find well centered attractive used or unused stamps. I have completed several series but the Presidential has been the most enjoyable to work on.

It is not too common that 'investing' coincides with 'fun quotient'; each purchasing decision often requires selecting one or the other. They are not mutually exclusive, but it is not common in the $75 range that you can fulfill both.

Given the limited budget, I would recommend buying for 'fun quotient'.
Don