I don't worry about about stuff I can't afford, usually. There's plenty of cool stuff out there that I can afford, so why fret over the overpriced stuff? If there's something expensive I really want, I save for it if possible. Otherwise, I just move on. They're just toys. I really enjoy them, but I don't need them.

:pfx

 

 

 

luckily, i was getting WAY overpaid (with no overheads) when the alternators were released - completed the lot & still had plenty of beer money leftover

 

my little (lol, twice my size'D!) brother bought me a brave maximus one birthday (BEST. BIRTHDAY. EVER.) - he was ALWAYS skint & i used to always say "don't buy me anything dude - a thoughtful card & a phonecall is worth more than anything" & he'd say "well you always buy me stuff so when i get money i'll buy you anything (changed to "any TF when i started collecting) you want" - he came into some money one year & pow he bought me that - LOVE IT

 

i got a sweet deal on the bookbox/TRU reissues from some dude on (well, off of) ebay - cleared it with my credit card company (they said "get an email of what you're buying" etc) & i took a chance - got an almost complete MISB collection for about £12.50 (with postage) each

 

i had a lot of spare cash, but i never went for grossly overpriced stuff - i preferred to buy massive lots & take out what i wanted (still got leftovers from them lots in my loft) - i got a LOAD of cheap BW/BM & A/E/C figs from them - i'd recommend buying that way as several figures i wouldn't normally bother with turned out really nice

 

i don't get much free cash these days so i have to be more selective with my buys - i don't hesitate with the Encore releases though (sky lynx & omega supreme especially) as i know the prices will probably skyrocket, so they're my main priority - classics are next on the list - i won't overpay for them though - i just pick them up in dribs n drabs

 

in all honesty i would collect the Animated line if i had the same spare cash as before (hell, i collected playskool gobots & animorphs back then!) but they don't really appeal to me so i don't bother with them (except soundwave - i'll have to buy a soundwave!)

 

 

 

in short: i spend every penny of my spare cash on TF's; i never get in debt for them though - i'd love to get more expensive stuff (i'm lookin at u b0tc0n s33k3rs) but i can't justify them with my outgoings right now

 

the way i see it, one day i'll have the money & when i can truly afford them then they'll truly belong to me

I usually skip most of the mainline stuff. Let's me buy the collector centric pieces more easily.

if something is just out of my range I can save up but if its right out there I don't tend to care because I know there is a high chance of buyers remorse

That's how I felt when that $100 plus came out my account and then MP Screamer got into my hands. I'll admit, he's cool and the packaging is nice but then you stand him next to Movie Leader Prime and you think.........yeah.......I paid too much.

*paid 30 bucks for walscream*

 

although I did not feel that at all when I got skywarp.

 

how do I deal with figs I can't afford?

 

I charge them, then work a 2nd job to pay off the balance asap.

whats this, not buy expensive figs..what what, no really i came to the realization that if you dont buy it when it comes out you'll never get it! there are a lot of figures that i passed up, and now wish i had X -9 ravage comes to mine, and luckly they are rerealeasing MP ultra magnus, cause i didnt even see him the first time around, they reissued sixshot a few yrs back passed him up ,he a butttload of gold now. i love TF so i want them ALL!!

I tend to gravitate away from the high-end stuff anymore. I didn't collect any of the Movie figs, and sold off most of my Energon collection as it was my least favorite. Out of all my collections Cybertron is the only line I have completed, making it easy for me to pass on some of the Universe repaints. I might try to go completist on Animayed, but I have not decided yet really.

 

My basic philosophy though is if I have the money for a particular Item I buy it. I try to stay within a budget each week, but it doesn't always work that way.

I will find a way no matter what!!!

 

So far there are only four transformers that I am having problems getting, but in time I will get them somehow. They were all four on eBay last week for the first time that I can remember in a while but I was having trouble spending that massive amount of funds needed to get them all at that point. I should have just bought the cheapest one, but call it a moment of weakness or maybe common sense. And that’s when I said and bunch of foul language and the told myself I can wait till next time.

 

The Rare Cassettes

Dairu

Gurafi

Noizu

Zauru

 

See here is another one already but it’s just one this time and I just can’t bring myself to do it again. It’s just hard to use every bit of my special funding for something this small! There has to be a better deal coming.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...atchlink:top:us

Real simple on figures I can't afford, I work harder, and put away some money if it's a real high cap till I can painlessly afford it.

 

I've always been that way, and don't like excuses as to why you can't do it. To the young people, I worked when I was real young. Hell the kid across the street from me did my yard work all summer long, cause he wanted good school cloths. A job is as close as grabbing a mower and rake and knocking on some doors.

 

To the older people, with families, bills, and all that, prioritize, take some hours when you can and don't forget about the change jar. I gotta, and outside of some real expensive vintage items that fill an ever shrinking list, it's just one more thing to look forward to.

 

I understand if you can't justify it, and good for you, I just hate hearing "I don't have any money" when there are so many things that realy anyone can do. If it's an online case where you gotta ask Mom and Dad for some numbers, show them you earned it and aren't asking for it. I've noticed that way they're normal proud to help out when it comes to that.

Ahhh...the joys of still living at home. It makes things like this easier to deal with. However, I do have a monthly TF budget I adhere by. $50 a month. If a figure costs more (like MP Megatron), I'll just that month and either the month prior or after budget as well.

 

I don't go G1 hunting (with the exception of Megatron) since I have all the newer shiny stuff to distract me (thanks Movie/Animated/Universe/any future line :thumb).

 

Then again, this goes to living at home. Birthdays and Chanukah. I usually wind up getting a few nice figs from that. Got the reissue Star Convoy for my 20th Birthday. I know I'm getting the 25th Anniversary G1 Prime for Chanukah. I can probably squeeze Universe Unicron for that too. If not in person, there's always gift cards.

 

During the winter I snowblow the driveway, and considering the size of our driveway, it takes me a decent 45 mins to an hour to do it. So for each round, even if I have to do it twice in one day, I get $10 bucks added to my account from my mother so that's $10 more I have to spend.

I used to ignore all those expensive figures. I still ignore some these days but I've found myself treating myself more and more lately. LIKE today I preordered the Alternity Nissan Prime figures...both Silver and Red.

 

Now that I think about it...I don't know WHAT I'm thinking lately...as I sit patiently waiting for my City Commander trailer and Henkei TCracker :eek

I think it is priority. What takes priority in your life. Sure responsibilities like rent, car payments, family etc are all important.

 

Now the standard understanding, that most adult collectors go thru, is over; you need to look at what else you are using your money for. Stupid crap liek general releases? why? Im not saying to NOT buy them, but buy the good ones you like. Do you need to have every variant? no. Do you need to have a crap load of armada, galaxyforce etc? those are crap. Sure I got sucked into the cartoon and it made me want to buy the toys and I did. but then i stopped.

 

One thing that i like to remind myself is that sure the little figs are affordable, but what happens? I buy it, transform it once or twice and then it sits in a box of other abandoned tfs.

 

I picked and chose my MPs. Like I onyl have Hasbro MP Prime (both versions) Hasbro Starscream and Takara MP Megs. I dont have skywarp, Takara MP Convoy, takara UM, nor MP skywarp cause I just dont need them. Oh it also helps to get things on sale. Like DVD Prime was $25 so I have two of them.

 

It is all a matter of setting priorities. I like to balance out only a few small cheap figures with a few larger more expensive ones.