What is your yearly budget?

[primatives]

Hey guys,

What is your yearly budget for Transformers? Do you even have one? How do you balance if you've got family? Curious to know!

[Ralph Wiggum]

Given that I now only collect TT G1 Masterpieces, my budget is whatever because the releases are far and few between now.

[SharkyMcShark]

I don't have a 'budget' so much as a list of forthcoming releases that I know I'm going to purchase, which I try my best not to deviate from on impulse.

For example right now it extends to

- WFCS Apeface
- The remaining Studio Series Constructicons (I have the first four already)
- Studio Series Shatter (jet mode)
- ER Wheeljack
- ER Starscream

I find that focusing on that keeps unnecessary spending down

(though I know I may be tempted on a whim with many of the coming Studio Series deluxes like the Arcee triplets and Soundwave).

[DELTAprime]

No budget really, but I put away $50 every fortnight in a separate savings account so that I'm not digging into my main account every time a new wave of stuff comes out.

[griffin]

I spend about $200 on average per week...



Yes... that works out to about $10,000 per year. :eek:
(well, I do add about 400 items to the collection every year, so it all adds up)


I used to buy a fair bit from Japan, but not in the last two years thanks to the rapid rise in pricing of Masterpiece toys, and the small amount of Japanese-only Transformers now that the main lines (Studio Series, Cyberverse, Generations) are all identical to the Hasbro versions.
But that saving has been offset by the growing number of exclusives not making to Australia since the collapse of ToysRUs, requiring a lot of importing and buying from inflated secondary markets.

[DaptoDog]

I try to limit myself to $4k. I buy only a fraction of Griffin in number (400!) but the average cost is way higher since I mainly buy Masterpiece.

[High_Q]

I don't have a budget for TFs.
I am not a completionist and mainly collect G1 MPs, G1 reissues and short-lived novelty lines (e.g. Q-TF, Disney Label, ReActions).
Last calendar year, i bought only two MPs (44, 45) and one reissue cassettron set. This year so far, I am expecting two ReAction TF figures.
Unless Takara or Hasbro reissues the multiple 1987-89 figures or releases many MP cars, I can't imagine spending more than $400/year on toys.

[Tha_Phantom]

I'm too scared to work it out, but let's say a lot.... :rolleyes: I'm backcollecting as well as collecting current stuff so I pretty much spend money as soon as I get it. I never run out of things to buy.

[Sinnertwin]

As someone from the Ferrari F1 team once said, Budget? What does that mean?

[Dimi194]

I don't budget per se, but I definitely used to buy entire new waves without thinking by the case, which I've stopped doing to focus on only the toys I really want, which saves costs on extra, not super wanted figures.
When I know it's release season I'll put money aside to get the new figures, but that's it!

[DELTAprime]

I spend about $200 on average per week...



Yes... that works out to about $10,000 per year. :eek:
(well, I do add about 400 items to the collection every year, so it all adds up)


I used to buy a fair bit from Japan, but not in the last two years thanks to the rapid rise in pricing of Masterpiece toys, and the small amount of Japanese-only Transformers now that the main lines (Studio Series, Cyberverse, Generations) are all identical to the Hasbro versions.
But that saving has been offset by the growing number of exclusives not making to Australia since the collapse of ToysRUs, requiring a lot of importing and buying from inflated secondary markets.

Do your delivery people know you well? :p

[griffin]

Do your delivery people know you well? :p

It is a worry when I go to the post office lately and I don't need to say my box number to some of the staff...

[Deonasis]

Very very small.

[Trent]

I spend about $200 on average per week...



Yes... that works out to about $10,000 per year. :eek:
(well, I do add about 400 items to the collection every year, so it all adds up)


I used to buy a fair bit from Japan, but not in the last two years thanks to the rapid rise in pricing of Masterpiece toys, and the small amount of Japanese-only Transformers now that the main lines (Studio Series, Cyberverse, Generations) are all identical to the Hasbro versions.
But that saving has been offset by the growing number of exclusives not making to Australia since the collapse of ToysRUs, requiring a lot of importing and buying from inflated secondary markets.

Do you find yourself a bit over it? I mean, that level of collecting, over the period you have done it, must get tiresome. I couldn’t do it. It must be having quite the impact on your life.

[griffin]

Do you find yourself a bit over it? I mean, that level of collecting, over the period you have done it, must get tiresome. I couldn’t do it. It must be having quite the impact on your life.

I go through periods of interest highs and lows... like in the last half year I've been focussing on re-organising the collection and doing a complete count/audit of everything that I (should) have, which is huge chore, particularly as I've been finding some things that I wasn't properly keeping track of in previous years (toys that I didn't note on my collection website, probably during low points of interest), or having to research release listings to be sure that I have toys on the correct shelves (if it was a bigger toyline that spread over 2 or more shelves).

And to avoid distractions, I've had to stop opening up new toys since last October... so I have a huge pile of toys I want to rip open and play, but I have "work" that needs to be done first.

That "work" is almost done, as I just finished on Monday night, counting the toy shelves in my collection and updating all of the webpages (not uploaded yet), which has given me a total "playable toy" count of 7,447 (that's officially released by Hasbro or Takara(Tomy) - action figures, figurines, playsets, remote-control, roleplay, plush and construction toys). That number does NOT include officially released models, statues, puzzles, boardgames, or licensed "toys" and merchandise. I will be counting those things next, and photographing them as I dont have too much of it photographed for my collection website, and those items have been estimated to be between 1,500 to 1,700.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Do you find yourself a bit over it? I mean, that level of collecting, over the period you have done it, must get tiresome. I couldn’t do it. It must be having quite the impact on your life.


I go through periods of interest highs and lows... like in the last half year I've been focussing on re-organising the collection and doing a complete count/audit of everything that I (should) have, which is huge chore, particularly as I've been finding some things that I wasn't properly keeping track of in previous years (toys that I didn't note on my collection website, probably during low points of interest), or having to research release listings to be sure that I have toys on the correct shelves (if it was a bigger toyline that spread over 2 or more shelves).

And to avoid distractions, I've had to stop opening up new toys since last October... so I have a huge pile of toys I want to rip open and play, but I have "work" that needs to be done first.

That "work" is almost done, as I just finished on Monday night, counting the toy shelves in my collection and updating all of the webpages (not uploaded yet), which has given me a total "playable toy" count of 7,447 (that's officially released by Hasbro or Takara(Tomy) - action figures, figurines, playsets, remote-control, roleplay, plush and construction toys). That number does NOT include officially released models, statues, puzzles, boardgames, or licensed "toys" and merchandise. I will be counting those things next, and photographing them as I dont have too much of it photographed for my collection website, and those items have been estimated to be between 1,500 to 1,700.

Holy crap dude! :eek:

Besides work and novelty junk foods, does your hobby allow regular time in your life for pursuits and leisure that isn’t TF related?

[griffin]

Well, my life has been in a bit of a holding pattern in the last year or so... and I know that I do need to get out more... :(

My other main interest is travelling, but the expense of the last year's huge number of imported collector figures didn't leave me with much to play with (resulting in just the two annual trips of Melbourne Toyfair and Christmas)... and my two preferred overseas destinations for toys & food are currently off my list due to no more official TFs conventions (America) and civil unrest (HK). I have other places I want to visit, but I just don't have the enthusiasm for exploring somewhere new at the moment.

Actually, after the whole debacle with Guinness last year that ended up being a bit of a waste of time, it did help be the catalyst for me to re-focus my plans on doing something public with my collection, and as I spent more time processing and updating the shelves and collection webpage, I really started to fixate on getting to 10,000 Transformers items in the collection... without changing my collecting habits just to make up numbers (like buying duplicates or toys I have no interest in).

[Deonasis]

^Great questions and frank answers. That was an enjoyable insight.

I would like to have a tf budget but that requires sorting out the overall budget (which i’ll get to)

[Bidoofdude]

My budget usually ends up being “whatever I need to buy that year”, now that I can afford things. Most of the time clocks in at the same amount. I am horrible when it comes to older items particularly on auction for a good starting price.

Pounced on Henkei Mirage, Hound and Siege Omega because the opportunity presented.

I definitely have periods of high and lows, especially when there’s a new wave. Purchases will typically sit dormant for a couple months between big release windows, or I’ll focus on something different at times, like my Pichu card collection.

[Unicran]

*snip*
Actually, after the whole debacle with Guinness last year that ended up being a bit of a waste of time, *snip.
Wait, what? :confused:

Links to current GWR holder:
https://www.facebook.com/GuinnessWorldRecords/posts/the-largest-collection-of-transformers-memorabilia-is-2111-items-and-was-achieve/10157236275629032/

https://exclumagazine.com/2020/01/01/record-breaking-transformers-collection-gallery/

[GoktimusPrime]

I don't have a budget per se, but each pay I just scrape my leftovers (after mortgage, bills etc etc etc.) into my savings account and that pays for toys as I want them.
As others have mentioned, there can be long gaps between purchases because new toys aren't released every week - they come in waves. So when a new wave comes out I'll spend up, but then there will be a time when the spending goes down until the next wave is released. e.g. Wave 8 of Studio Series just hit stores, which is why you'll notice that I've made review threads for some of these figures (Bumblebee, Soundwave) -- I'm picking up Arcee later this week too. But yeah, after that it's pretty much just wait until the next wave hits.

And yeah, occasionally I'll buy something here or there, or I might pre-order some stand-alone toys like MP Spinout, but generally that's how it works. Save money during the ebbs and spend during the flows. On the whole I tend to save more than I spend because most of the year is spent waiting for new releases. And I have to admit, I've been saving a LOT during this whole COVID19 isolation thing - not surprisingly because I'm not going out or socialising etc. anymore, so suddenly all the money that I would normally spend on petrol, eating out, movies, travel etc. is just being saved instead (so I've made a handful of impulse buys like getting a loose MP Forty-Four (pretty cheap though)). :)

[Krayt]

Wait, what? :confused:

Links to current GWR holder:
https://www.facebook.com/GuinnessWorldRecords/posts/the-largest-collection-of-transformers-memorabilia-is-2111-items-and-was-achieve/10157236275629032/

https://exclumagazine.com/2020/01/01/record-breaking-transformers-collection-gallery/

Yeah nah... the way Guiness makes you count and prove is super time comnsumeing, and costly to get "experts" to verify.... There's a thread somewhere about what Griffin found out.

If only they could just take our lists and say "Yep, that's a record..." This guys number is 2,111... even i could beat that... back in 2011! (1984 to 2010 = 2180)

[Bidoofdude]

Yeah nah... the way Guiness makes you count and prove is super time comnsumeing, and costly to get "experts" to verify.... There's a thread somewhere about what Griffin found out.

If only they could just take our lists and say "Yep, that's a record..." This guys number is 2,111... even i could beat that... back in 2011! (1984 to 2010 = 2180)

It is a business after all, they gotta make their money somehow I guess. Obviously there's a bit of dissonance between that reality and the general public consensus of Guinness as the "official" source of all world records. There are at least many online databases like Wikipedia that are organised collectively for the sake of having human knowledge available.

The 'Gamer Editions' or whatever of the GWR books are laughable as well, pretty much just a compilation of random well-known game facts and little sections on well-known franchises. Few records to actually be found, which is super disappointing given so many feats in all the different facets of gaming culture.

[griffin]

Yeah nah... the way Guiness makes you count and prove is super time comnsumeing, and costly to get "experts" to verify.... There's a thread somewhere about what Griffin found out.

If only they could just take our lists and say "Yep, that's a record..." This guys number is 2,111... even i could beat that... back in 2011! (1984 to 2010 = 2180)

That's the annoying thing about it... they require you to send in photos of everything and a video of the collection, which proves your number, but then also want 2 independent but knowledgable people to witness a complete count of the collection on video. Each option is difficult and time-consuming, but having both is redundant, so it would be a lot easier to only need to submit one of the two.

[Unicran]

Why can't we be happy for another collector of our shared hobby?

Instead we mock those who put themselves through the arduous GWR process. I recall an American guy who copped a barage of ridicule a few years back. That's what I dislike about our fandom.

[Krayt]

Why can't we be happy for another collector of our shared hobby?

Instead we mock those who put themselves through the arduous GWR process. I recall an American guy who copped a barage of ridicule a few years back. That's what I dislike about our fandom.

Who was mocking the guy? I was mocking Guinness.....

[GoktimusPrime]

Why can't we be happy for another collector of our shared hobby?

Instead we mock those who put themselves through the arduous GWR process.
Are we? I thought we were talking about how much we spend on toys. :confused: Have I missed something?

[Krayt]

Are we? I thought we were talking about how much we spend on toys. :confused: Have I missed something?

Does this mean you have me, Bidoofdude AND GRIFFIN on your blocked list.......

[DELTAprime]

Does this mean you have me, Bidoofdude AND GRIFFIN on your blocked list.......

Don't forget me. I'm so sick of Gok's stupid block list.

[Tha_Phantom]

Have I missed something?

It's bound to happen when you block people. :p

[GoktimusPrime]

It's bound to happen when you block people. :p
Ha ha, fair enough. ヘ( ^o^)ノ＼(^_^ )