# Knowing what you paid for un-graded cards **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Tags:** general-board\ **Created:** [July 26, 2020, 8:50pm UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/knowing-what-you-paid-for-un-graded-cards/28615 "2020-07-26T20:50:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![two](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/two/32/1219_2.png) [@two](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/two)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 8:50pm UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/knowing-what-you-paid-for-un-graded-cards/28615/1 "2020-07-26T20:50:18Z")
I like to think most of us keep relatively organized and detailed spreadsheets of our collections with how much we paid for them at the time (maybe I’m weird?) I was wondering how you guys keep track of what you paid for raw cards in the past. Do you put a sticker on the penny sleeve with a cost-code, the actual cost? With graded cards its relatively easy, for me at least I’ll write the certification number in my spreadsheet and give that row a cost. But for raw cards it can be a bit more challenging for cards you have duplicates of. ---
**Author:** ![azulryu](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/azulryu/32/54539_2.png) [@azulryu](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/azulryu)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 9:04pm UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/knowing-what-you-paid-for-un-graded-cards/28615/2 "2020-07-26T21:04:26Z")
I write the price in permanent marker on the back of the raw card. All jokes aside, to be honest, I don’t track prices for my cards. I have a relatively solid memory when it comes to numbers, especially when it comes to money, since I am typically pretty frugal. So I can tell you what I paid for my 1st Edition Base Thin/Thick, how much I paid for my Neo Revelations, my Staff Promos, and some higher end cards. I know others have kept Excel tracking sheets which seems like a sure fire way of organizing your collection and keeping track of it in general. I use a similar method to see which members I’ve obtained cards from since that’s more important to me to track. I place more value in those cards than ones I purchase from random sellers. ---
**Author:** ![danza21](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/danza21/32/244_2.png) [@danza21](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/danza21)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 9:39pm UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/knowing-what-you-paid-for-un-graded-cards/28615/3 "2020-07-26T21:39:49Z")
No spreadsheet; I buy too many raw cards, lots, and collections to have the time to log every single one. And honestly, I remember what I paid for cards 15 years ago better than what I had for breakfast on any given day. ---
**Author:** ![mcorey777](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/mcorey777/32/1491_2.png) [@mcorey777](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/mcorey777)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 10:29pm UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/knowing-what-you-paid-for-un-graded-cards/28615/4 "2020-07-26T22:29:21Z")
Yup others already hit the nail on the head. I remember the rough cost of every card I ever purchased but I do plan to write them all down at one point. But honestly I don’t want to know the exact amount I’ve spent on cards. It’s got out of hand from building a base set to sword and shield collection 😅 ---
**Author:** ![lan23q](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/lan23q/32/1736_2.png) [@lan23q](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/lan23q)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 8:41am UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/knowing-what-you-paid-for-un-graded-cards/28615/5 "2020-07-27T08:41:15Z")
> [@two](#): > > I like to think most of us keep relatively organized and detailed spreadsheets of our collections with how much we paid for them at the time (maybe I’m weird?) > > I was wondering how you guys keep track of what you paid for raw cards in the past. > > Do you put a sticker on the penny sleeve with a cost-code, the actual cost? > > With graded cards its relatively easy, for me at least I’ll write the certification number in my spreadsheet and give that row a cost. > > But for raw cards it can be a bit more challenging for cards you have duplicates of. I keep a spreadsheet but I dont bother with serial numbers for duplicates etc. If i have more then one of a certain card I might keep a note of its condition but generally speaking duplicates of raw cards arent all that common for me so its pretty simple to distinguish. The real question is, do you keep a record of equity value of your cards 😛 I have to in order to justify continuing to buy, otherwise i’m forever in the red! ---
**Author:** ![scythe](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/scythe/32/1608_2.png) [@scythe](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/scythe)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 8:46am UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/knowing-what-you-paid-for-un-graded-cards/28615/6 "2020-07-27T08:46:44Z")
I was worried about this myself, but somehow, I seem to remember where I got every single card, when it was and how much I paid for them. surprising because my memory is super shot from all the abuse over the years lol ---
**Author:** ![nish](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/nish/32/1228_2.png) [@nish](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/nish)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 2:20pm UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/knowing-what-you-paid-for-un-graded-cards/28615/7 "2020-07-27T14:20:57Z")
I can’t remember shit, but I don’t buy for reselling purposes so unless it’s part of a collection I don’t write it down because it doesn’t matter to me. If it’s part of a dedicated collection (like my Mews) I write down every raw cost just because I’m curious of the total investment ---
**Author:** ![thatblastoiseguy](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/thatblastoiseguy/32/1674_2.png) [@thatblastoiseguy](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/thatblastoiseguy)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 2:48pm UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/knowing-what-you-paid-for-un-graded-cards/28615/8 "2020-07-27T14:48:19Z")
I roughly remember what I paid for if I see the card in my collection. My problem is remembering what is actually in my collection haha ---
**Author:** ![pokeaddict84](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/pokeaddict84/32/773_2.png) [@pokeaddict84](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/pokeaddict84)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 3:11pm UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/knowing-what-you-paid-for-un-graded-cards/28615/9 "2020-07-27T15:11:13Z")
I keep graded card inventory costs/sales on PSA’s site. For other cards I just have total collection numbers. I really only care about how red or green I am overall when spending money on my collection. ---
**Author:** ![ibrakadabra](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/ibrakadabra/32/1739_2.png) [@ibrakadabra](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/ibrakadabra)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 3:19pm UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/knowing-what-you-paid-for-un-graded-cards/28615/10 "2020-07-27T15:19:41Z")
I don’t keep track in an Excel sheet. But most of my purchases ar through Cardmarket, so I can check it on my account there. Also I don’t have too many cards, so I probably would remember how much I paid voor them. ---
**Author:** ![rigbyrib100](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/rigbyrib100/32/1176_2.png) [@rigbyrib100](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/rigbyrib100)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 3:31pm UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/knowing-what-you-paid-for-un-graded-cards/28615/11 "2020-07-27T15:31:05Z")
I must admit I dont keep track but I really dont need to, if I ever come to sell then I acccept the current market rate. If I grade it then I would expect the value to increase well above what I paid (PSA 9/10). ---
**Author:** ![kaldoverde](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/kaldoverde/32/787_2.png) [@kaldoverde](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/kaldoverde)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 4:00pm UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/knowing-what-you-paid-for-un-graded-cards/28615/12 "2020-07-27T16:00:28Z")
Like @azulryu, I also memorize it and can usually remember prices of cards that I bought over 3 years ago. Also, I absolutely abhor all forms of bureaucracy, so that helps keeping me motivated to memorize instead. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![originalera](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/originalera/32/1508_2.png) [@originalera](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/originalera)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 4:42pm UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/knowing-what-you-paid-for-un-graded-cards/28615/13 "2020-07-27T16:42:48Z")
I prefer not to know how much I spend on hobbies. Made that mistake when I was into RC trucks, it was eye opening in a bad way. As they say, ignorance is bliss. ---
**Author:** ![xuzu](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/xuzu/32/422_2.png) [@xuzu](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/xuzu)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 5:09pm UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/knowing-what-you-paid-for-un-graded-cards/28615/14 "2020-07-27T17:09:34Z")
I cherish my spreadsheet like it’s one of my cards. ---
**Author:** ![fresco](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/fresco/32/1361_2.png) [@fresco](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/fresco)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 5:10pm UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/knowing-what-you-paid-for-un-graded-cards/28615/15 "2020-07-27T17:10:07Z")
Usually i assign a monthly budget to spend on cards. There are some rare exceptions where i spend more than that but it is because there’s a good card i know i won’t be getting any cheaper so i spend more but the 90% of the time i don’t go past that budget. ---
**Author:** ![two](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/two/32/1219_2.png) [@two](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/two)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 6:03pm UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/knowing-what-you-paid-for-un-graded-cards/28615/16 "2020-07-27T18:03:06Z")
> [@xuzu](#): > > I cherish my spreadsheet like it’s one of my cards. Same, I can’t stand not being organized. Do you label each card with a cost code or am I an outlier ---
**Author:** ![xuzu](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/xuzu/32/422_2.png) [@xuzu](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/xuzu)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 6:22pm UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/knowing-what-you-paid-for-un-graded-cards/28615/17 "2020-07-27T18:22:06Z")
> [@two](#): > > > [@xuzu](#): > > > > I cherish my spreadsheet like it’s one of my cards. > > Same, I can’t stand not being organized. Do you label each card with a cost code or am I an outlier I don’t record my ungraded cards, that would just take too long. I have some full sets recorded but not what I paid for anything. ---
**Author:** ![danza21](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/danza21/32/244_2.png) [@danza21](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/danza21)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 6:46pm UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/knowing-what-you-paid-for-un-graded-cards/28615/18 "2020-07-27T18:46:12Z")
Meh, lack of spreadsheet is not synonymous with disorganization. Collecting is like parenting; what works best for some may not work best for others. It’s all good. ---
**Author:** ![two](https://efour.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/www.elitefourum.com/two/32/1219_2.png) [@two](https://www.elitefourum.com/u/two)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 7:25pm UTC](https://www.elitefourum.com/t/knowing-what-you-paid-for-un-graded-cards/28615/19 "2020-07-27T19:25:43Z")
> [@danza21](#): > > Meh, lack of spreadsheet is not synonymous with disorganization. Collecting is like parenting; what works best for some may not work best for others. It’s all good. Definitely not telling anyone how to collect nor parent. For me, at least, I like seeing what I paid, when I bought, and who I bought from. To each their own!