I’ve only bought cards between 600-1000 USD a few times. Each time I agonized over it. Everyone’s personal finances are different, but for me, 1k for a piece of cardboard I have no intention of ever selling is a tough decision to make.
4 Likes
Max I spent was x6 my salary, too much should be completely out of my reach but I don’t think any price is too much, cos someone will pay it and more
5 Likes
I’d say that it’s too much when it starts affecting other aspects of your personal life … For example, a warning behaviour might be borrowing from the bank in order to buy an expensive card or if you start having debts with people.
I’m not saying that you shouldn’t buy expensive cards … I’ve planned to buy some expensive cards in far future, but I have to save money for that without neglecting other aspects of my life.
Nowadays, as a university student, the max amount I can allow myself to spend on cardboard is $250-300 (having saved enough for that) … I’m sure that in the future this “personal limit” will increase and I can achieve my goals with some financial strategy.
Also, it’s too much if you’re willing to pay for overpriced cards or products you can find cheaper on other places.
5 Likes
I’ll never aspire to be anything but this from now on!
1 Like
I have a monthly budget for cards and try not to spend more than that. I am lucky that my main collection goals don’t include that many super expensive cards - so far my most expensive purchases (both cards and video games related) were around 150-200 EUR. I will probably spend more on Karens Umbreon, the most expensive card I am still missing, but that is okay for me.
Me and my wife we both have stable, okay paying jobs so it’s not a financial burden or problem for me. But my hobby always comes after investments and of course daily life necesities.
4 Likes
5K is probably my max, even then i was sweating as I clicked buy it now all 3 of those times lol
6 Likes
This all depends on how rich someone is. For me $500 should be a hard cap imo, but with capaitalism no one can be right.
2 Likes
i assume your speaking strictly for personal enjoyment?
If it was completely dead money then my limit is $2k
The problem with answering this question is that these are also assets
I can buy a psa10 gold star Raquaza for $30k… say its a ridiculous price, but then turn around and sell it for 50k 2 years later.
So not only will have i enjoyed owning the card for years, but i would do so with a large gain.
I think to answer your question correctly with the intent you have, we have to assume after purchasing that the value of the card is zero. Thats why i answered $2k. If its just a card i really wanted and love that is rare
3 Likes
Whatever my gut decides!
For me personally, when I was spending early on, the dollar amount was lower, but the percentage of net worth was greater. There is no magical number. Its going to vary with everyone. Ultimately your gut will decide.
12 Likes
If it’s more than what I have budgeted for the card. Otherwise, just keep saving
2 Likes
depends on how much you paid for it vs how much u can sell it for in the open market 
2 Likes
There is no “too much” for any single card in my opinion but too much for myself is around $3-5K. I’ll reconsider this as I make more or less annual income.
4 Likes
I just base it on what I can afford to lose without affecting my life at all. The number fluctuates but the principle doesn’t.
9 Likes
For people viewing my cards for sale, it’s whatever I have anything listed at.
For me, there’s no hard limit so long as it’s in the budget. It’s much easier to budget under five figures, but over that isn’t impossible if it’s the right card.
8 Likes
If I can’t buy it or work trades with what I have, it’s past my line.
I move stuff often, but if nothing gives, it’s not my card right now.
2 Likes
Trade > Cash > Debt
I don’t know what the values are, but I am much more comfortable spending outrageous amounts of money on cards if the payment is via trade or consolidation of my collection. If I am primarily financing with cash (i.e., saving up) or debt (e.g., credit cards, credit lines), I am much more risk-averse on my spending limit.
Luckily, most of the expensive cards that I want are achievable with enough time or by compromising on condition.
4 Likes
It increases over time, and also greatly depends on the amount of money I have in my savings account at those moments. 
To give some random examples:
- Over a decade ago, when I was still collecting Yu-Gi-Oh cards, I once was doubting for about two weeks before I finally decided to buy a 28 USD card (SR Black Rose Dragon).
- I also decided against buying the Japanese golden Base Set Pikachu for ~2.75k USD retail when it was released for the 20th anniversary in 2016, since I had just bought my first car (for 4.2k USD).
- I bought my most expensive card by far, the final English TCG Pikachu I was missing, for 14k USD last year (FWIW, my most expensive bought card prior to that purchase was ~4.8k USD, to put it in perspective).
Since I bought a house (and furniture) in 2023; a new car and that 14k USD Pikachu card in 2024; the current amount on my savings account is pretty low rn, so I couldn’t even buy a very expensive card even if I wanted to (and no, I will never go in debt for a hobby lol).
Having said that, let’s say I start saving again for a lot of years, my current price ceiling is likely around 20k-25k or so, which I’d only be willing to spend on the Japanese Pikachu Emotions Art Academy card or Pikachu SNAP (but of course I know those two are worth ~125-175k USD and 300k-400k USD respectively.. 
and increasing in value faster than I could save I might add). Tbh, I’ve already made peace knowing I will never own those missing five Japanese Pikachu cards.
Greetz,
Quuador
10 Likes