HeartOfDavid

HAHAHA, you're right though. This is going t o be a more targeted collection AND it will make any of the wild finds that much sweeter!

This was SO good. Sobering, but good! THANK YOU!

@GPX - I love that, thanks!

Thanks @CasualCart, I appreciate it. It's been cathartic to even just talk about it and helpful to get a better game plan!

We do have some amazing places to eat. Cajun food is the best!

I agree with this, I think I just need reframe my collecting for 2023. I'm not a modern systems guy personally (though I'm not knocking it). I like your take on it. I will just enjoy the journey, forget what's behind, and collect what I'm able.

I really like this @Renmauzo, thanks!

I agree with WATA, as I know many do here. If carts have indeed plateaued, that would be fantastic. At least it means we've hit the ceiling and time will tell. There's only so high they can go before they will level off.

This has solidifed my resolve. I won't be selling off again unless it's legitimate hard times. I will store it as necessary if I ever decide that "I'm done." Like I said, I've done this a few times and I don't think I will be likely to sell off again. I've just got to change my tactics and be in like a marathon rather than a sprint. This is much like the housing market. You're either in because you want to be or you're out but you're not IN to make money. I was never in it to make money. The only selling I did (outside of selling out my entire collection) was to bring the cost down of what I paid for everything overall.

That's absolutely true and I didn't even realize I was doing that. I would like to one day get a MOSTLY complete NES set but I would more likely pick up the games that I really want first in specific conditions or packaging.

^ That made me literally laugh out loud. Thanks!

I hope this is allowed I checked the forums to see if there was any kind of state or city posts or something like that and didn't see anything. Are there any collectors from South Louisiana? I'm specifically in the Lafayette area and would love to meet up or hang out or something.

I collected off and on (and sold and started over) several times between 2005 - 2011ish or so. When I last sold everything, we just had our second son and we didn't have room and we had a new child and... and... and... I was mainly focused on Nintendo (NES) and Super Nintendo (SNES). I would pick up anything I could find, though, but those were my primary systems. I would routinely find games and systems at Goodwill or on Craiglist and would often make enough selling what I already owned to pay for what I didn't. Once I got out of collecting I would only pick up stuff I truly found in the wild for a good price. Fast-forward a few years to the last 6 months or so... I'm trying to get back in and I'm getting so discouraged. The prices have SKYROCKETED since I was last collecting. To see cart only games going for what I could get CIB for back then, CIB going for crazy amounts; it's almost enough to make me not want to get started again. I fortunately started out with a Nintendo console and Super Nintendo console and a few games for each. I still mourn (and truly ache) for some pieces of my old collection. One big regret was selling my Nintendo Power collection. I had volume 1 - 63 and a few others. It was a once in a lifetime find at Goodwill and paid pennies for each issue. Most of them were covered with clear shelf paper and were in great condition. I will NEVER rebuild that. I look back at my collection then and it wasn't much, but I miss it and I'm trying to slowly rebuild. I worry a bit that the days of that rush of finding games at thrift stores or flea markets or pawn shops may be almost gone now but I'm not going to lose all hope. I love places like this and I sincerely want to be a part of the community more. Just had to vent that a bit, thanks for taking the time to read and commiserate.

Title says it all. I'm looking for any/all of the above. If you have any or all of them, please let me know!

Thank you so much @Jfreakofkorn