What is Your Hobby Strategy for the Next 12 Months?

[MogulSkier39]

I promise this is not intended to be another bubble thread, but I understand it might be construed as such.

I'm one of the people that returned to the hobby during COVID. Collected as a kid and played baseball into college. I'm now a professional with a baby of my own. My objectives are to have fun, make wise financial decisions, and leave a nice collection for my son - in equal measure.

Over the winter I spent as much as I was willing (as other speculate has been happening - money I would have spent on travel and entertainment) on a bunch of PSA 10 slabs of Mookie Betts, Juan Soto, Ronald Acuna, and Fernando Tatis Jr. rookies. (Wish I had grabbed one or two Trouts). I picked up a good amount of base but some next tier stuff to - some refactors, foils, and a gold.

I thought I was getting in at a good time: February. I am learning the pre-season buying time is actually more like November and December. My plan was to sell all the base during the season and some of the next tier stuff to pay for the rest of the next tier stuff and then hold the remaining next tier stuff long term.

With everything I am seeing and reading about market trends, etc. I am realizing I will be lucky if I realize modest gains on the cards I do move this season, if at all. Adding all the fees to my purchases and all the fees to my sales, I have had very modest gains ($68 on an Acuna chrome base rookie yesterday, etc.) on the couple cards of I have sold. Frankly, some of the cards would be slightly underwater right now if I were to try and sell them.

Also, just from being on here, watching the cards I did purchase relative to other cards, and just thinking about the hobby in general, if I were to start at the beginning again I would definitely make some of the same purchases but also spend some of the money differently.

So, I am starting to adjust my perspective and think maybe I should just try to sell all the cards I purchased over the course of the season whenever I can make a small profit (with the hope that will be possible) and then wait for either there to be a better buying market in November/December or, if there is an actual bubble burst/or bargaining issue, a really good buying opportunity and start anew with what I have learned.

Basically, I am just looking for anyone to share their wisdom with me based on their experiences relative to what I have written. How do you calculate your timing relative to historic market trends and the possible issues on the horizon. I understand I am opening myself up to some wise comments re: "Here we go: the millionth bubble thread, etc." But if I get one response that causes me to consider a factor I have not yet considered, then I will be thankful.

If you made it this far, I appreciate your time. Thank you.