When I got back into collecting Pokémon cards in late 2023, I made a spreadsheet. I scoured the landscape of available cards and products, and, by and large, I decided right then and there: This is everything I ever want to collect. Then, I wrote it all down and started tracking.
That list hasn’t changed much since then. I’m very cautious about adding. But I have been pretty dogged in checking a few boxes every month. Once I have my eyes set on a goal, I can be rather stubborn. Plus, in Pokémon, most items increase in value over time, given you take care of them—and leave them sealed, if they still are. So commonly, the best price you’ll get is today’s. It’s a market with urgency, especially if you collect older items.
Sometimes, I wonder why I’m so relentless. “Why don’t you just let this go? You’ll still find it next month.” Every now and then, I do. But, often, I don’t. And you know what? I think when you have a bone you’re chasing, it’s okay to chase. Especially if the bone is one you can realistically fetch.
Allow yourself to be dogged. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m a man on a mission, and I have a spreadsheet to finish.
