Published January 12, 2026 | By Martina F, Collectors MD Community Member

2025 was a year I jumped right back into collecting after an on and off relationship with the hobby for the past three decades. But this year was different. Gone are the days of buying a $50 wax box and ripping it open, experiencing the joy of pulling all of the current year’s rookies and stars. $50 these days gets you a blaster pack with a handful of inserts/parallels that many toss aside, the misguided hope of pulling a financially life-altering card, and the guilt and shame that follows the handful of base cards you DID get when you ripped open those packs.

This is why I have decided to do a review of my collecting habits, as well as a plan for 2026. My collecting dollars will be spent on the things that I actually want and bring me joy, not gambling on blasters, breaks, and boxes. (Yes, I am aware that I sound like the Grinch. I’m embracing it!) This two-step process has worked for my personal and professional life for years, so I’m going to try it with my collecting hobby. If you’d like to download the one-page templates I’ve made to help, you can do so below.

Step 1 – Annual Card Review

In order to plan for 2026, you’ve got to assess 2025. Using the Annual Card Review Template, ponder what this past year looked like in terms of your collection/collecting.

1. What “Galaxy” cards did you add? A “Galaxy” card is one that is a mainstay or star in your collection. The value does not matter here – the fact that this is a card you’ve always wanted or love in your collection makes it a “Galaxy” card.

2. Which cards brought/bring you joy? Never mind the cost or reason why, but which cards brought you joy when you look at them or organize them in your collection?

3. What was your budget? Didn’t have one? Write that down. Had a small or huge budget? No shame, write that down.

4. What did you actually spend? The moment of truth. Write down (specific as you can be about it) how much you actually spent. For an extra moment of truth, ask yourself “what did I spend that money on?” and reflect. It may hurt. It may bring feeling of pride. There is no right or wrong answer, so write it down.

5. Is there anything I don’t want to collect anymore? Perhaps your Don Mattingly collection no longer gives you the same joy it once did, or your newest favorite player is no longer in the big leagues after a scandal or career-ending injury. Think about it: is there something that just sits in my collection that I’m no longer excited about? Is there something I just don’t want anymore?

6. What did I buy that did not serve my collecting goals? This one will likely hurt, but it’s got to be done! What purchases did you make that got you nowhere closer to owning that Johnny Bench rookie card? Now’s the time to be honest with yourself.

7. Steps to make next year better: This is the part where you reflect and start thinking about the future. You could include things like make a budget, re-assess my collection throughout the year, or don’t chase hype. Up to you.

Step 2 – Annual Card Collecting Plan

This is the part where you get to plan for a great 2026! The Annual Card Collecting Plan Template will help you do just that.

1. What “Galaxy” cards do I want to add to my collection in 2026? These are your “north stars” so to speak. This will help with the questions to come.

2. What do I want to collect this year and why? Team sets, every player who wore jersey number 87, every pitcher who threw no-hitter, the entire Mickey/Disney series from Topps Chrome Update, you name it. Be as specific as possible.

3. What is my monthly budget? Consider your finances and pick a number that is both responsible and feasible. Then make a pact with yourself to stick to it. Perhaps tell someone close to you what the number is so that they can help you stay accountable.

4. What am I going to stay away from? This one could be things like: impulse buys at card shows, joining random breaks where I don’t get the team I collect, joining breaks at all, buying the latest rookies at the highest prices, not doing research, etc. You know your pitfalls better than anyone else, so be honest!

5. Which cards am I looking to sell/get rid of? Whatever is no longer serving your collecting needs must go – so what are those cards for you in 2026?

6. What is my collecting goal for 2026? This is where you come up with a concrete goal. ONE. That may mean it is a long sentence, but it must be measurable, and it must be specific. Example: I will continue to add to my Blue Jays Topps team sets and working toward having every single one since 1977, and I will continue to collect all licensed Addison Barger base cards beyond his rookie year.

7. Four Goals to Make My Plan A Reality: This is where you list four smaller goals to help you get to your overall plan. Example: attend only one card show per month and spend my monthly budget there, or do not scroll eBay for endless hours, or plan my purchases by creating a very specific want list and sticking to it.

I hope you find both processes useful, and that your 2026 card collecting brings you closer to the “Galaxy” cards you want. Can’t wait to recap 2026 with you in a year’s time! Let me know what some of your goals/reflections are in the comments below.

#CollectorsMD
A better year of collecting starts with honesty, and continues with intention.

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