Your Hobby Goals & Resolutions for 2026

creasecollector

creasecollector

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Another year, another thread!

Hi Everyone,

It's that time of year again! Another yearly thread to discuss our progress over the last year, and to list some goals for the new year as 2026 is almost here.

If you want to find your goals from last year's thread, Please Click Here.

Here were my hobby goals for 2025 & goals I will continue to attempt in 2026:

1) Pickup 5 new 1/1's for the Jhonas Enroth card collection.

I absolutely crushed this goal and managed to add a whopping Eleven 1/1's to the collection this year. Gotta be honest, I didn't think I'd do that well. I'm at 87 1/1's to date, let's see if 100 is in the cards in 2026.

2) Finish my Upper Deck: A Piece Of History - Win Club set. [Final card I need is the Ed Belfour]

Nope! I had 2 chances but other hardcore set collectors saw the listing before I did. However, I still remain hopeful I can complete it this year.

3) Have Fun

As always, fun is still the name of the game this year.

While this hobby of ours has taken on a crazy new life form with a spike in popularity, influencing, etc - not to mention the insane money being thrown around, I am just glad I can stay in my own lane and let the rest pass me by. I collect the way I want to and I'm having a blast.

I've also had another fun year writing about this hobby I enjoy on My Blog. If you are a new reader, or have visited already - Thank you! It is something I've been doing for a few years now, and I will continue to have fun with it. Oh, and the podcast, too! :)


So, what are your hobby related Goals & Resolutions for 2026? Please let me know below!

Happy Collecting,

Aaron
 
1) To continue looking for Gino Odjick and Patrick Roy cards. Not much new Odjick stuff out, so I add Roy cards that I like when I get an opportunity. I keep an eye open for vintage rookies too.

2)To continue downsizing my tradebait inventory. I accumulated way too much stuff over the years, I am pretty happy every time I can ship a large lot of lower-end stuff somewhere.

3)To continue having fun, even if I am spending a fraction of what I used to spend in the hobby. I almost stopped wax, except for a few Timmies packs, a black friday UD1 mega box, and the special legends box that feels like a must to have. I have pleasure building trades, going into my inventory to make sales, and enjoying what I got over the years.
 
2025 goals

1. I started a small Kamilla Cardoso collection this year, so I would like to continue to build upon that

Success - my Cardoso collection has grown, and I'm really enjoying this PC

2. My Mike Modano collection was left behind the last couple of years so I would like to bring that one back to focus, organized, and really see where I stand (this was a previous goal that I never realized)

Successful fail - I did organize it somewhat, however, not the extent I was hoping

3. I've had a lot of fun with baseball and football projects lately so I'm going to keep doing those. Probably do more junk wax rips, not expensive and fun to relive some memories.

Success - still doing these and they've kind of become the focus of my time rather than anything hockey related

My Klesla collection will always have a focus but cards do show up with too much frequency so I've branched out more but not to the point of overwhelming myself. Its still fun so that's my biggest goal is to keep that going.

2026 Goals

1. Keep working my football collection, specifically focused on Notre Dame alum RCs

2. Make more progress with my Elvis Merzlikins rookie year collection. Would like to pick up more Stature cards since I need 20+ of his from that set.

3. Junk wax rips. This has been fun to do and would like to keep up with it. Don't want to spread myself too thin with going after stuff just because its there.

Mainstream modern hockey releases aren't doing it for me right now so what I've been enjoying I will keep up with. I've made a ton of progress with my Klesla collection and will continue that as project one.
 
Trying to stay on par…last year’s goals were to organize, sell, and not buy as much.

Sort of hit it. No sales, but organizing and buying have had milestones. I had to move apartments half way through the year and that put a damper on purchasing things.

In the effort to save money since moving, organizing my cards has been the focus. The /100 or less list is still growing but now I have a “complete” autographed card list for my collection. This is separate from the clearcut auto list and does have stuff from the /100 list included. Surprisingly, both lists have over 1000 cards!
I need to put the list of cards from the years into a list, but that is a good sized task of about (15) 1600 ct boxes. (25-26 goal)

Buying…down to once every couple of weeks. Since the more premium packs from UD are expensive, I have leaned towards a few sets that I like, recently, breaking 24-25 SPx boxes. I am a sucker for SPGU and did buy a case of 24-25 and planning on a case of 25-26. I still pick up a few packs of the previous years since one of the LCS has it. Most recently pulling a Sharkie mascot laundry tag /3.

Anyways, I have thought I should start to get some of my cards graded. I do have a few RC that could significantly jump in value if graded and could help push selling. Added to the 25-26 goal list.

As always, great thread!
 
2025 goals were:
1. Continue building my Yzerman PC, with a focus on 1990s
I acquired less Yzerman in 2025 vs 2024 because of the collection I bought last year, but did have some big pickups I had on my radar. It's allowed me to create a focused Top 26 for '26 of 90s cards I need (see 2026 goals)
2. Be on the lookout for unique cards for the HOF Side PC
I did grab quite a few nice cards this year, with the Dionne crown piece LL being my favourite, but this is clearly a lower priority going into 2026
3. Get back to my first love and educate myself on building a boxing PC, specifically pre-war
I didn't get around to this until the middle of 2025 and while I started out with a couple really nice cards, I've been hitting the bargain bin lately just for the purpose of enjoying 100 year old cards of guys I grew up reading about.

2026 Goals
1. Create and share my Top 26 of '26 Yzerman 1990s cards that I want to acquire, either through buying or trade.
2. Continue building my boxing PC, focusing more on sets and individual fighters.
3. When the top two are not readily available - find some nice HOF hockey pieces to add
 
Hmmm... I actually filled this out last year... I had forgotten...

2025 Goals:
1. I'll put out a goal this year (to have some accountability) to get rid of all extraneous cards in the house... this is the 20 or so 3200 count boxes of mostly commons that haven't been looked at in decades.

Not a lofty collecting goal, but it'll make me feel better to have it done! :D

2. And aside from that - continue enjoying the human element of the hobby.

On number 1, I actually did a decent job... I'm three quarters of the way there. It'll wrap up this year.
On number 2 - yep! Got to hang out and see folks, though I haven't set up at a show in the past year. I still attend though and feel part of the community and camaraderie.

For this year, goals are:

1. Finish off selling the extraneous cards... though what I consider extraneous has expanded. My plan is to get everything I want to hold onto into a single shoe box. All selling and trading inventory for shows is going to go... Hopefully it'll help pay for my trip to South Africa in 2026.

2. Keep meeting and greeting and hanging out with people. That should be easy!

Cory
 
My goal remains the same as last year.

To acquire 90% of all pack inserted Roberto Luongo cards and 100 One of One's.

Here is where I ended 2024:

Grand Total = 3062/3627 = 84.42%
With 1/1’s (85) = 3147

So, in 2025 I managed to get to the following numbers

Grand Total = 3215/3627 = 88.64%
With 1/1's (99) = 3314

It has been one of my most successful years to date. Ran into a few Luo collectors that were selling, and managed to add a significant portion to my collection. I managed to add 153 cards from my master wantlist, and was able to snag 14 new 1/1's.

So, my very obtainable goal for 2026 is to finally reach these milestones. What I need:
49 cards
1 One of One

With every addition to my collection, the harder it becomes to add. I do feel like I will reach my goal at the end of 2026, and it's a little bitter sweet. Luongo hasn't had a card since 2020-21, and my collecting habits have changed significantly since then. I do believe I have the most complete Roberto Luongo collection out there, but with rising costs of new products, and a very limited wantlist of what I need, I feel my connection to the hobby decreasing each day.

Nice to read everyone's collecting goals for the upcoming year! Maybe some of you here can help me achieve my goal of 90%. Thanks for the read and congratulations and good luck to everyone in their chase!!

Chris
 
Always happy to see this thread pop up and remind myself of my goals for the year. Here is where I'm at:

2025 Goals:
Roy PC: Reach 91.5% completion. That'll take 45 new additions from where I sit today. Failed this one; I'll finish around 91.00% if I don't pick anything else up through the end of the year. I only added about 25-30 new cards in 2025.

Add one 1/1 to the Roy PC. This may be fairly easy to meet, as there are some printing plates still listed that I'm watching. Hoping to add a stamped 1/1 in 2025. Failed this one as well.

Graded PC: Add 5 graded HOF rookies cards. Another miss. I didn't add any in 2025.

General four-sport PC: I sold my entire non-Roy PC in 2017/2018 to get engaged and buy a house. I'm looking to get back to 60% of what I had across the 4 major sports. I'm currently at 44.66% of the rebuild, and would need 312 total cards to meet that goal. This has been my biggest focus lately with the Roy PC slowing down. Nailed this one! I went hard on rebuilding my multi-sport collection with not many new Roy's coming available. I currently sit at 72.07% completion, with a number of additional cards on the way.

My 2026 Goals:
Roy PC: Reach 91.5% completion. I'll keep this one the same given how difficult it's been to find cards I need.

Add one 1/1 to the Roy PC. Also going to keep this one as-is.

General PC: Get to 80% completion. This will take 407 additions from where I sit today.

And as always, have fun and enjoy this great hobby!
 
Pretty well stuck to do what I had set out to do a year ago.

EXPO - I'll be back in 2026
EBAY, boards, ..... - Definitely spending less time here and ebay but still FUN to drop in occasionally
PC - $OLD plenty of the odds and ends @ EXPO. With the recent release of The Cup, time to sell some of the Bobby Orr PC.
Inventory / fillers - Maintain interests in certain insert sets as long as as I do not sell out.
Breaks - I did do as planned, busted, allocation involved, only UD1, UD2 and Extended.
ITG (NEW for 2026) To add a few more 1/1 from some of my favorites.
Lastly FUN - At 75, I ENJOY ALL of the above and with HEALTH permitting, I'll be back a year from now!
 
Goals for 2025:
1. Pull Connor Bedard autograph. Yes, finally!
2. Spend less money on wax. Absolute FAILURE, went way over board but in some ways it paid off with some amazing hits.

Goals for 2026:
1. Pretty simple, don't spend as much money as I did that last couple of years, on my stupid obsession of trying to pull a Connor Bedard auto. Should be an easy goal to reach as I don't intend to chase the rookie autos for 2025/26 as I have done the past couple of years.

That's it actually there are no "obtainable" cards out there that I want at the present time. I don't see me paying $50,000 or more for a Babe Ruth cut auto that is what I mean by obtainable.
 
Goals for 2025
Have fun and do whatever the f**k I want (success)

Goals for 2026
Have fun and do whatever the f**k I want

I guess one thing id like to do is
1) Open a pack of something at a stanley cup finals game where we win it all
2) Hit spring expo ... I can only take a day of it lol, im the most minimalist/neat freak collector you'll ever see. Youd never know I collected cards or enjoy it so much if you entered my house and I never told ya anything about cards. Being around so many cards makes my head explode, honestly best part is seeing all of you and ppl i know and dishing out free packs to give back
 
2025 Resolutions
1) Continue to organize all cards. Sell off Non-PC.
Organized PC & Non-PC cards but still need to complete this task.
2) Not setting a number of cards for this year. Will be happy to complete unfinished sets.
Was able to complete various sets and insert sets this year.
Beatles B&W Series 1 & A Hard Day's Night
1997-98 Crown Royale Freeze Out
1997-98 Paramount Glove Side Laser Cut
1999-00 Paramount Glove Side
2017-18 Synergy Green completing the rainbow of blue, green, red base & RC to #90
2021-22 Tim Horton's Hockey Heroes
3) These are the Primary sets to add to this year.
2001-02 UD Mask Collection #'d 150, 100, 50
Completed 4 rainbows of the Jersey, Jersey & Patch, Double Patch
2004-05 ITG Franchises
GU'd Memorabilia = 13 completing 1 subset, Autographs = 7
2011-12 ITG Broad Street Boys
Acquired 3 cards completing 2 rainbows which consist of Jersey, Emblem & Number
2012-13 ITG Motown Madness - None
2013-14 ITG Lord Stanley Mug
GU Memorabilia = 4, Autographs = 29 + 5 coming in the mail
2011-22 UD Clear Cut Honoured Members
Crushed this set obtaining 47 cards

In addition, I added to these secondary sets
2008-09 Champ's Mini Threads (5) & Natural History (82)
2011-12 ITG Enforcers (5) Autos & (4) GU'd
2013-14 ITG Enforcers (2) Autos & (7) GU'd completing Instigators & Tough Franchises Jersey sets

In total I acquired 311 cards via eBay, COMC, Philly Show & Fall Expo.

2026 Resolutions
Add to the sets I have with no target number.

Wishing ALL a Healthy and Happy New Year.
 
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GOALS for 2025
1. Continue the custom card efforts, it really allowed me awesome opportunities on so many levels that I'm hoping that continues. 100% success!
2. Get my Want List down to 25 or less....this is a long putt! Progressing well, new products coming out in several products (Artifacts, Engrained Icons and others) so that's keeping me engaged!
3. Begin the collection reduction initiative. I love this hobby, but it's time to start moving some stuff out. The Whalers collection won't be part of this initiative, but everything else will be! Very much underway, hoping to clear up the last of it in 2026, watch for deals.
4. Attend that National Card Show? Did not happen, and won't happen "at least" until US administration is changed
5. Attend Hartford Whalers Alumni weekend in Hartford Did not happen, and won't happen "at least" until US administration is changed

GOALS for 2026
1. Continue to provide "collectors and hobbyists" with cards they want, and not worry about any kind of engagement from "investors" (good or bad)
2. Further develop my relationship with Upper Deck, specifically regarding PWHL platforms and designs
3. Continue to build out my Hartford Whalers collection, including creating my new Whalers Man Cave in our soon to be refinished basement!!!
4. Set-up at more card shows, including the ultimate lofty goal of having my own display at the Toronto Expo
 
joesakic19xx said:
2025 HOBBY GOALS

X- STILL AT 4 1) Find ONE of the 4 Mikhail Grabovski (playing years) cards on my wantlist.

:) - DOWN TO 10 2) Get down to 10 cards or less on my Andrea Bargnani non 1/1 rookie wantlist. (Currently sitting at 11)

X- STILL LOOKING 3) Find the last autograph from the famous 1998/99 WCW/NWO set that's on my wantlist!

X- AT 62% 4) Like I mentioned last year, I have a semi-secret set that I'm going for, would like to reach 80% of it by the end of 2025.

X- ONLY GOT 19 5) I re-did my giant wantlist for 2025, condensing it to 100 total cards. I'd be very happy to cross 25 cards off this year.

:)- YES! BOUGHT ONE 6) I'm kind of repetitive on these goals every year, but i'd like to add another game used jersey to the collection.

:)- SUCCESS! 7) I've been having lots of fun on COMC lately, I'd like to sell 1000 cards and/or do $5k in sales on that platform this year. Small fry compared to some people, but would be huge for me.
Click to expand...

3/7 Last year, not the best lol.

2026 HOBBY GOALS

1) Knock 25 cards off my Top 100 wantlist

2) Do 12.5K in COMC Sales

3) Add one more game used jersey

4) Hit 80% completed on one of the wrestling sets that I'm going for

5) Find 5 cool different Bargnani cards to add

6) Don't open any hobby boxes from my current stash, I was a bad boy in 2025

7) Continue downsizing what I have, trimmed up a bunch of collections in 2025. No more clutter, or non-PC stuff.
 
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