Longest gap between purchases (without leaving the hobby)?

[jimbo_707]

I'm considering taking a break from purchases in 2014 so that (after I pay off my credit cards!) I can start to save up for some of my grails, in case any of them come up for sale.

 

Sometimes a deal is too good to pass up, so I'm not sure how perfectly I'll be able to stick to my plan.

 

I'm curious to know how long others have gone between purchases in order to, for instance, save up for a grail or pay off a major purchase, while still considering themselves active collectors.

 

If you took a break from the hobby altogether, it doesn't count.

[oakman29]

Over 6 months to a year for me.

[Kevin.J]

I seem to remember a day about 3 years ago, I think it was a Tuesday, I didnt buy a comic that day didnt like it much, been trying to make up for it ever since

[mysterio]

When I was in grad school I still considered myself a collector but took an essentially forced break for about 6 years with no purchases, not even new books. I'm sure I got a few books as gifts during that span, but didn't buy any nor go to any cons.

[Waylander]

I seem to remember a day about 3 years ago, I think it was a Tuesday, I didnt buy a comic that day didnt like it much, been trying to make up for it ever since

 

[meself]

I started collecting as a young teenager. I always member getting half a crown or 2 shillings and six pence (2s.6d ) pocket money which initially allowed me to purchase

3 x 10d comics (I’m talking pre decimal UK money here) and I couldn’t wait until my next pocket money day and run to the local shop to see what I could pick up.

 

Late teens around 17 years of age I stopped collecting until I got the habit again around the age of 24….so 7 years.

 

And yes I threw all my early collection away

 

[Comicdey]

saying 3-6 months...

 

just got busy...

 

but that's just a guess.

[rjpb]

I stopped buying mainstream comics from the mid-seventies until the early eighties, but I still bought and collected undergrounds, so I wasn't really out of the hobby. Because of infrequent publishing schedules I didn't shop for comics weekly or even monthly that often, so I'm sure there were periods of several months when I didn't buy anything.

[Norrin_Radd]

1 year (April 2012 to April 2013).

[steveinthecity]

6 months to a year. I just get busy, but always have a backlog of stuff to read. I fill in the gaps with Archie Digests, so in that respect I guess I'm still buying something new.

[Norrin_Radd]

15 months and counting...

[goldust40]

15 months and counting...

 

I wish I could abstain for that amount of time.

[mintcollector]

I collect across a vast multitude of antique and collectible categories. As such it is not uncommon for me to go months or years without making a purchase in certain fields.

[marvelmaniac]

1 1/2 years

[urrutiap]

my longest gape since I bought a comic book?

 

1996 was the last time I bought comic books whether it was Marvel, DC or Image.

 

 

[punksdropdirtysrh]

my longest gape since I bought a comic book?

 

1996 was the last time I bought comic books whether it was Marvel, DC or Image.

 

 

[urrutiap]

Storylines for comic books went to pretty much at 1998 anyway. Spawn was on hiatus right at issue 33 or at least 34 back then.

 

1997 and 1998 I quit buying anything for comic books. Dunno what went on after the Clone Saga and the Onslaught and Heroes Reborn stuff.

 

 

[Brian48]

About 30 years. Left the hobby in about '81-'82. Definitely before '83 which is when I graduated high school. Got back in 2011.

[Jeffro.]

my longest gape since I bought a comic book?

 

 

[Ron C.]

I know this doesn't count, but the last comic I bought was Wolverine #4 in 1982.

I am just rekindling my passion, so that is worth something... at least to me!!