How Do You Add To Your Collection?

When I see a coin, I don't usually foresee looking for it, I either buy it or I don't. I see these two old Russian kopeck coins in the screen, $5 a piece, get him to $4 a piece, buy them, I'm happy. Check 'em out later, worth just over a bit what I paid but I'm still happy with them. That's how I add a coin to my collection, I just see one I like, lower him to a secure price or one I'm happy with and buy it. I don't really have a want list, I just buy and pay what I can.

I am definatly a compulsive buyer of coins
If I see something I really like I will buy it.
I have started so many different types of collections in this way.
It's hard on the pocket but it is great on the eyes
I have almost completed all my Aussie sets pre decimal and decimal and all I buy now for these sets are the occasional proof or high end upgrade coin.
The Canadian and US sets I have started will keep me poor for the next few years now.
At the end of the day I will be rich in coin eye candy and a happier man for my efforts.
It keeps me out of the pub anyway

I buy according to my goal: an extremely eye appealing set of Barber dimes.
What started out as an attempt to complete [which I have done ] a set of all 74
available dimes has grown to a desire to upgrade the dimes which I already have.
As a Barber collector, I also keep an eye out for the nickels, quarters and halves.
But my budget is tight and I restrain myself.
I have no maximum price in mind: only the availability of a coin. The coins that I want do not often show up on the market. When a coin on my want list shows up, and I judge it to be an outstanding coin for the grade, I throw out the price lists and I pay what I need to pay.

Now, if your want list has been carefully made, then you should stick to it.
You are not being too careful. You are being realistic.
As I must also be.

I'm a very serious coin collector. I go to coin shows numerous times and always think way ahead about them.
Prior to going to a coin show, I talk out my list of coins required to complete an Album. I then take out my list of coins needed to improve the quality of my Albums. I usually make one more list of any of the coins I just would like to buy and their approximate prices based on the Red Book, Numismedia, the PCGS price listings.
I then take as much money as I can afford, put in my pockets and wallet, get in my car, leave the lists at home and go to the coin show. I then do and buy what I want, like or just think is cool.

A customer brought around a set of Barber dimes at a show. I spent a half hour coming up with a $325 offer, and he wanted to shop around [grr].

Near the end of the show, he came back, asked if I still wanted them, and I said since I could no longer sell them at the show, I'd only give $300. He said he understood, and the next best offer was $250, so OK.

I took them home, upgraded against my inventory, including five MS and a proof. The finished product averaged Fine, with one FR and a couple AG, trends $880. Sold it that week to one of my favorite customers for $800.

The proof or uncs alone prolly would bring that today.

Luck. I play coffee machine roulette.
How to play:
Find a coffee machine.
Put in a coin (Quarter, or nickel in my case, need to try dimes).
Push the coin return.
A different coin returns. Got an American Samoa quarter that way! HARD to find in circulation, those...
I try and find the best possible $5.00 coin possible that I like...sometimes I go as high as $15...do that about once a month or maybe 2x...
Went to a coin show a year ago, wanted a perfect War Nickel...my first...
Found an MS 66 Slabbed 1942 Jefferson...with a neat die crack to boot!
In general, when I buy, I want the best example of a grade...and will sometimes buy an XF that I think looks great instead of a mediocre AU...

I can spot overpriced coins almost immediately and avoid them. I have the CDN on my smartphone so it goes with me everywhere. I have a few dealers in my "network" that I always work with at the shows.
Antique malls and shops have some good deals to be found, usually the smaller ones I've noticed. I scored a 1909-S LWC once in a mom and pop store for $10.
It was a solid VG.

I am with matthewvincent. I know what I want and what I need and what I want dont show up all the time. At that point I throw the price guide out the window and pay what I need to to secure that coin regardless of what the condition is. There usually is a limit even to this method as well. Not going to spend $100 on a coin I know usually goes for $50 but if $65 is what I need to spend to get it...then so be it. At least you have it in your set and as a collector the coin is worth more to ME than the dollars I paid for them. I still try to find the deals when I can. After I have finished a set or am at a road block in filling in the blanks of an uncomplete set, I usually start noting my top 3 Worst looking coins and try to find those ones all over again in considerably better condition and repeat process until I am pleased with the set and consider it COMPLETE! CHEERS!