Key Date Strategies

Before you begin a collection,think of a series and grade you would like to collect.Take a look at a price list for the entire series.
Coin World,I feel their prices are too high,but it will give you an idea of what you are up against.
Then ask yourself,if my money situation stays the same could I ever afford to finish this set,if the answer is a big "NO",then drop your grade expectations.Unless you are happy without the keys.
My barber 10c series is a prime example.I would love this series in a VF and better,but for me this was cost prohibitive.So I went with good to fine with a very few of the latter dates in VF,came from dealers junk silver.Only lack 7 coins finishing the set and yes I already have the 1895 O and feel the set is complete without the 1894 S which I could never afford anyway.If I wanted to add the 1893/2 overdate,it is still affordable in this grade range.I get great enjoyment looking at this set.
Your Buffalo nickel set is the same,less then a handfull of coins breaking the budget,though myself personally,do not believe the 1937D three leg is necessary for complete collection.
This is just my way of collecting and spreading out the meager collecting budget.Several other posters had great ideas also
RW

What you may find if you use Hunter's method is that finding the keys and semi keys is more satisfying than filling the book. Then you may start to upgrade these coins, usually keeping the first ones you found, too.

At some point you will move on to other series, in a continual search for the most problem-free examples of the coins you like, in as scarce a date as you can find them. The best coin you can find and afford on any given day. I've been doing this for 40+ years, and it's been that long since I put a coin in a book.

I'm still a YN, and my allowance isn't quite enough to help me buy those coins costing into the thousands whenever I want to. I save up for the coins I want very slowly, selling parts of my collection along the way. Right now, I'm saving up for an 1801 bust half dollar, and believe me when I say that a VG example is quite a chunk of change (they're more expensive than a 1916-d dime or 1909-svdb). I have considerably cut back on my coin budget, and am putting all the extra cash into a separate savings account so I won't be tempted to touch it. It may take me a year or more, but eventually I'll be able to buy that coin.