Advice-- get out now jk , your wallet will thank you
lol.. one of the best comments ever!
Honestly, that's not bad advice if you are a NASCAR collector (such as I).
A 1909 Tobacco card will only go up in value, while a current "no name" driver, who is gone after two years, well... the driver's cards will never get above "a dime a dozen".
Look at Dale Earnhardt Sr cards. After his death I wouldn't touch his cards due to the way the market was going up and down. Now the prices on his cards are so low that you can even pick up autographs for next to nothing, compared to what they sold for 10 years ago.
Now with all that said, I agree 100% with moosider2 as far as "just have fun collecting". I'm not in the hobby for the money (although I do sports card shows and make a decent amount of money, but usually spend more at the shows than I make).
And break a box or two... nothing more exciting that breaking a box of sports cards and finding that one card (even if it's a base card) that everyone in the world is looking for!
...and last, but not least, post up your wants in the forums! Let the members here help you get some of those cards you had in the past that you want again!