To start a vinyl collection on a budget, spend most of your money on a decent second-hand turntable, buy used records graded Very Good Plus or better, and stick to the genres you already love rather than chasing rarities. You can build a satisfying collection for well under £200 this way.
How much does it cost to start collecting vinyl?
A workable starter setup costs roughly £100 to £200: a solid entry-level or second-hand turntable, and a first stack of ten to twenty used records. The deck is where your money matters most, because a bad turntable can wear out records. Everything after that scales with how fast you buy.
What should you buy first, a turntable or records?
Buy the turntable first, and buy the best one your budget allows. A cheap all-in-one player with a heavy tracking force can damage records over time, so a decent belt-drive deck with a proper cartridge protects the collection you are about to build. See our best turntables for beginners guide for specifics.
Where can you find cheap vinyl records?
The cheapest records come from second-hand stock, charity shops, and shop sale sections. Online, a good cheap vinyl records range and a deep second-hand vinyl section will beat full-price new releases while you are building numbers. For more, read where to buy cheap vinyl records in the UK.
How do you read grading so you do not waste money?
Learn the Goldmine grading scale before you spend, because condition drives both sound and value. Very Good Plus is the sweet spot on a budget: cheaper than Near Mint but still clean and quiet. Avoid anything graded Good or below unless it is rare and cheap, as surface noise will spoil it.
- Mint and Near Mint: as-new, priced accordingly.
- Very Good Plus: light signs of play, still sounds great, best value.
- Good and below: heavy wear, buy only for rarities you cannot find otherwise.
How do you build a collection that grows in value?
Buy what you will actually play, keep records well stored, and favour original pressings in clean condition when the price is right. Condition and demand drive resale value, so a well-kept Very Good Plus copy of a sought-after title holds value far better than a battered common one. Focus on a genre you know, like house, and depth will come naturally.
