...aren't WE an offensive, self-righteous little 
jerk today.

Fact is that even in today's two-income 
households, there's not always enough money left 
at the end of the month to blow on something like, 
say, a Nadesico or Last Unicorn cel.  And so, when 
it comes down to finding a dream cel and wanting 
it badly, but not having disposable income to 
spare, sometimes another cel heads to eBay to 
cover the cost.

Personally, I've culled everything out of my own 
collection that I can bear to part with and not 
cry (too badly), so I'm now digging through my 
videotapes and games to "liberate" a few in the 
name of the remaining Slayers cels that I still 
need to pay Thalia for.  I've also put off a few 
household purchases for the time being, and I've 
been cooking a lot more, rather than eating out.

Is this because I don't have a "damn job"?  No, 
it's because the woman with a Slayers gallery that 
I've been drooling over for ages suddenly wanted 
cash and agreed to sell me 30 fabulous cels all at 
once, and hey, silly me didn't have a small 
fortune squirreled away to buy 'em.  So some tough 
decisions have been made.

Aimee, I'd say your best bet is to talk with the 
seller and see if he or she takes payments.  It 
doesn't always happen, but sometimes they're 
willing to hold off for a while.  Because it's 
important for you to focus on your film right now, 
and... hey, let's be honest... it's also better 
than the heartbreak of trying to strip one more 
cel from an already-culled collection.

BUT if that isn't an option, the means I've used 
lately has been pretty simple.  I hold the cels I 
already have up next to the scan of the one I want 
and ask myself, "which if these would I rather 
have?"  If the answer is the cel I want to buy, 
then I know what to sell to get it.  If the answer 
is the cel in my hand, and the next cel in my 
hand, and the next... I know that what I already 
have is better, and am happy.  :)

Hope this helps!