Advice: Are Pantone fans a waste of cash for me?

[codenamecueball]

Ok so I'm 13, and I'm doing pretty well with design. I'm starting out doing work for freinds, and gaining respect for my good shoops
I wonder if I should buy a Pantone color bridge or a Uncoated color guide. It's just for when I want to check the ocassional color, help someone find the right color or for when I do graphics work (school subject) and want to make sure school prints JUST what I want.

Advice is appreciated

 

[GoCubsGo]

I find it to be a waste if you're not going to use it often. It sounds like you're just starting out so I'd say save your money.

 

[SwiftLives]

You need to look at it from the standpoint of ROI (Return on Investment). Are you having to eat jobs because the client is unhappy with the color? Are the printers at school correctly calibrated to print Pantone equivalents?

I'd lean toward not purchasing one, personally. Pantone books are a tad overpriced in my ever-so-humble opinion. Granted, I don't do a significant amount of printing with Pantones.

 

[sigmadog]

If it's important to you, check with any ad or design agencies and see if they have old swatch books that you could buy. They generally have a few old ones lying around. Let them know you are a 13 year old interested in design, but can't afford to buy them new. I think most pro's will be tickled to encounter a "youngster" interested in their field, and would probably bend over backwards to help you.

Also, you can try print shops. The big ones often have these just lying around all over the place.

Just a thought. I'd sell you my old set, but I gave it to a client.