How the Great American Coin Show Report Can Teach Us About Efficient Cloud Spending

Cloud costs can spiral fast if you’re not careful. But I’ve found some of the best insights for taming that spend don’t come from spreadsheets – they come from places like the Great American Coin Show. Yes, really. Working as a Cloud FinOps specialist, I’ve learned that the same smart strategies collectors use to build valuable portfolios apply directly to cloud cost optimization. Just swap “rare coins” for “compute resources” and you’re halfway there.

Strategic Planning: Your Cloud Cost Crystal Ball

Picture this: a seasoned coin collector walks into the Great American Coin Show with a list in hand. No aimless browsing. No impulse buys.

Smart, right? Cloud spending should work the same way.

Instead of waiting for your monthly bill to shock you, forecast what you’ll need. Most teams over-provision because they’re guessing. But forecasting tools turn guesses into plans.

Pre-Show Planning vs. Cloud Forecasting

At the Rosemont show, veteran collectors mapped their routes, targeting specific dealers weeks in advance. They knew exactly which coins they wanted and who had them.

Your cloud approach should be just as intentional:

• Use cloud cost forecasting tools like AWS Forecast, Azure Cost Management, or Google Cloud’s Cost Table to predict spending based on past usage – not hunches

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• Set up budget alerts so you’re never surprised by unexpected spikes

Smart Resource Shopping: Like Finding a Trusted Dealer

Remember Doug Winter at the show? Collectors lined up for his coins because they trusted his expertise and pricing. Your cloud provider relationships should work the same way.

When you know your trusted partners, you get better deals and guidance. The cloud works the same.

Reserved Instances: Your Long-Term Coin Deal

Buying from a trusted dealer? You save. Doing the same in the cloud? Even bigger savings.

Reserved Instances (AWS), Reserved VM Instances (Azure), or Committed Use Discounts (GCP) can slash costs by 30-70% compared to on-demand pricing. It’s like getting a bulk discount, but for computing power.

Code Snippet: Automating Reserved Instance Purchases

// Example using AWS SDK to purchase Reserved Instances
const AWS = require('aws-sdk');
const ec2 = new AWS.EC2({region: 'us-west-2'});

const params = {
  InstanceCount: 5,
  ReservedInstancesOfferingId: 'offering-id-1234567890'
};

ec2.purchaseReservedInstancesOffering(params, function(err, data) {
  if (err) console.log(err, err.stack);
  else     console.log(data);
});

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• Match your reservation type (Standard vs. Convertible) to your workload stability
• Use FinOps tools like CloudHealth or Azure Cost Management to automate RI purchases before they expire

Serverless: The Quick Grab-and-Go Approach

Remember that collector who snagged three key coins from the KC Collection in under five minutes? That’s the serverless mindset.

No long-term commitments. No storage fees. Just grab what you need, when you need it.

AWS Lambda: When You Need Compute, Not Infrastructure

Serverless functions like AWS Lambda, Azure Functions, or Google Cloud Functions shine when your workload isn’t constant. Think:

• Data processing during business hours
• Background jobs that run sporadically
• Event-driven tasks that don’t need 24/7 readiness

Actionable Takeaway:

• Move intermittent workloads to serverless – you only pay when code runs
• Use AWS Cost Explorer to spot underused Lambda functions that could be optimized or removed

Vendor Relationships Matter (More Than You Think)

The empty booths of Legend and Peak Rarities at the show told a story: even great inventory means nothing without reliable dealers. Your cloud providers are no different.

Enterprise Deals: Your VIP Collector Status

Top collectors get preferential treatment. So should you.

Cloud providers offer enterprise programs for committed customers:

• AWS Enterprise Discount Program (EDP)
• Azure Enterprise Agreements
• Google Cloud’s Committed Use Discounts

These typically require 3-5 year commitments but can save 20-40% off list pricing. Big savings for predictable workloads.

Code Snippet: Analyzing Cloud Usage for Negotiation Readiness

// Example using Azure CLI to export cost data
az consumption usage list --start-date "2023-01-01" --end-date "2023-12-31" --query "[?instanceName=='YourVMName'].{cost:pretaxCost, unit:usageQuantity}"

• Track your usage patterns for 3-6 months before negotiating – providers want data, not promises
• Consider multi-cloud pricing to create competition between AWS, Azure, and GCP

Timing Is Everything (For Coins and Cloud)

The ANA show’s success depended heavily on when it was scheduled. Same goes for your cloud spend.

Running your entire stack 24/7? You’re paying for empty seats at the table.

Auto-Scaling and Spot Instances: Your Dynamic Duo

Cloud scaling tools give you coin-show-level timing:

• Auto-Scaling: Automatically shrink resources during off-hours (AWS Auto Scaling, Azure Scale Sets, GCP Managed Instance Groups)
• Spot Instances: Save up to 90% for interruptible workloads – perfect for batch jobs, testing, or data processing

Actionable Takeaway:

• Set up auto-scaling policies that match your business hours and traffic patterns
• Use spot instances for anything that can tolerate interruptions without breaking workflows

Putting Coin Show Wisdom Into Cloud Practice

The Great American Coin Show taught me this: smart spending isn’t about cutting corners. It’s about being intentional.

• Plan first: Forecast your needs before spending a single dollar
• Buy smart: Use reservations for steady workloads, serverless for spikes
• Build provider trust: Strong relationships lead to better pricing and support
• Time it right: Scale up when busy, scale down when quiet

Whether you’re building a coin collection or a cloud infrastructure, success comes from strategy, not spending. The most cost-effective cloud environments aren’t the cheapest – they’re the ones that match your actual needs, just like a smart collector only buys what fits their collection.

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