Do You Like Collecting Things??

@buenavida (9985)
Sweden
August 16, 2011 12:35pm CST
There are lots of collectors in the world. Sometimes we see scaring programs about hoarders with houses so full of things that they can hardly live there themselves. I used to collect things too in the past, even if it was in a normal way and not extreme, but as I have grown older, I have - I hope - become a little little bit wiser and I´ve stopped collecting things. One exeption - I like to have knitting yarn at home, so I buy a little - but not so often - if I find some cheap and useful, and/or different yarn, so I can create something beautiful when I feel inspired. I have earlier collected some plates with art, that can be hanged on the wall and some stamps and coins. Now I have to try to sell them, as I don´t need them - I have not many walls, as I used to paint pictures, and have not enough place for them all. I guess I will try to sell the pictures too. Have you ever had problems to get rid of unnecessary things? What solutions have you found?
4 people like this
26 responses
@stary1 (6612)
• United States
16 Aug 11
I have never been a collector but a few years ago I decided I 'should' collect something. I decided on shot glasses and everywhere I went I bought one to represent the place. I decided this would give me a memory of all the places I visited. Well in no time all my friends heard of my hobby and started buying me shot glasses from all the places THEY visited. Needless to say, my collection grew enormously. It was ridiculous as I didn't even want shot glasses from places I had not visited. Finally I gave them all away to my friend who was starting a shot glass collection. .and she eventually gave most away.
2 people like this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
16 Aug 11
That was a good story that can teach us something! Better not collect thing that we don´t want..
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
16 Aug 11
buenavida hi I do not want to sell any of my collection as why 'do that after all the years its taken me to collect my beanie babies. I have room here at Gold Crest and they are my love, my beanie babies and they comfort me that I have not lost everything since the disaster that happened to us. As long as my son keeps comin to see me and i have collection where I can enjoy it I feel okay here at this tiresome retirement center. one day when my son gets a full time job, then I can move out of this place but for now its my home away from being homeless.To me a collection you love is not useless things at all.I had a rock collection but the moronic housekeeping staff have dumped it into one of my boxes in our closet as to them it meant nothing but crap.most are gem stones in the raw. I have not ever got the complacent feeling oh this is home as its not in any way home to me.
2 people like this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
16 Aug 11
Aaawww!! Hatley - the beanie babies sound so cute. I had to check what they are and made a search on the net.. I can understand you like them and if they are a comfort and make you feel better, it is great. I actually have a small collection of stones from the Mediterranean beach in Spain, and they are really beautiful. I do hope you get a real home soon, as it means so much for all of us to have a place where we feel we can do what we want.
@peavey (16936)
• United States
19 Aug 11
There are some things that I enjoy and I find myself having too many of them. Kerosene lamps, for one. I don't intentionally collect things, but I have a slight tendency to hoard silly things like rubber bands and string. As to yarn, my sister in law gave me two huge garbage bags of it a few years ago and I'm still working on it. It isn't the best quality but works fine for slippers and things like that. I keep buying it for other things, though, and I'm a sucker for a good yarn sale. So... I have quite a bit stashed. I'll use it all... one day.
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
19 Aug 11
I do look forward to winter! I always envision myself sitting in my rocking chair, knitting away while the snow falls outside. You're right; a stash of yarn is like a collection of artist paints. Now I'm getting in the mood to knit!
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
20 Aug 11
I can almost see you - I have a rocking chair too, and that is a good place for knitting and crocheting.. We can also use the time well if we listen to something we can learn from or feel good about. That might be good music, learn a new language or listen to a book we enjoy. I have downloaded Bible books and other literature on the net. I like jw.org most and they have also dramas that one can learn a lot from. Wish you happy knitting, a useful hobby indeed!
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
19 Aug 11
Good to meet another yarn collector! Yarn is very special, as the possibility to create something useful and beautiful is there as long as it is not knitted. It´s like a collection of paints for an artist.. Knitting can be a great hobby in winter, so in a way I look forward to the wintertime - maybe I can make wool caps and mittens and socks the coming winter.. Kind of therapy..
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
17 Aug 11
we do a yard sell but not much really gets bought guees others dont need it eithr lolololol
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
19 Aug 11
Yeah, sometimes it can be hard to sell our stuff.. People have so many things already! Perhaps sell them in online auction sites..??
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
16 Aug 11
I used to collect pewter dragons, I have a passion for dragons. Then came my divorce and the need to pay an attorney and very little money to be had. I sold most of my collection along with most of my music CDs, my concert movies, concert program booklets, artwork I'd collected, coins and my small collection of good jewelry. Then it was my beloved books, many first editions and collector editions and finally most of my guitars and gear. When it was all over my house was pretty bare! I was surprised how liberated I felt. Not at the divorce, that is still a heartache for me. But I was no longer held down my material things, I would no longer be heartbroken if the house burned down and all the stuff lost. I was free! I have my memories of those things, some of which were reminders of wonderful experiences or relationships, but none of the encumbrance. I no longer collect things. I have a few dragons left, one in each room of my house. I have a couple of prints for the walls and one original oil by a dear friend of mine. Other than that, there is nothing valuable in my house. I like being free of material goods. I have many things in my house like paperback books and such that I plan to get rid of in the next month. While I don't like a bare house, I like minimal decor that serves a purpose while lending beauty to my home. That's my goal, and no more collecting.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
16 Aug 11
Congratulations, dragon You have done what many of us dream of doing, but have to make a real effort to manage! And it is so interesting that you felt liberated from material things! And yes, we have still the memories and maybe photos of things we liked in the past. You inspire me and others for sure. Maybe a few minutes every day for cleaning the house, would be what we need to feel free from all the stuff that collects dust in our homes! Thank you for this experience..
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
18 Aug 11
Yeah, we get a lot of education in the Bible about not collecting material things but spiritual treasures..
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
17 Aug 11
I'm glad my experience benefited you and others. It just shows that what we think of as misfortune is actually a blessing. Everything happens for a reason if we will just make the best of it. God is always looking out for us, teaching us like a good parent should.
1 person likes this
@jaiho2009 (39142)
• Philippines
16 Aug 11
That's one good hobby,collecting things and selling after. I use to collect stamps too,and stopped when I can't hold those things in many folders. Now I am collecting coins from different countries and wish to have a good set of collection of old coins. Who knows it will give me good money in the future ... have a good day jaiho®
2 people like this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
16 Aug 11
Hi, jaiho Yes, I hope to get something for the art plates, as they are made for collectors, and are more than 20 years old. I hope you get something for your collections. There seem to be a lot of collectors - the ting is to find the ones that pay well.. A good day to you too..
1 person likes this
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
16 Aug 11
I'm a horrific hoarder. But it's paid off for me, as I have boxes full of mementos from my childhood and adolescence, letters, tape recordings, writings, makeshift journals, cards, and so on. It's helped me a lot with my writings. But some boxes are full of things I've hoarded for the sake of it. I hate to be parted from things. At one point my friends told me to do something about the stacked newspapers in my room. They were horrific. Every now and then I set about getting rid of things...but it's rare. So for the most part they just sit there in boxes or bags. It would take ages to truly downsize my hoardings. And for the most part i don't have the energy.
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
16 Aug 11
Well, it´s not easy to change, we might need help at times. I know I have had others helping me earlier. But I try to not collect much anymore, but get rid of things I don´t use as they take too much energy from me. But you are right, it takes a real effort to clean up. I have done it when I have moved to a new apartment. Perhaps moving to a new place would help a bit..
• United Kingdom
16 Aug 11
Sorry, I meant friend. He was staying with me...and he was horrified by the stacks of newspapers.
2 people like this
@AKRao24 (27427)
• India
17 Aug 11
Hello Dear Buenavida! Yes, I have the habit of collecting ball pens and Historical one Rupee coins! I have got my name in the nation Record book published in India which is known as 'Limca book Of Records ' for having ,maximum number of Ball pens without any duplicates in it! I have about 2200 pens ! This takes a lot of space to store them! Having seen my name at the national level I was thinking to make to World level, but having seen the record which is seven lakhs I have dropped the idea of further collection as it requires lot of space, time and money too! So I have developed another collection hobby of mine that is coin collection! here also I felt this would be a big thing to do, so I have restricted myself to collecting One rupee coins! So I have started collecting various one rupee coins from all the countries who have their basic currency as Rupee. the countries are India, Pakistan, Srilanka, Seychelles, Nepal, Mauritius etc. where thy have this currency! Here in my collection I have got first one rupee coin ever introduced in India by the King Sher Shah Suri in 1542 (AH)! Before that there was no concept of rupee in the World! This is a silver coin of about 11 gms in weight! I have Historical one rupee coins from various Kingdoms of various times when India was under the rule of British. I have arranged them systematically in an album with all the relevant details and for this collection which is about 132 coins I have got entered my name in the 'Limca Book Of records' ! I am proud of my collection as this collection is having some precious and rare coins and is having all authentic details about them recorded systematically with the collection! This collection of mine won't require lot of space but it requires lot of investment and hard work to accomplish it! But then the happiness I derive to have a new One rupee in my collection is hard to explain in the words! Thanks ! I liked participating in the discussion as this was the topic of my interest!
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
19 Aug 11
Well, it sounds like a coin collection is easier to handle, and maybe you can sell the coins to other collectors when you lose interest.. The historical coins may be very attractive for some of them.. You can always use the ball pens to write a lot of letters or even books and earn from them that way..
@AKRao24 (27427)
• India
19 Aug 11
Yes, Coins though they may require lot of investment but their collection is bit easier to handle and with historical coins which are made of Silver, we always have appreciation in the market for the cost of actual metal going up day by day and also with the passage of the times the antique value of these coins is getting increased! Now coming to the Ball point pens, these pens they become useless after some time as the ink in he refill gets clogged out and and fail to flow out when we try to use them for writing, so earning from these pens by writing books is out of question! Anyway , Thanks for you constructive ideas!
1 person likes this
@maximax8 (31055)
• United Kingdom
17 Aug 11
I collect costume dolls from different countries. I have been collecting them since I was 18 years old. I have collected postcards and foreign coins too. I am running out of space for more costume dolls but I will still buy them I think. These are my special things and wouldn't ever get rid of them. I do send old books to the charity shop.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
19 Aug 11
Hi, maximax8 Some hobbies can become a passion, and if we can enjoy it and have space for it so why not? But sometimes we change and get different values in life and want to sell or give it away. There will probably be other collectors who want what we have.. The older I become, the more I want to get rid of what I collected in the past..
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
16 Aug 11
I do have a serious habit of not getting rid of things, and then once in a while I just throw everything (almost) out and some of my friends say "how could you?!" But if they don't want the stuff then why should I? I am too lazy to have a yard sale.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
16 Aug 11
Yeah, people are quite different, aren´t they! One advantage is that you probably have more energy due to the house cleaning. And it makes moving so much easier. I guess there are some places you can leave things that are still useful, like charities etc.
1 person likes this
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
17 Aug 11
It is amazing how picky some of the charities are becoming these days.
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Aug 11
oh my god its weird you bring this up cause when I was a kid I used to love to collect things! I would collect so many things I was interested at the time. I would collect stamps, stickers, rocks, seashells, and many other things! I still have quite a few things around the house, but mainly in the garage lol. A lot of them have memories because I used to love them so much. I used to collect stuffed animals and that might be the biggest collection I've had, I sold the ones that didn't mean that much to me but kept the special one's. Now I just collect photos on the internet of things that inspire me or just of my favorite bands, actors and what not. I guess I still have it in me lol.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
17 Aug 11
Yes, Lucyalicia (what a beutiful name!) maybe some of us are born collectors - at least I tink I am one.. Maybe most kids collect things like you did, and we save some as we like to have them around as memories. Collecting on Internet must be one of the most space saving ways to collect.. Also the small memory sticks we can use for our computers don´t take much room if we want to collect in them. I like gmail a lot as there is so much space and we can label things and find them easily. Maybe Internet is a solution for many collectors
• United States
17 Aug 11
oh but wait! photos can take up a lot of space lol and internet videos and films and tv shows which I collect a lot of. even photos can take up a lot of space on your hardrives alone not to mention all the gig that quality films can take up if I download them in blu ray. I have quite a few hardrives, and I don't mean just the little one's that are 5 gig that get carried around lol. thankfully my dad works in an industry where he can get some hardrives for free because he works with them. talk about taking up space, it can take up all your computer and hardrive space! lol but it's worth it if you have a passion for something. and thanks for the compliment about my name, its my first name, Lucy, and middle name, Alicia.
1 person likes this
@pahak627 (4558)
• Philippines
17 Aug 11
I used to collect stamps when I was still in grade school but stopped. I gave the stamps to my cousin who was also a collector. Then I collect angel figurines. From minute angels to angels about 5 inches. But I stopped and still keep them now. I don't have enough place to keep them. I also have problems getting rid of unnecessary items in my house.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
19 Aug 11
Yeah, most of us have that problem, just getting rid of junk and things we don´t need. It´s unbelievable how easily things add up and before we realize, we have so much clutter that we can hardly handle. Better start giving and selling and throwing things away before that happens..
17 Aug 11
hi:) I collect stamps and old coins right now, I also buy those if someone want to sell their collections to me, but only those I can afford, actually it's more of an investment because as it gets older it becomes more expensive.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
19 Aug 11
Yes, flowerfest it can be a good investment, if we sell our collection at the right time.. We may have more use for the money if we plant a garden and produce food - as gold and silver is impossible to eat.. Who knows how expensive the food will become in the future.. Have a great day..
• United States
17 Aug 11
yes i have had problems getting rid of things try selling them at yard sales or just go to a salvation army store and donating them
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
19 Aug 11
Why not have a box at home and put all things you don´t need there and have a little box if someone likes to give money for them? Place it so that your visitors can see it, and that maybe will help to find new owners to your unnecessary things..
@Dasari100 (3791)
• Anantapur, India
17 Aug 11
they are lot of things which we can collect such as stamp collections and other related collections always good.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
17 Aug 11
Well - stamps maybe don´t need so much place, as they are so small.. And we can sell them if we lose the interest to collect more..
@samaire (154)
• United States
17 Aug 11
When i was a child i collected napkins and pictures that were in bubble gums. But now i think is useless to collect something except if you have enough money so you collect vintage cars for example! But even then i think it's useless. Collecting things is a way to fill some emptiness in your life or you have so much time to fill so wonder what to do! It's better to find useful hobby!
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
19 Aug 11
Vintage cars would need a lot of space, better keep at smaller things if we want to collect something.. I think you are right, maybe over-collecting is a symtom of emptiness in our life! We obviously need to fill our life with non material things, like frieds, and spiritual interests. "Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need.." Matthew 5:3 (New World Translation) Some hobbies can be really useful, as we can slowly turn them to a job and get an income and maybe replace our ordinary job..
@katie0 (5203)
• Japan
17 Aug 11
I love to save pictures in the computer, if that counts like collecting but the most serious collecting I did was Agatha Christie's books, I have a lot. If I win the lottery I will have the whole collection in one type of book, like all the books look a like each other, that would be preatty cool and that means having the more than 100 books, as I want her work as Mary Wesmacott as well, she rocked on those romances too.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
17 Aug 11
Hi, katie0 Pictures can be great and useful on the computer, we can sell some or publish them in a place like Red Cage and get some earnings. They are also nice to look at when you show them to others. I have too many books now, some of them I have not even read. I´ll have to sell the ones I don´t use. I prefer to borrow most books in a library, as once I have read them, there are only a few I want to read a second and third time.
@SIMPLYD (90727)
• Philippines
17 Aug 11
I am a minimalist. As much as possible, i would like the house to be free of things that are not being used or have things mostly needed. That way , i can easily clean the house and won't have a hard time looking for things.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
17 Aug 11
That sounds great - I would love to clean my home enough to make it easier to clean. And about finding things - there are some things that I haven´t found since I moved to this apartment in 2004! Well, I will find them some day..!!
@cow_boy29 (236)
• United States
17 Aug 11
yes i like collect about metal accecories. hem everybody has different problem, so you must make a decision, yeah put almost of them to the trash ^_^
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
17 Aug 11
Well - I would rather give away things that can be used by others, so I´ll have to find ways to do that.. If nobody wants them - then just: bye, bye..
@scjbxz (139)
• United States
17 Aug 11
I'm not exactly a hoarder, but I do enjoy collecting things sometimes, but maybe not like others! If I see something I like, I might try to find things similar to it and add it to my "collection." A few years ago, I would collect a lot of Disney pins. They were so cute, but expensive. Plus, there aren't really many uses for pins. My mom also enjoys collecting various McDonald toy collections. I think overtime, if you lose interest, you just eventually stop collecting various items. But of course, if you enjoy something so much that you begin to collect it, don't stop because it's making you happy! (:
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
17 Aug 11
I can imagine the Disney pins are cute.. Yes, as long as we are happy, why not have a small collection of something we like? Then sell it when we lose interest. Some people see some Disney and other magazines as an investment. They can give good money in the future. I wonder what the first edition of Donald Duck would cost now??