People are inundated with ways to get rid of all the extra stuff that has accumulated around their home. Just like too much food or liquor makes you sick, too much stuff directly affects your mental health. Not only does it take a mental toll, but there is an economic toll as well. But what does that imply about collecting as a hobby, is it just a waste of money and space, or are there any benefits to keeping an ever-growing stash of collectible frogs in your attic? That depends on what you get from the process and what you do with the end result. Let’s start with what you get.
People care about the things that they collect. There are a lot of objects in our home that do nothing more than take up space. Maybe they want to satisfy their ego and image. It could have been bought because it looked like such a bargain that we had to have it. The feeling when building a collection is one of joy. It could be comic books that remind you of the happiest time in your childhood, or maybe you first started amassing license plates when your dad was alive and you fixed up old cars together or maybe you read a story like I did when I saw the article Collecting Frogs – a Fun Hobby for All Ages and became engulfed in the world of frogs.
You use your brain to enjoy your collectibles. Unless you’re content to purchase 50 of the same exact Barbie doll, you’ll need to do some research to find which things will enhance your collection. If you’re really clever, you might even find some gems for practically nothing. Not only can you gain the perfect piece for your collection, you can also enjoy the knowledge that you gained while looking for it.
Collecting gives you the thrill of the hunt. Most discretionary spending satisfies a perceived emotional need and that is why advertisers use sex, humor, and fear to market the benefits of their products; so you’ll justify buying whatever non-necessity they’re pedaling whether it is in a store or on a website such as www.myfrogcollection.com, because, for collectors, the thrill of seeking and finding a hard to find or unique piece is generally the main motivation which comes entirely from you, not your peers or the media.
You have to be creative when looking for what you need. There are some items that a person can collect that are easily found and require little effort, however they are not usually as fun to do. Most collectors check out yard sales, auction houses, flea markets, second-hand retailers. What one person does not want, may be exactly what you need.
Some items have been know to produce a cash windfall for people. It is not true that everything has a price tag as some of us would never get rid of some of the things that we have. But let’s face it; if you collect something for years, it will eventually take over your space, turning great intentions into huge headaches. You could pass on your stash to someone you love, but that only works if they share your passion. At some point you can also sell what you have. If you have bought well and kept your collection in good shape, you might make a lot of money. The act of negotiating a sale is a great social activity as well.
There is a tremendous amount of enjoyment that can come from building a collection, but a person should plan for what to do with it before they die. It is important to have some control over what will happen to your collection if you are not around and this can be done at any time. There are many things a person can do with their collection. The enjoyment of a collection comes not just from the object, but from the memories that go with the object. Memories are not something that go away just because the collectible is not on the shelf. That is a collection that never gets too big.
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