How do you not let yourself collect something?

[clovis97]

Something else that helps is to look at the item and ask yourself, "two years from now, am I going to look back and wish I hadn't ever sold this __________? Or, will I even remember having it at all?". When I ask myself that, it's almost always available for sale immediately after.

After 10 years of being in the reselling market, there are only a few items that I now regret selling...and I don't even regret them that much.

One was a set of Craftsman drill bits, and the other was an unusual set of Arvin patio chairs. My regret about the drill bits is that I sold them waaaay too cheap, and really, even though the lawn chairs were cool, they were too old to use. They wouldn't have changed my life a bit...not one iota.

The $100 we got from the above items went directly towards paying down our mortgage. That is $100 (plus interest paid to a bank) that I'll never have to work for again.

 

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[Beachkid23]

It's like some of the stuff I want to sell but for some reason I attach myself to it and I don't know why. Maybe I think because most of it's over it's going up in value Right after I sell it. However most of it that I buy is just for change anyways. I'll give you an example.



Here's a picture of my coin bank. Now for a picture of what's inside of it.







There's probably a good amount of money sitting right there. But for some reason I can't make myself sell it. Maybe I need to go to counseling?

 

[Beachkid23]

Silver not over.

 

[Iron Patch]

Something else that helps is to look at the item and ask yourself, "two years from now, am I going to look back and wish I hadn't ever sold this __________? Or, will I even remember having it at all?". When I ask myself that, it's almost always available for sale immediately after.

When it's a purchase I would only regret if I sold it for way too little, and it would have to be quite a bit of money for me to keep looking back at it. But I've sold so much great stuff it would be foolish for me at this point to change my ways and start collecting a little... and that is probably what would make me regret selling past bought finds. Detecting finds are quite different, and there is a few things I would like to have back, but one of those is actually what gave me the opportunity to start working for myself so how could I ever regret that! It's not something that happened instantly, but was the turning point and changed my life much for the better. I did quite well on the selling price for that find, but looking at the big picture of the better position it put me in life there's no find ever posted on this forum that could even come close. Sure I still work for my money, but can you really call this work?

 

[Nickleanddime]

If its something i like i bring it home right away,research and list for sale. If i wait even a day or two i will horde the stuff lol.

 

[Lost&Found]

I learned my lesson from experience. Ten years ago I bought a brand new sports car and became obsessed with buying small scale models of the car. I do not have the car anymore. Just a box full of miniatures that someday I'll sell just to get rid of them. Maybe I'll make a profit on them but I really do not care if I do.

Since then the only thing I have collected without the intent of resale is art items that are connected to my dogs breed. I did this with the intention to donate them for a breed specific rescue auction. It's amazing how people will overpay for a charity auction. The money goes to a good cause and the tax deduction helps offsets profit.

 

[BigWaveDave]

years ago I found a few bicentennial plates, for like a dollar each, at a yard sale. To date I have just over 100, yet have no clue why they fascinated me. Maybe in 2026 they will increase in value and my bride will be thrilled for me to sell them. Or I can wait till 2076, they will be antiques, and I will make bank....I'll be 105.

 

[Baltimore]

I am a major collector, but most of the things I collect I don't actually buy. For example I collect license plates, but only if I find them or they are given to me. If I started buying them it would become a problem. The one thing I collect that involves money is vintage trucker/feed/seed hats, but to supplement any purchases I just sell a hat when I don't like it as much anymore, usually at a profit. This way my collection stays fresh, and I am never really out much money. I don't think I could ever collect something that isn't fairly easy to re sell again.

 

[inspectorgadget]

Oh goodness... I wouldn't have much of anything if I didn't collect things. My lamps, furniture, kitchen ware items are all what I consider collecting.. I have old pots, pans, skillets, every possible old type of kitchen utensils & small appliances but I use them (most of them at least) so it goes beyond collecting as I use these items. Most have value beyond what new junky stuff would cost & are of better quality than most new stuff.

Almost every lamp or ceiling light globe I have is vintage or antique & things I got because #1 they had value & #2 I liked them but at the same they also serve a real purpose. I'm going to buy that kind of stuff anyhow so why not collect that stuff cause then again it's almost not collecting.

Id say the only things I collect that serve no real purpose are #1 uranium glass (preferably vaseline & jadeite but some green depression too) & #2 COINS like you! I have a nice collection going on but I look at them as an investment for the future if for no one else than for my daughter when I'm gone. I collected football cards as a kid & I still have those but I don't collect them anymore & I don't think I would part with them, not yet at least.

I do collect some Asian/Oriental items & furniture that some serves a purpose & some is just for decor or show. My dining room is done in all Asian decor & furnishings. My Kitchen & 2nd bedroom are completely art deco-ed out! My living room & bedroom is a mix of mid century, contemporary & art deco. My 3rd bedroom & back screened in porch art art nouveau - arts & craft era. The man cave in the basement has what most man caves would have & a lot of it is vintage & has good value.

My point is I actually collect a lot of things but I collect a lot of necessary things like I listed. One trick to collecting most things like I do is to get rid of something if you get something different or better to replace it with & that's where hoarding & collecting differ to me I guess.

 

[Baltimore]

Oh goodness... I wouldn't have much of anything if I didn't collect things. My lamps, furniture, kitchen ware items are all what I consider collecting.. I have old pots, pans, skillets, every possible old type of kitchen utensils & small appliances but I use them (most of them at least) so it goes beyond collecting as I use these items. Most have value beyond what new junky stuff would cost & are of better quality than most new stuff.

Almost every lamp or ceiling light globe I have is vintage or antique & things I got because #1 they had value & #2 I liked them but at the same they also serve a real purpose. I'm going to buy that kind of stuff anyhow so why not collect that stuff cause then again it's almost not collecting.

Id say the only things I collect that serve no real purpose are #1 uranium glass (preferably vaseline & jadeite but some green depression too) & #2 COINS like you! I have a nice collection going on but I look at them as an investment for the future if for no one else than for my daughter when I'm gone. I collected football cards as a kid & I still have those but I don't collect them anymore & I don't think I would part with them, not yet at least.

I do collect some Asian/Oriental items & furniture that some serves a purpose & some is just for decor or show. My dining room is done in all Asian decor & furnishings. My Kitchen & 2nd bedroom are completely art deco-ed out! My living room & bedroom is a mix of mid century, contemporary & art deco. My 3rd bedroom & back screened in porch art art nouveau - arts & craft era. The man cave in the basement has what most man caves would have & a lot of it is vintage & has good value.

My point is I actually collect a lot of things but I collect a lot of necessary things like I listed. One trick to collecting most things like I do is to get rid of something if you get something different or better to replace it with & that's where hoarding & collecting differ to me I guess.

I must say, your house sounds pretty awesome. I definitely want to do a lot of the decorating in my future home, vintage decor is by far the best. Not like a lot of the cheap crap made nowadays.

 

[inspectorgadget]

I must say, your house sounds pretty awesome. I definitely want to do a lot of the decorating in my future home, vintage decor is by far the best. Not like a lot of the cheap crap made nowadays.

Thanks! It is pretty cool but it's far from finished!

I agree with ya 100% tho you can buy new stuff that has real quality it just costs an arm & a leg! When you have items like I have around many of them become conversation pieces. Almost every item I have has a story that's a little (or a lot) deeper than saying I went to Target or Walmart & bought it. Also I put the items I'm not using anymore in my garage for a while at first & anything on one side of the garage is always for sale. When friends come over one of the first places they want to go is into the garage to see what's new for sale. I really do sell a lot of stuff this way tho not necessarily for top dollar but at the same time I have 0 time & effort in selling it!

 

[NHBandit]

I collect things I like. But they are all disposable if I need quick cash to buy something I like more. The only things that are not ever for sale is the coin collection my parents started for me 50 years ago that I have been working on ever since. And if you're buying modern stuff and it says "collectible" on the package it's not... Kind of like talking to women on the internet. If she's got "hotty" or "sexy" in her screen name she is 600lbs and has a mustache. Don't say I didn't warn you...