Art-ology

There is plenty of advice available for anyone who has the urge to purge all of the things that have been collecting dust in their homes. Not having room too move around your home can leave you feeling drained and constantly tires. 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? It all boils down to the positive effects of the hobby and how it makes you feel when you have it. Look at the positives that it creates for you.

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. Maybe it is just because there’s a big sale going on and walking away seems wasteful. Finding a great collectible is not an impulse decision, but it gets our heart pounding instead. 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.

Building a collection makes you think. It is not just a matter of going to a store and buying something, you have to understand what you are looking for and where you might be able to get it from. There is not much better than making a discovery of the collectible that adds the perfect touch to your collection. In the process, you could learn a lot about different eras, countries, cultures, lifestyles, and more.

It is a lot of fun just to try to discover a new collectible. 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. You could limit your search to the local mall and eBay, but you might as well collect soda cans or hang nails if that’s how you’re going to do it. 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. When a person cares about the items they have and if they still are in good repair, they can put cash into your wallet. At the very least, you could have a fun day meeting people at your yard sale.

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. A good way for a person to deal with this is to limit their collection and when it hits that limit, do not add anything without getting rid of something else. 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. Even when you no longer have the item, you still have the story. That is a collection that never gets too big.