Is your collecting obsession taking over your house?
By Rocketj1
@rocketj1 (6955)
United States
September 14, 2008 10:01pm CST
I have a collection of cookbooks. I especially like old ones. I like to imagine what life must have been like for the original owner of the book.
I also have a stamp collection that I started as a teen when I had international penpals. I haven't looked at it in years.
My husband collects mugs. He is a coffee drinker (I am not). So he likes to pick up unusual mugs when we travel.
Do you have any collections? Are they worth a lot of money or are they mostly worth a lot to you? When did you start collecting? Why did you choose this particular item to collect? Have you spent a lot of money on it? Do you display it in some way? Is it taking over your living space? Would you ever part with it?
I'm anticipating some very interesting answers!
3 people like this
12 responses
@samtaylorskykierajen (7977)
• Canada
16 Sep 08
I can't stand clutter and my mother was a pack rat growing up and because of my fear of being like that I am the firt to throw something away , more so because my husband is a pack rat as well but I did start collecting scrapbooking supplies about six or seven years ago . I save anything I think might be useful when I decide to do a page , weather it be a cute button or a piece of paper that I find to be pretty :) It has taken over most of our basement and one day my husband is supposed to make me a scrapbooking room for all my stuff before it takes over the upstairs lol .
I got into collecting for this when I realized how expensive it was to buy in the stores when there is so much around the house we throw away every day that would look really nice on a page . I have spent a lot of money on collecting scrapbooking supplies because even though I save everything around the house for it , I also love to shop for new and different scrapbooking pages and what makes it worse is that once I buy it I am to scared to use it so it sits in a bin waiting for the day that I will not be too afraid to ruin a page or it not turning out the way I wanted and wasting the nice item I bought :)
I don't display any of this because I have them all in albums and I keep the albums up as I am afraid they will get ruined but I do take them out once in awhile to look at or show others that come over that scrapbook as well or just to let the children see what they looked like when they are younger . My reason for getting into this was so that I could keep track of all the good memories in a book that I will eventually give to each of my children when they are older to keep there memories alive and so that they will always know how much they mean to me with the little stories I have in there for them or what happened on a particular day .
I don't believe I will ever give up scrapbooking but one day will give the children there albums when they move out and start there own lives and families . When this happens I will have to start some for grandchildren lol .
1 person likes this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
16 Sep 08
Scrapbookers are an ingenious lot! I have friends who are big into it and they have started saving things they find too. I have not taken up the hobby. I am afraid that I will spend too much money like I already do with my craft supplies. I believe it is a wonderful hobby however. I think when the kids go off to college I will get into it so that I can give them each their own albums someday. Right now, I put all their photos in order in small albums. I've done this right from the start. I write info on the backs and tuck them all in, in order. I'm thinking that my organization will be of some great benefit when I finally do get into scrapping.
Thanks!
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
16 Sep 08
I only have one collection, it is Crystal Figurines, so far they all fit in my china cabinet so they are not taking over. My husband has a comic book collection but stopped collecting years ago, the collection is in our crawl space so it is in not taking over either. So we do have our collections under control.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163773)
• Garden Grove, California
16 Sep 08
hi rocketj1 I collect beanie babies or did but right now all my free space on shelves and atop dressers is covered. I have about forty ranging from Garlfield the cat to a giraffe, elephant, dodo bird, and all other animals. I love my beanie babie collection and would never part with it no way JOse.I also have a collection of pretty bottles that is on one dresser and a little pink pig beanie baby. so cute.
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
15 Sep 08
i was an antique dealer for years & i was my best customer, i collect lots'of kitchen stuff, alot ofgreen depression,wall pockrts, sillohettes, carnivval glass elvis memrobila,furniture etc. got a house ful & love everything i have,don't want to part w/any of it. lol
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
15 Sep 08
god for y'all. you wouldn't believe how some folks let their children, i had no problem w/saying something to them iftheir parents didn't. lol
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
15 Sep 08
Well, our daughter DID knock over a plastic S&P set that shattered. It was very inexpensive and we paid for it. It was in an especially crowded stall and I think it was bound to happen to someone. That's a pet peeve about those malls. Many items in from certain dealers are precariously stacked, don't you think? Should buyers be liable in those cases?
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
15 Sep 08
You know, I wondered about your user name. I didn't think that 65 made you an antique!Lol If my house had more storage space, I could probably be tempted to get more into that stuff too. We live very near a little town that bills itself as the "antique capital" of our state. They have lots of antique malls and my husband and I love to go there. In fact, we have done it for years (usually not buying much ....ok maybe a cookbook or some sports memorobilia for the hubby). Our two kids always came along even as little ones. Dealers looked nervous. But we always told them not to touch anything. They were very good and got many compliments from surprised dealers.
@rekcart83 (149)
• Philippines
15 Sep 08
Not really. I only collect cards after all. But my mother collect this little figurines like angels and its kinda all over the house. I don't really mind though.
1 person likes this
@babylott_2006 (2)
• United States
16 Sep 08
Yes! I collect those Jones soda bottles...which is something I started back in high school because of the different pictures on it. And I only did it for like 2 months...and now its just in the way, but i don't want to throw any away because someone may come out looking for one of the bottles that I have. Thats $$$ in my pockets...
1 person likes this
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
15 Sep 08
I collect anything that has to do with rough collie or Shetland sheepdog memorabilia from mugs to other ornaments because I love these breeds. I have a section in my room and I try to select what i buy. I don’t want my room to become clogged and appear shabby. If I buy an item for collection I am not ready to sell it.
@kimberlylynn (978)
• United States
15 Sep 08
Old cookbooks are great! I remember looking at some and besides the obvious recipes, they had ways to be a good wife. Of course, you stayed at home and you had dinner waiting for your husband and when he came in the door he would be so tired that you would be understanding and get him his slippers and give him time to relax, not bothering him with any problems you may have. Those are great.
I don't collect too much, pretty much purged all that and let go of those things. I do have a small collection of pin cushions, I dont' know why I like them because I don't even sew! I guess the old tomato cushion reminds me of one my mom had and it grew from there. I have considered selling them because we could use the money but I have been too lazy to Ebay them.
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
15 Sep 08
The history in the old cookbooks is great! They also cooked interesting things like possum and squirrel during the depression. I love imagining what it must have been like as a woman during those times. Cooking is one thing that we share with our female ancestors.
The pin cushion thing made me smile. I remember my mom having the tomato one and so that's what I used for Home Ec. class. It also made me remember that my mom's mother used to darn socks! What nice lumpy socks those were too!
Thanks:)
@izhuce13 (158)
• China
15 Sep 08
i do not have such money and time to do so.because collecting such things will cost me a lot of time and money,obviously, i have none of this two things. and i think most people in the world is the some with me.but i do appreciate those one have such interest. because they can do that they want and keep this habit.
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
15 Sep 08
Some collections are absolutely FREE! Shells, rocks, restaurant napkins, restaurant matches, drink favors (little umbrellas and the like), butterflies, insects, etc. Some cost next to nothing! Book marks, stickers, Mc Donald's happy meal toys, buttons, beads, etc.
Thank you:)
@harlina_ahmad (133)
• Malaysia
15 Sep 08
I have a few collections such as stamps, bookmarks, keychains, fridgemagnets and books.
i have already framed the stamps and bookmarks and i hanged them in my daughters room.
The keychain is in a display cabinet which is in our living room. Fridgemagnet is at the fridge door while the books, i have them on my shelf and is my mini library,;).
I am not sure whether its worth a lot of money but i do treasure them a lot.
I had to part with my books when i go to college/university but after i got married, i have transfered them from my moms home to my own home. The other collection, i just started them when i was in uniersity/UK so they have been with me all the while.
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
15 Sep 08
Thanks! Those seem like nice manageable collections. I think your obsession is not "taking over your house" then. My husband also collects books. Actually more than he has the time to read unfortunely. But most of them are purchased second- hand and are not in danger of putting us into poverty.
Thank you for your response!
@chubbycheeks (135)
•
15 Sep 08
We wouldnt let a collection take over our house,the house is of average size but not big enough to accomodate any collections,the rooms would be cluttered and look a mess.Tho I do envy those who collect certain things,it must be really interesting,stamps and coins,china and objet d art,all collectables in fact.But maybe you need to have a room that can be devoted to your collections?or is that not possible,and when you have other things always wanting your attention then collecting will be the one thing that takes a back seat.
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
15 Sep 08
A room for collections sounds like a good idea. My husband also like to collect sports memorabilia (pennants, signs, collecting card, etc.) I have "given" him the upstairs landing area where we have a small sitting area. He has hung his sports things there. Every guy's gotta have his space, right?