One thing most collectors cannot be accused of is having common sense. And yet, if approached with some restraint, one can build a nice collection without forcing the family into the poor house or anyone missing a meal. So, how does one collect within a budget or within “normal” parameters?
Why Collect Anything?
First, let’s consider the act of collecting. To non-collectors, everything has its use, and if not used, should be discarded. If you need one again a few years from now, you will buy another one then, to use when it is needed. Easy peesy.
Collectors, on the other hand, do not require all their possessions to have a use. For those that are part of a collection, the mere existence of the objects is sufficient, and, as a matter of fact, the point. One can collect non-material things, like philosophies or the words to songs, but most collectors deal in physical objects. And their presence in numbers is what makes a collection satisfying.
What is not Collecting
Simple accumulation is not truly collecting. For those unfortunate souls for whom accumulation is the point, and where organization, documentation and preservation are not part of the process, the acquisition of new materials is not collecting, but more likely hoarding. Collectors also focus on a few, or even many kinds of things, but they do not collect everything. I have many collections myself, and it may seem to some that I collect everything, but I do not. There are things I use and throw out, or do not bring home in the first place. The things I collect are generally arranged in groups of like items, and, when I buy additions to an ongoing collection, that intent is very clearly in my mind.
What to Collect
There are almost as many things to collect as there are things. The beauty of collecting is that the individual decides what to collect, and the parameters that bound the collection. Maybe the collection is of American political campaign buttons. A gift of campaign posters can mean something to trade for campaign buttons, or a new collection has begun, campaign posters. This is a frequent happening to collectors, the addition of a new collection or the broadening of the parameters of an existing collection. Now the collection is of campaign buttons and posters, or maybe it time to go all the way to any campaign ephemera. The collector decides.
When to collect
The time to buy, or acquire in other ways, something for your collection, is when it is available. Waiting until after the fact means higher prices and more competition. Try collecting something no one you know is collecting, like local election posters. Most people will throw them out after the elections, but you can preserve this local bit of history. Become the go-to guy for local election posters.
Common Sense Collecting and Cost
This is one place where common sense must rule your collecting. Buying something for your collection when the kids need new shoes or the groceries have not been paid for is not common sense. It is obsession. The collector always puts first things first, and food, shelter, clothing, insurance, etc., all come first. Collecting is a luxury that must wait on discretionary funds. Hopefully, if you collect something that is not rare, these available funds will allow for periodic additions to your collection, which is another reason why collecting something common and readily available, or even something given away, makes more sense. The prices are lower and a collection can be built using less money.
No doubt collecting 20th Century election ephemera is as satisfying as any other collection, but it is one that requires deep pockets. A collection of 21st Century local posters and other local election paraphernalia can be just as satisfying, and will lead to you becoming the expert on such events.
The definition of a collection is within the determination of the collector, who decides, what, when and how much a collection requires. And remember, collect with common sense. It can be done.