I read MoneyNing's blog faithfully via email updates. It covers a broad spectrum of financial advice and there is always something every week that I can apply to my own finances. This morning, I read the Personal Finance blog on collectibles, and even left a comment (which I do from time to time).
Part of what I commented was this:
If there is something you really love and enjoy owning, then that should be your collection. It may be that eventually, your collections will be valuable, but to go out looking for a lot of junk you really don’t like that well means you will eventually just discard it for nothing. People become experts on what they love the most, and that’s where collections spring from.
Right now, I have some McDonald's toys that really caught my eye. They are from the series a couple of years ago of Wizard of Oz characters and were manufactured by the Madam Alexander toy company. Did I get them because I thought of their increased value later? No. I got them because they are unusually lovely, well made, and reminded me of viewing the movie from days when I was a child.
More recently, McDonald's had little stuffed animals that have velcro on their paws so they can "hug" a pencil or something else. I got the full set and put them on my Christmas tree. Not because they might increase in value, but because they are so darned cute! They have such sweet faces and really added to the tiny tree I put up each year.
Are you collecting anything? Collections ought to spring from things you really love to look at, not from what certain experts say is a good investment. If you don't love it, leave it. Collectibles are a very "iffy" way to invest money, so just enjoy the things you are collecting. Maybe someday they'll be valuable to someone else, but for now, they are valuable to you!!
