So you want to start collecting? But you’re not sure where to begin and you are on a tight budget. Don’t worry, it’s very much achievable. You could be starting an art collection, cards, coins, board games, Pop! figures, or even good old traditional stamps. Remember, all collectors have to start somewhere.
The following five tips should help you to make the most of your budget and help you to grow your collection.
1. Create a list of items that you want
Whether it’s a handwritten list or an Excel spreadsheet, write down all of the items you really want in your collection. Most collectors have a vision of where they want their collection to go. This gives you something to work towards and will stop you from spending money on items that are less important to you.
2. Trade your collection
Whatever you are collecting, you will be sure to find forums online full of like minded collectors. It’s a great place to chat to people about the things you are passionate about, but you could trade with them too. You might also be able to find local meet ups for collectors to do trades. This is a great way to expand your collection without spending cash, and meet friends at the same time!
3. Shop around for a good deal
If you are looking to invest in an item for your collection, makes sure you shop around to get the best possible deal. Magic Madhouse have some of the most valuable Pokemon cards at very reasonable prices, so definitely worth having a look at. You could also look at online auction sites such as eBay, where you could pick up a bargain. Just don’t get carried away with the bidding, as is so easily done!
4. Make sure items are genuine
This one is really important, make sure that any items you are buying are genuine. This isn’t always the easiest of tasks as counterfeit items are becoming more and more convincing these days. There are plenty of fakes circulating and most people who have them in their possession won’t even realise that they aren’t authentic. To avoid this you should pay close attention to size, feel, quality, text, fonts and any holograms. If you get caught out with a fake collectible you could have lost yourself a lot of money.
5. Display and protect your collection
When your collection really gets going, you will want to make sure your items are protected from damage and displayed in a way that you can see what you have easily. For collectible figures, a glass display cabinet could be a good idea. For cards, coins and stamps etc, there are some great display case cards available. Or you could opt for a folder if you have a larger collection, this makes it easy to flick through and admire your collection whenever you want to.
Do you have a collection of anything? Let me know what you collect and your tips for getting started as a collector.
Thank you for reading.
