Budget Minded Collectors Priceless Tips

Collecting Tips From A Pro At The Rural Money Homestead!

As budget minded collectors, there is a limit to our budget, but we can still enter the exciting world of collecting.

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Stamps, coins, comic books, baseball cards, toys, records, furniture .. there’s no limit to what you can collect.

I am a collecting pro, so I offer these priceless collecting tips.

Priceless Tips for Budget Minded Collectors

Collect What You Like

A collection won’t be any fun if you don’t actually enjoy the items you’re collecting.

And, don’t limit yourself because anything can become a collectible.

You can collect everything from hotel soap to toilet paper.

Just make sure you can afford it.

You can find plenty of affordable collectibles.

Just start looking around and find something you like, but that’s within your price range.

There’s no sense trying to collect stuff that’s outside your budget.

Stay In Control

Your new hobby may be exciting, but don’t go overboard.

Stay within your budget.

Collecting can be addictive.

One of the things you don’t want to do is wind up spending your food or rent money on stuff.

Collect By Condition

You may think you can save money by buying a damaged item and fixing it up, but don’t buy anything that’s damaged, chipped, broke, or whatever.

It’s better that you buy it in great shape.

Broken stuff isn’t a bargain!

Shop Everywhere

Look on the Internet, check out garage sales and flea markets, attend antique shows or auctions.

You’ll find the best deals there.

Most everything you’re going to collect is going to be mass produced.

Therefore, it pays to shop everywhere.

If you don’t like the price, walk a way.

Or, as my granny said, “Leave it on the shelf.”

However, my rule is if it is within your budget, buy it when you see it.

You may or may not find another one.

The price is most often best at garage sales, where you can discover super discounts and bargains that can save you up to 80 percent or more.

In fact, you should pay only 10 to 15 cents on the retail dollar at a garage sale.

If you pay more than 25 cents, you’re paying too much.

Switch Things Up

As budget minded collectors, you don’t have to stick with your first choice.

If you get tired of your collection, switch collections, and by all means start selling on Etsy.

Be practical

Are your collectibles just collecting dust?
Why not collect things you can use such as:

• Kitchen utensils
• Chairs
• Furniture

As a bonus, antiques and collectibles are often cheaper than new items.

Beware Of Reproductions

Some bargains aren’t bargains at all because they’re fakes.

Be especially wary at flea markets and antique malls.

If it looks new and it’s supposed to be old, chances are its is new.

Stop Speculating

For the sake of starting out as a budget minded collector, don’t buy for investment or resale purposes.

Take it from me, the antique business requires much more skill than you think.

Sell With Sense

If you do decide to sell your collection, try estate sales or garage sales first.

An auction would be your next step, but this takes a lot of skill and practice, even if its an online auction.

Just don’t expect to get rich selling your collection.

Remember, unless you can find a buyer, your stuff has no value.

Most collectors always overestimate what their stuff is worth; and they always want more than the market will bear because it’s personal to them.

RuralMoney.com

As a budget minded collector, you have to understand that it’s a trendy market out there.

The value of things change rapidly because it’s totally dependent on the whims of the public.

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