Collections

[amazon980]

I was looking all these peoples collections on youtube and here.
And i stoped and wondered what is it that makes us want to BUY EVERY THING with there pic on it? Just thinking about what we could of saved it put it towards some thing better college car etc etc.
Do we really need Plushies 1000s of movies toys anything like that?
some people on here have bought expensive useless things on here.
Not judging or anything by the way. Should the movie or cd or what ever you like be enough?

[universALLove]

I kinda know where you're coming from, I mean, if collectors actually accumulated the amount of money they've spent on things it most probably would amount to quite a lot. I guess it depends on the individual though really. Some might like parting with their money to extend their collections, it's like hobby to them, so that's sort of a contributor for it I guess.

[Maerj]

I was looking all these peoples collections on youtube and here.
And i stoped and wondered what is it that makes us want to BUY EVERY THING with there pic on it? Just thinking about what we could of saved it put it towards some thing better college car etc etc.
Do we really need Plushies 1000s of movies toys anything like that?
some people on here have bought expensive useless things on here.
Not judging or anything by the way. Should the movie or cd or what ever you like be enough?

Sometimes getting another item for someone's collection just helps to get them threw the day or week. Sometimes it triggers a fond memory of a better time. Besides, its better than spending the money on cigarettes, booze, drugs, etc.

[blackcauldron85]

I collect stuffed animals, but I don't spend much on my collection. I get a lot of them as presents, and I've gotten others free from people giving stuffed animals away. The most I spent on one plush was about $23 or so, and that was to complete my princess plush collection, and the doll wasn't being sold anymore. But otherwise, I don't usually spend more than $10 on a stuffed animal.

For me, stuffed animals make me happy. My mom had gotten rid of most of my stuffed animals, but not all, and it messed with me psychologically, and so now I like to collect them and it makes me happy.

I think that, like anything, too much excess can lead to problems, but as long as people put things in perspective and don't spend their life savings on their collection, collecting can make people happy!

[Escapay]

I was looking all these peoples collections on youtube and here.
And i stoped and wondered what is it that makes us want to BUY EVERY THING with there pic on it? Just thinking about what we could of saved it put it towards some thing better college car etc etc.
Do we really need Plushies 1000s of movies toys anything like that?
some people on here have bought expensive useless things on here.
Not judging or anything by the way. Should the movie or cd or what ever you like be enough?

It's Merchandising 101. If a movie or tv show is likeable enough for merchandise to be made, there will be people who will buy everything imagineable that has the movie/tv show/whathaveyou's face/logo/etc. plastered on it.

I remember in a thread from Disney Discussion, I made a joke about a Cinderella Broom & Dustpan...only to have someone provide a picture of that actual piece of merch, along with a Cinderella toaster that plays music when the toast is done!

albert

[Siren]

I collect unicorns. I have hundreds of unicorn items. From little statues to books to DVDs to clothing, even a full sized unicorn costume

Obsessed? Nah!
'
There is a sign on my door, bright yellow, diamond shapes with the silhouette of a unicorn and says "Unicorn Crossing"

[universALLove]

along with a Cinderella toaster that plays music when the toast is done!

That sounds so cool! I'd love a toaster that plays music once the toast is done (sounds so much better than a regular one)

[Lazario]

If a person can afford to be a collector- good for 'em! More power to them.

Collecting just expresses a passion for something. Many of us love Disney, but- why? Is it because of childhood nostalgia? Or, because we have a passion for the art and characters and the way those artists and filmmakers told those stories...

People's collecting habits and collections sometimes show a competitive side. Like, I know some people (not personally, but I know of them) just buy certain things because they have a lot of money. These people don't represent the majority of consumers in America- you know. But for most people, we really only want to own what either looks good or we enjoy.

[Kram Nebuer]

And i stoped and wondered what is it that makes us want to BUY EVERY THING with there pic on it? Just thinking about what we could of saved it put it towards some thing better college car etc etc.

I think the real question isn't, why are people so crazy for their collections...moreso, why do people have them in the first place? It's all a matter of perspective. Especially in today's economy, household's income are nearly all spent on daily necessities (food, home, car) and life goals (college, a wedding, etc). Some people are lucky enough to have money for extras and some people set aside money in their daily living budgets for extras.

I think what everyone is trying to say is that people having collections is just being consistent when you buy these extra things for yourself. It's really hard to compare spending money on a collection vs. spending money on college/car because they mean different things to different people in different financial situations. Some people even collect cars whereas most people buy a car out of necessity.

Like Lazario said, collections really show your passion for things, who you are and what you focus your free time on. They show what makes you happy. Any money I had saved up from Christmas/Birthday/Graduation/paycheck usually went to necessities, presents, donations, and things for myself. Usually, this meant things for my current or ongoing collection. The collections I have had in my lifetime included Legos, Disney Beanie Babies, Pokemon Cards, Disney DVDs, and Disney books. They all represent different stages in my life and whatever I was interested in at the time. To other kids, it could've been baseball cards, trendy clothes, CDs, pogs, Ty beanie babies, Furbies, whatever.

In college, my pocket money went to DVDs rather than going out to party at a club or bar 7 nights a week, every week (not to say that I never went out for fun, haha). But for the party every night group, they were "collecting" nightlife experiences and cirrhosis of the liver.

Collections are simply just one way people spend their money.

[blackcauldron85]

I know for me, most of my spending money goes towards CDs, DVDs, and concert tickets; it's not often I spend my little spending money on stuffed animals, but I will buy stuffed animals if I have extra money, but I get most of them as presents, I guess.

I think collections are like someone's happy place- if they're having a bad day, they can maybe even just look at their collection and they'll feel a little happier.

It's better to spend money on someone that you actually like and will appreciate than to just spend it on things you don't really want or care about.

[a-net-fan]

I consider myself a pretty serious collector. I actually have been a collector all my life. It started out with stickers in kindergarten and grew from there. There are many different reasons why people collect things. Some people collect for the challenge, the hunting and scavengering to find missing pieces. There is a thrill in that. Some people collect because they simply want to educate themselves further about a era, topic or person. Some people may collect things that they enjoy surrounding themselves with.....something that defines their taste or like in their environment. Some ppl collect for the nostalgia, the memories and feelings that come with that. Many ppl say eventually many of us will come to a point we will be tempted to "buy back our childhood" in one way or another. Some collect for an investment. Or a persons reasons for collecting could be any one or all of the above or some other reason. The point is that there is a lot of joy that can come from collecting. It should be noted tho that there is a difference between COLLECTING and ACCUMULATING. I think the key difference is the thirst for knowledge that usually comes with being a true collector. You almost take it upon yourself to become familiar and study a particular person, theme, topic, era, etc. With that element its just not about "ACCUMULATING"....its about taking the topic of interest and in a way making that your area of expertise. Of couse the only exception to this is if you collect something just because it brings a smile to your face. HAHA Eh I guess thats reason enough. lol

[Mushu2083]

I collect Final Fantasy figures and plushies. I also collect plushies of various Nintendo characters. I don't buy every plushie and figure I see, just the ones of my favorite characters.