If the title of this post caught your eye, chances are you have entertained the thought of starting your own collection.  Maybe you have found yourself lingering outside the window of your local antique’s store.  Or you have been thinking about how much fun it would be to complete that set of vintage baseball cards passed down to you from your grandfather. Whatever the reason, starting a collection can be an interesting and exciting hobby that lasts a lifetime.   

Now that you have decided to become a part of the eclectic world of collectors, you must decide what to collect! Here are some helpful hints when deciding what to collect and how to begin building a magnificent collection of your own:

·       * Collecting is a hobby of passion.  Collect what interests you and what you are passionate about.  Make the collection meaningful to you.  Want to start a collection that makes you feel like a kid again?  Checkout Hot Wheels.  Are you into trends?  Maybe Beanie Babies or Tickle-Me Elmos are for you. Loving what you collect is what it is all about!

·        * Consider what collection best for you.  Consider certain limitations like the size and price of items you are collecting.   You certainly can’t collect pinball machines if you are living in an efficiency apartment!  It is important that you new hobby fits your lifestyle.

·        * If you aren’t a naturally patient person, now isthe time to practice perfecting that quality!  Be patient.  You aren’t going to run out and complete an entire collection of precious moments or a stack of the 1945 World Series All-Star baseball cards in one week.  It could take years of searching, trading, and shopping to make the perfect collection.  That’s what makes it fun!  It is a wonderful feeling to stumble upon that missing piece of your collection that you have been looking for. Rome wasn’t built in a day, folks!  Your missing piece could even be in the iTaggit Gallery as we speak! 

·        Don’t be too influenced by trends.   True collectors know what they are interested in and aren’t concerned with following all of societies latest’s trends.  Own your collection and be proud!  Love collecting Pez candy dispensers?   Show off those little plastic candy holders!  You can easily share them in one click with your friends and family on Twitter and Facebook at iTaggit.

·      *  See what is out there.  Check out eBay, craigslist, iTaggit, and other marketplaces geared towards unique items to check the availability of the items you wish to collect.  Is it going to be impossible to find your items?  This is also a fun way to get excited about your future collection!

·       *  Make your collection unique.   Once you have started your collection, you can do fun things like start a theme to keep it interesting.  For example, if you collect stamps and you love animals, collect only animal stamps.  Or if you collect depression glass and love the color green, only collect green Depression glass. You can also collect things related to a certain period in time, things owned by late celebrities, or only the rarest of certain collectibles.  Collections are most valuable when they are unique, interesting, and come with a story.

·      *   Keep a record of your collection.  Createa digital inventory of your collection. At iTaggit, you can create your own digital collection by adding photos and other important information of your collection to your account.  You can even record purchase dates, places, and relevant anecdotes about your items to help you remember your collecting experiences and share those experiences with friends and family.

·       *  Store and display your items with care.    The better care you take of your items, the longer your collection will last, making it possible to sell or pass down your collection to loved ones.

·       *  Most importantly, HAVE FUN!  Congratulations on beginning your very own collection. You now have a fun new hobby to enjoy forever and hopefully pass down to your family. 

Sign up with iTaggit to begin you collection today!