How To Beat Collecting Addiction.

[ZE_501]

We all know this feeling.
Why spend 100€ in a shirt, sneakers or whatever short term pleasure when you can buy a figure or something that will last forever in your collection…?

While I don't go completely overboard on things like clothes, there's a lot to be said for enjoying well-made clothing with a nice fit. In my opinion one should spend as much time on their body (reasonable nutrition, working out, properly cut clothing) as one would on a carefully curated collection. More so actually.

I used to do the same but this kind of feeling is maybe a warning that we went too far in this hobby and that this last controls you.

Not that there's anything inherently wrong with a well-managed, within-the-means collection, but I agree -- it shouldn't prevent you from having other experiences and being well-rounded.

But the eventuality of spend 2 000 € on one item already bugs me.
Hope I’ll be strong enough…

That's about $2,769.30 CAD. At this point in my life (and as a retired collector) I can justify that on a piece of furniture, not on a movie replica. There was a time I would have pulled the trigger but priorities and interests almost inevitably change.

 

[TheBatman]

Just cancelled a bunch of my pre-orders from Sideshow that were eligible for NRD refund.
After seeing those 25% + discounts, stung a lot even though my original purchase price were discounted as well.
Will hold off on ordering until we start getting better pricing and/or figure I want is at risk of selling out.

 

[KitbashOfficer]

Just cancelled a bunch of my pre-orders from Sideshow that were eligible for NRD refund.
After seeing those 25% + discounts, stung a lot even though my original purchase price were discounted as well.
Will hold off on ordering until we start getting better pricing and/or figure I want is at risk of selling out.

I'm good with my handful of preorders. I think I've only preordered 3 things this year and passed on about double that number. Reason: Price.

 

[Nagoya]

I have a pretty small collection after just two small years in this hobby, but I don't personally feel very addicted to it. Having limited space, a cat who likes to try to eat plastic, and being uninterested in collecting anything having to do with Star Wars and Marvel might certainly contribute to that. However, I feel like I am a bit strange in that I really don't like displaying anything in my small collection. Aside from one figure I keep on a shelf, the rest have been opened, inspected, then promptly shoved back into their box and kept in the back of a closet. The idea of having something is intrinsically more fun to me than ever actually looking at what I already have, but this has never seemed to bother me or cause me to buy more to make up for anything.

To preface, I know this sub isn't necessarily a help line, or an area where the hypothetical psychology of collecting needs to be brought up, but has anyone who anticipates downsizing their collection, or in general people who want to start buying less, tried hiding away the majority of their collection to only display a select few at a time? While some people might find it more convincing to buy more things when your theoretical self is not being constantly reminded of what you already have, I am curious whether forcing prioritisation on a limited portion of a collection could help reduce the idea that more is needed when you're limited on what you can interact with.

It looks like some people here have cited finances being a primary incentive to start disengaging from the hobby--but do people in that situation tend to return to the hobby once you're better situated or do you discover a renewed sense of "freedom" from this hobby's addictive tendencies altogether when that happens? And for the latter, is there something else that you have now to fill the hole, or is it still a financial reason which primarily drives the decision to keep away from the hobby?

 

[MachoGeek80]

Buying something and shoving it in the back of a closet? We are certainly all different, I suppose.

 

[MeatHookGekko]

... At this point in my life (and as a retired collector) I can justify that on a piece of furniture, not on a movie replica. ....

What if you could use a life sized Predator set as a coat rack?

Once I turned a movie replica into a piece of furniture, I know for you, it was like Neo seeing that cat twice. You are thinking "Ambush.... we are going to get ambushed....I need the main wet wall...."

 

[Nagoya]

Buying something and shoving it in the back of a closet? We are certainly all different, I suppose.

Swap them out every once in awhile to be the one on the shelf. No different than a Christmas tree or any holiday decoration!

 

[Zurdo95D]

I have a pretty small collection after just two small years in this hobby, but I don't personally feel very addicted to it. Having limited space, a cat who likes to try to eat plastic, and being uninterested in collecting anything having to do with Star Wars and Marvel might certainly contribute to that. However, I feel like I am a bit strange in that I really don't like displaying anything in my small collection. Aside from one figure I keep on a shelf, the rest have been opened, inspected, then promptly shoved back into their box and kept in the back of a closet. The idea of having something is intrinsically more fun to me than ever actually looking at what I already have, but this has never seemed to bother me or cause me to buy more to make up for anything.

To preface, I know this sub isn't necessarily a help line, or an area where the hypothetical psychology of collecting needs to be brought up, but has anyone who anticipates downsizing their collection, or in general people who want to start buying less, tried hiding away the majority of their collection to only display a select few at a time? While some people might find it more convincing to buy more things when your theoretical self is not being constantly reminded of what you already have, I am curious whether forcing prioritisation on a limited portion of a collection could help reduce the idea that more is needed when you're limited on what you can interact with.

It looks like some people here have cited finances being a primary incentive to start disengaging from the hobby--but do people in that situation tend to return to the hobby once you're better situated or do you discover a renewed sense of "freedom" from this hobby's addictive tendencies altogether when that happens? And for the latter, is there something else that you have now to fill the hole, or is it still a financial reason which primarily drives the decision to keep away from the hobby?

I am mostly the same! I have only some pieces on display, despite having most of my collection boxd up. I don't mind rotating figures in and out being displayed, I think it's quite fun actually.

 

[satanatos]

I am only getting what I really like - as combination of a character and the figure itself. I may love a char, but if the fig is mediocre, I will not buy it at all. In addition, I want my collection to have figures that remind me of the movies/anime I have seen when I was a kid/teen mostly. So that would be the Mask, Robocop, Indy, Luke, Vader and Terminator. Between those I have OPM Saitama and Garou, Naruto and plan to get Kakashi. Adding Billy Butcher and Homelander as I really like the show. Gandalf the Grey for the wifey as she loves LOTR, which may make me to order InArt's Aragorn if it proves to be good and Legolas (her fav char). So at that point I will be done and will only get the occasional fig or just settle with what I have.

 

[Rondesmo]

It looks like some people here have cited finances being a primary incentive to start disengaging from the hobby--but do people in that situation tend to return to the hobby once you're better situated or do you discover a renewed sense of "freedom" from this hobby's addictive tendencies altogether when that happens? And for the latter, is there something else that you have now to fill the hole, or is it still a financial reason which primarily drives the decision to keep away from the hobby?

personally, and even if it is true that the Hobby has become much more expensive, it is as much the prices charged as this feeling of overflow that decided me to start reducing my collection.
after ten years in this hobby, I felt like I had too many things, bought too much, too many boxes, and finally this feeling of satiety like after a too hearty meal.
I've strayed in too many directions, too many franchises, and too many impulse buys to just dress up and spruce up what I started with.
but ultimately, once the decision has been made, sorting is quite easy to do. I haven't regretted any item I've sold so far.
and the fact of seeing these boxes and cartons leave rather gave me a feeling of freedom and well-being.
as I have already said before, it is as if I were beginning a kind of positive decline and happy sobriety after a cycle of buying fever.
I always admire those who manage to limit themselves to a single franchise. this is perhaps the secret of a clean and healthy collection.
I keep the liberty of two-three last grails and will now focus on presentation and care rather than quantity. I feel lucky and privileged to have been able to offer myself the majority of the grails that I wanted in a shooting window where the prices were much lower.
I already feel a bit like a future retiree from the hobby and that doesn't bother me, on the contrary...

 

[a-dev]

Much as I've come to admire other people's clean, minimalist collections I still (currently) want to keep too much of what I have for me to have such a collection myself. Best I could do is get rid of the stuff I definitely want to get rid of out of the attic to create the space up there that I can maybe rotate stuff in and out of display like I've read some people do.

 

[Rondesmo]

And don't underestimate the influence of FB and Youtube which were still in their infancy when I bought my first items over fifteen years ago.
today the guys show delirious collections with an impressive number of objects and everyone wants to do like them, even if it means going into debt and risking a technical knockout financially speaking, especially for newcomers to the hobby.
and in the end everyone ends up with the same collection or almost.
it's also what prompted me to sell my SW Hasbro helmets. Besides the fact that the brand is synonymous with toys for me, seeing them everywhere in other people's posts and photos made me tired of them

 

[omegaglory1]

I have a pretty small collection after just two small years in this hobby, but I don't personally feel very addicted to it. Having limited space, a cat who likes to try to eat plastic, and being uninterested in collecting anything having to do with Star Wars and Marvel might certainly contribute to that. However, I feel like I am a bit strange in that I really don't like displaying anything in my small collection. Aside from one figure I keep on a shelf, the rest have been opened, inspected, then promptly shoved back into their box and kept in the back of a closet. The idea of having something is intrinsically more fun to me than ever actually looking at what I already have, but this has never seemed to bother me or cause me to buy more to make up for anything.

To preface, I know this sub isn't necessarily a help line, or an area where the hypothetical psychology of collecting needs to be brought up, but has anyone who anticipates downsizing their collection, or in general people who want to start buying less, tried hiding away the majority of their collection to only display a select few at a time? While some people might find it more convincing to buy more things when your theoretical self is not being constantly reminded of what you already have, I am curious whether forcing prioritisation on a limited portion of a collection could help reduce the idea that more is needed when you're limited on what you can interact with.

It looks like some people here have cited finances being a primary incentive to start disengaging from the hobby--but do people in that situation tend to return to the hobby once you're better situated or do you discover a renewed sense of "freedom" from this hobby's addictive tendencies altogether when that happens? And for the latter, is there something else that you have now to fill the hole, or is it still a financial reason which primarily drives the decision to keep away from the hobby?

For me, it wasn’t finance but realising I had too much stuff in my life Boxes and boxes of comics and shelves of books I had read once or intended to read (book sales…). As well as that, a mixture of intense personal issues and lack of time meant I got to a stage where I wasn’t enjoying many of my hobbies and interests. It was almost like experiencing burnout.

These days, I practice a more minimalist lifestyle and I’m more mindful of what I buy and bring into my home. My book collection only includes coffee table type volumes and my most sentimental books, most new books being on a kindle. I sold off my entire Nikon camera and lens collecton, switching over to a more compact Fujifilm camera. Clothes consist of only the things I actually wear, most redundant or seldom worn items having been disposed of. I took a good look at my twenty or so figures, deciding to part with those I bought on impulse or because of the hype. I kept my favourites (including my Hot Toys T2 figures and a few Medicom figures) and have occasionally added new figures, always mindful of buying on impulse

I’m of the same mindset when it comes to limiting what I display. It also helps me appreciate my small collection, as I rotate what I display every few weeks.

 

[JMT1979]

For me, it wasn’t finance but realising I had too much stuff in my life Boxes and boxes of comics and shelves of books I had read once or intended to read (book sales…). As well as that, a mixture of intense personal issues and lack of time meant I got to a stage where I wasn’t enjoying many of my hobbies and interests. It was almost like experiencing burnout.

These days, I practice a more minimalist lifestyle and I’m more mindful of what I buy and bring into my home. My book collection only includes coffee table type volumes and my most sentimental books, most new books being on a kindle. I sold off my entire Nikon camera and lens collecton, switching over to a more compact Fujifilm camera. Clothes consist of only the things I actually wear, most redundant or seldom worn items having been disposed of. I took a good look at my twenty or so figures, deciding to part with those I bought on impulse or because of the hype. I kept my favourites (including my Hot Toys T2 figures and a few Medicom figures) and have occasionally added new figures, always mindful of buying on impulse

I’m of the same mindset when it comes to limiting what I display. It also helps me appreciate my small collection, as I rotate what I display every few weeks.

I'm the same, where finances aren't an issue, it's more that I just don't want too much stuff, so focus on the figures of my favourite characters. I also want my full collection to be on display (one day) and anything more than that has been sold off.

With books, I often find that I can have the physical book delivered to me for cheaper than buying the eBook, which quite frankly is ridiculous. Once read I pass it on to my dad or to charity.

With clothes, I have a limited wardrobe of classic staples that are high quality that will last. My watch, jackets, coats and footwear all should theoretically last for decades.

I can go on and on about this, but I'll stop here!

 

[ZE_501]

These days, I practice a more minimalist lifestyle and I’m more mindful of what I buy and bring into my home.

A lot of people think "minimalism" is one-note and Spartan, but there are many ways to do it based on your situation (kids, no kids, etc.) and what you genuinely care about. I do think most people in North America (after a certain income threshold is reached) have just too much of most things.

For myself I've gone through cycles of very stark minimalism to what I'm doing now, which is definitely a little more comfortable and layered but still driven by a sense of mindful "essential-ism" --- do I love this, do I use this, and always in the back of my mind -- "Is this too much?". It goes well beyond collectibles for me.

The general public perception is all over the place. Some of what gets touted as "minimalism" on social media is:

(a) Almost impossible without substantial wealth
(b) Blandly curated imitations of some beige Platonic ideal cribbed from popular (and tunnel-visioned) notions of Scandinavia or Japan.

As far as collectibles go, rule no. 1 is sheer love, rule no. 2 is no compromise. That'll make you pass on any number of items.

 

[ZE_501]

With clothes, I have a limited wardrobe of classic staples that are high quality that will last. My watch, jackets, coats and footwear all should theoretically last for decades.

Same. I have coats still going after 12 years or so because I spent some money on them. As a runner I will destroy the shoes I train in, but have a couple of pairs of leather shoes I spent *quite* a bit of money on that will last for a lifetime if I take care of them and are of the kind that can be repaired or re-soled.

I'm also well-aware that I'm in a position of privilege to be able to afford to do that. Telling someone who's just hanging on to go spend $$$ on shoes is of course unrealistic; but we're on a forum where people spend $400 a pop on action dolls so it's a conversation that remains in context.

 

[Nagoya]

Interesting perspectives! I never really thought about how a collecting mentality for something specific may tie directly into other items we buy as general consumers. Is there really that fine of a line between making excuses for collecting one type of product and outright hoarding?

It’s probably ideal to treat every purchase made, aside from essentials, like you’re curating an eventual, minimalistic collection that doesn’t really benefit from constant expansion. Maybe using that strategy for daily or weekly purchases is part of the key to beating collecting mentality so it doesn’t bleed into other areas.

Figures be damned, I’m so glad this isn’t a forum for shoes because I couldn’t even pretend to not be addicted to my purchases. Probably time to actually practice on what I just wrote.

 

[Bo Shrek]

Easiest way to beat collecting Hot Toys is to have a look at their upcoming and preorder line-up. The true definition of boring.

 

[omegaglory1]

Interesting perspectives! I never really thought about how a collecting mentality for something specific may tie directly into other items we buy as general consumers. Is there really that fine of a line between making excuses for collecting one type of product and outright hoarding?

It’s probably ideal to treat every purchase made, aside from essentials, like you’re curating an eventual, minimalistic collection that doesn’t really benefit from constant expansion. Maybe using that strategy for daily or weekly purchases is part of the key to beating collecting mentality so it doesn’t bleed into other areas.

Figures be damned, I’m so glad this isn’t a forum for shoes because I couldn’t even pretend to not be addicted to my purchases. Probably time to actually practice on what I just wrote.

The line between collecting and hoarding really is a fine one! I found myself buying books faster than I would read them, buying coffee table books became more like collecting rather than buying to read. Same with comics/graphic novels.

My collection of figures is at a stage where I don't feel the need to expand it. I started collecting before Hot Toys went into over drive with Star Wars, Marvel and DC. So, my current collection consists of the Hot Toys T2 T800 and T2 T1000, Medicom Skyward Sword Link, Medicom Boba Fett, Hot Toys IG-11 and Gametoys Cloud. Unless Hot Toys start making some more obscure or unusual licenses, I don't see it expanding by much except for a few pre-orders due next year.

ZE_501 makes a good point about minimalism. It doesn't have to be about having a home that's spartan, but about having a living space where our belongings don't own us. It's about avoiding the impulse to constantly accumulate things, instead being more mindful of what we do buy and making the most of them. I've found having a more minimalist home has also resulted in a less stressful life. Having less stuff has meant I don't have to think about it.

 

[Patriot666]

So many quotes from Fight Club come to mind.