How To Go Broke As A Stamp Collector

Just try to buy stuff from 3 different auction houses just before Christmas .

Indeed!

I only have one auction left for 2022 and am looking forward to having some downtime after that.

It's been a big year.

Floortrader - Your money is doing much more for the economy than the PPP program has. AND there is no rampant fraud! (That we know of)

BOB ----- I plan to change my buying for the next year , plan to go after better complete sets . My collection is good with complete sets but now I like to go after the BETTER and older complete sets .
I was up in Chicago for the holiday and stopped to talk to a friend who is a dealer at the Chicago Stamp Show . .He mention what he would like to see in a decent Worldwide Collection and what gets people's attention .

Wow, someone still uses checks!

How To Go Broke As A Stamp Collector

Step 1 - Be a stamp collector

EOT

Went to my local brouse today and came out $300 lighter.

Really. We virtually never use them. We had to order a box of checks this year because we'd finally gone through the box we got 14 years ago.

I also only have one auction left for the year, but it's probably going to be a painful one. Gotta get the rare ones when they poke their heads up.

Very true PostmasterGS. When opportunities present themselves........

I used to talk to our local stamp shop owners about what they would like to see.. One said they would just once like to walk into a room filled with bookcases of Scott specialty albums... Mostly filled of course. Complete sets.. 1933 Falkland Islands Scott 65-76 would be nice.

It seems that everybody charges for just about any other method.. I pay by check for that reason.



As to the original question: How To Go Broke As A Stamp Collector

Yes. (it's an expensive hobby)

"There is no such thing as an adult. They are just older children with bigger, more complex, and expensive toys." Philately is no different than any other advocation. The trick is to manage your advocation, whatever it might be, within the constraints of you personal time and financial budgets. The prime objective of any advocation is to enjoy the time you spend perusing it.

I would like to know the source of this quote, as the word advocation is used incorrectly. The word for a hobby or pursuit is avocation.

I do advocate for the avocation of philately...



John

Every time I talk to a friend that owns a boat it makes me feel like my stamp collecting purchases are an exercise in fiscal restraint.

And then there's "lets try breeding racehorses", an unhappy decision taken by a friend.