Why do you collect things?

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I had collected things in the past because I liked them. I liked keychains, TY beanies, so I collected those. Now what stops me from collecting is my apartment. I don't have lot of room so I can't collect. I wish I could. I have collected old Nintendo Power and only need a few more issues to complete it but I don't do new Nintendo Power. I have also collected Lite Brite refills but I don't have room for every single one and I collected Spokane stuff but had to get rid of it because I had no room. With the baby coming, I packed it and then got rid of it. I still have my Benny & Joon stuff. And I sure don't want to fill my apartment up with stuff I collect by putting up shelves all over, it be crowded and ugly.

I still have stuff in Montana and I sometimes wish I didn't bring back my TY Beanies. I might have to pack those and get rid of them.

So it's my apartment and money that keeps me from collecting.

I collect things that pertain to my special interests, because they make me happy. I had to stop collecting busses two years ago, because I was running out of room and they all look the same, anyways. I've gone back to collecting Kinks merchandise like I did when I was working full time. The only thing is that I might get something once evey three months, instead of every month. I have enough lava lamps. Three is enough for my small apartment. Once I run out of space on my book shelf and under my TV, I'll stop collecting Kinks stuff.

I collect things related to Alice in Wonderland. I collect because I like being surrounded by objects related to my special interests. They all have special meaning to me, and they each have their purpose. For example, I cuddle my plushies when I'm feeling anxious, I hold and kiss my figurines as a symbol of how much I love the characters they represent, I use my coinpurse to hold money and small items and I wear my necklace as a subtle way to show that I'm a fan.

A woman after my own heart

I've decided to photograph some of my books for dunbot's thread, I think they are beautiful, and books give me so much.

I find it hard to let them go, even ones I'll probably never read again. I've been a bit ruthless thought recently and got rid of quite a lot.

I collect things related to primates, whenever I go shopping I buy a new item or 2 or maybe a book.
I collect them because well, I like primates! And I want to see how large I can make my collection.

I'm a recovering bibliophile. I finally decided that I was only going to keep the books that I will knowingly read again or use as a reference. I decreased my stash by 80%. Garage sales, church donation, and freecycle... they all went away. Ironically, admitting to being a recovering bibliophile is what won me a contest for a free copy of a memoir written by a Child of a Hoarder. It was a fantastic book. I should pass it on but it's a signed copy and... and... well... you can't give away a signed book.

we have thousands of books in the house, but they are mostly not mine. husband is a collector of certain types of books and he used to have an online bookstore. he hoards books i suppose lol

I move too much to hoard books.

Yes, it's a huge pain in the backside when I move and I'll do that soon . From one move to another there's only more of them - I don't feel I can give up many as they are only classic/modern literature and science. Most of my life I worked for publishing houses so I can excuse my interest as being "professional"

But at least they are not a source of clutter, I surely sympathise with you there. I have another small collection but I can keep that one in a box, no trouble there

I have a lot of books (two 2 * 1.5 meter bookshelves full), and I have a few random things. I'm buying a Horseshoe Crab shell, and a Trilobite, for no particular reason

TRILOBITES! i have one too.

Firstly, I don't get off on clutter or having stuff just for the sake of having it, and am prepared to get rid of stuff rather than let it make me unhappy.
However I collect books and CD's as opportunity allows because I read a lot and enjoy music.
I do tend to have a stock of food that some people would find odd, this is derivative of a few 'issues' I have with food security that have resulted from my generally appocalyptic world view and having spent a reasonable amount of time homeless.

peace j

That's pretty cool of both of you!

Because I like things.

I don't really get a lot of collecting- some of it is definitely hoarding, I guess. My father refuses to get rid of any manuals, even if he doesn't own the product anymore. Back in my parents house, the crawlspace was full of boxes of useless manuals, magazines, etc, that he just won't get rid of. I don't think I've ever been big on collecting things. I tend to go through my possessions at least once a year and throw tons of stuff out or donate it. But I guess I do collect books, but I reread most of them, or at least parts. I am willing to part with books though and I tend to get rid of some by donating to libraries or other places when I start running out of space. I also used to collect guitars, but I've never really been rich so that didn't get past 10 guitars (and nothing really that expensive), and I sold off 8 of them before I moved out, along with almost all the equipment I had collected over the years, except for an amp and a multi-effects pedal.
But I know how you feel about clutter, it drives me insane, if something isn't functional. I organize my things meticulously. My girlfriend doesn't share that with me, but I have learned that it isn't really worth getting stressed over. If I lived alone, I doubt any surface of my apartment would have anything on it that didn't serve some purpose- otherwise, absolutely bare. Easier to dust that way, too

dust = dirty clutter = must not stand