It all started very innocently many years ago with a few porcelain dolls but has become a logistical nightmare over time. My house is not big enough to adequately display and enjoy all of my collections. And frankly, my interests have changed dramatically over the years. A lot of the stuff packed in boxes in the storage room and in cupboards all over the house are not things that have any appeal to me anymore.So, here is the dilemma...I've 'invested' so much money in this stuff!! I don't even want to begin to calculate how much. Storing it, and moving it around, and thinking about it feels more like a burden, a heavy weight on my shoulders at this point. What do I do now?
The secondary market for these dolls, and Hallmark ornaments and the antique glassware is flat. I'd be lucky to get back what I originally paid for most of these items, that's if I could find a buyer at all.
Books can always be donated to a library, school or daycare centre. I can live with that, I guess. These institutions are grateful for any donations since their budgets often don't have room for many new books. I have a folder full of lovely thank you letters to show for my generosity. *smile*
Some of the collector Barbie dolls have been donated to charity auctions in the past couple of years and I do get a charitable donation receipt for tax purposes. That gives me a bit of a benefit at the end of the year, I suppose.It just kills me to see it all go out the door for little or no return when my original outlay of money was so much!! *big sigh* Surely, I can't be the only person who has fallen into the 'collector trap'. I do admit to feeling very isolated and foolish though.
I know that have to stop wallowing in self-pity here and make some harsh decisions in the next few weeks and months. A lot of it has to go out the door, there's no denying that fact. It's not an easy task ahead of me though and not one that I'm looking forward to.
Wish me luck! I'm going to need it.
What area do you intend to tackle this week? What do you think you will find? More importantly, what will you do with it?
I have a doll collection too. My parents toured Europe when I was a small child and bought me a doll in each country that that they visited. They are still in their original boxes, and I don't have any daughters or granddaughters to pass them on to. I checked the prices one could get on Ebay, and decided not to bother. You're right. Nobody really wants such things anymore. Good luck, and do let me know what you end up doing with them as it might point me in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteMy granddaughter NEVER liked dolls, even as a small child. They won't be going to her in the future. The 'limited editions' ended up being not so limited at all, so most of my collector dolls could not even maintain their original value. The secondary market is flooded with them.
DeleteThe thing with collectibles, is that between ebay and the economy, some items are no longer rare. For example, records used to be very rare and now you can find at least 5 records of any band you can think of on ebay. This dramatically reduces the price you can get.
ReplyDeleteI would try not to feel too bad about the money. You enjoyed them and now will pass them on too another, who will enjoy them. They were worth the price when you paid it, right? I know it is hard, I will be making these decisions soon, as I am relocating for employment. I graduated from college last semester and my area is considered depressed and employment is difficult to find.
I will be working on cleaning out the basement and packing up things I don't use very often, in anticipation of moving. I will not have much time to move once I find a job, so I am pre-packing.
You're right, I did enjoy them at the time and for a while. It's the 'passing them on to another' part that is hard. I'm working myself up to it though. *smile*
DeleteI do love dolls. But I rely on being allowed to play with my daughter's collection to satisfy my need! (Although I have got 1 collector's Barbie hidden away and a gorgeous sugar-skull doll that is only for me to touch).
ReplyDeleteMy most loved collection is my rocks, and it is fairly small on the grand scale of things but it is currently still living in England with my Dad because I am worried that customs may decide to refuse entry on somehow destroy my much loved pebbles if I try to transport them to my new home in Australia. A completely opposing dilemma to yours Bonnie!
Sorry for not doing a post this week. I actually did do a big de-clutter, and took piccies, but my Daughter's 5th birthday took precedence this week.
You can share your de-clutter photos with us next week. I hope your daughter had a fabulous birthday!
DeleteYou enjoyed your collections over the years, and that is the value you got out of them. Think of it like a good meal at a fancy restaurant. You enjoyed it, but not it's gone. The biggest gift you can give yourself now is to pass it on even if only to a thrift store. Think of someone finding such a treasure at the thrift store; you are giving them that gift and giving yourself the gift of removing a burden from your life
ReplyDeleteVery wise words, Ann. Thank you. That perspective will help me make the difficult choices that have to be made.
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