You are all correct in one way or another: collecting is a pleasant thing to do in one's spare time (& expensive)...but who's to judge which hobby is superior? It is easy to tear apart any person's past time, if one doesn't see the inherent value in it.
However, all hobbies require a certain dedication, a discipline for classifying, cataloguing, grading, storing, displaying, etc. If nothing else: collecting paper money (currency) takes a great deal of discipline since -yes it does have face value- it can be spent (rather than kept), so in that way I think collecting money is an admirable hobby. We all must be on the same page or we wouldn't be tuning into CPM forum!
The
original idea was a 12-step program to either cure or curb the "addiction."
What I think everyone (tuning into this thread) needs
is to set limits in terms of where they wish to take the hobby. Like when I go to a casino (I bring a $100.00 that's it!), I have spending limits whenever I go to a show, and have really clamped down on my eBay purchases. You gotta set yourself a budget! You cannot reasonably expect to acquire the best collection in the country. There'll always be a "Donald Trump" to show you just how humble your collection is. Go look at any good dealer's paper money stock (Olmstead for example) and while you may salivate-- keep in mind he's been at it for years and its his business.
I suggest to all those who find this hobby "out of control" to start limiting yourself in terms of what you collect. Have a plan (what you will buy and need). Don't just collect because its pretty or buy on impulse. If you get "a good deal" make sure you turn around and sell it, (esp if its a double) and turn that money you made back into your hobby. Common sense is all it takes.
James
