Until you couldn't find another drawer to stuff another tin into, or another shelf, or another garage, it didn't occur to you that you were actually collecting. However, there's collecting mindlessly, and there's determined collecting. That's what we're addressing here. Follow these four steps. And always, think about your natural affinity for the object.
Some people happily collect and trade baseball cards their whole lives.
Focus on an area of special interest. Yes, it's about setting a goal. Preserving your wealth and building a collection of value will mean creating something that is comprehensive. Focus helps you get the most bang for your effort and money. Two dozen random cookie jars are nice, but a collection of a dozen made in the American South between 1890 and 1940 is a focused collection that may depict a range of key styles and represent the era.