Memorabilia Collections

There many people who consider themselves collectors, but they just don’t know how to approach the home decorating. You will want to keep in mind that there are a lot of people who will collect movie themed items or they will have a collection of some sort.

Many people will collect beanie babies or even Snow babies, however, you will want to think about a way that you can incorporate your collectibles, but not junk up the place.

First, you will need to make sure that you keep yourself organized. You should never collect more than one or two items. This means that you can’t have a hundred different collections, but you will need to consider having some home collectibles that are easily blended into a home.

This means that you might want to get a display case for some of your collectibles and you will want to think about ways that you can show off the collection to others, but also not clutter the home. You will find that the solution to most people’s problems is the curio cabinet. This is a great way to place your knickknacks on display, but not ruin the integrity of the home.

Keep in mind that there are a lot of ways that you can allow the collection to grow and keep your home looking good too, however, you will find that there will come a time where enough is enough and you are going to have to stop the collection.

You may want to take the opportunity to sell some of your least favorites or less valued items of the collection and then proceed to purchase more and more of your favorite pieces that come out.

However, you may have to sell before the value of what you purchased because you may mean more to you then what it does to someone else.

When it comes to trying to keep your home looking good and your collections in order, you will need to know your limits in space and learn how to find a good curio cabinet that will not cost a lot of money so that you can put your collection in a order fashion and neatly display them.

Collections offer hold people back from having a home of their dreams, however, if you learn to control the collection and not allow the collection to rule you, then you’ll be able to use the collections in the design of your home and not have clutter.

Wondering what to give your child on his next birthday? Give him a gatefold spread that can accommodate up to 50 coins. He may not appreciate the coins, but telling him stories about the coin and how it was made can spark his interest. For each birthday give him the coins minted that year. His collection will grow and so will his interest and by that time, he will be an accomplished numismatist.

History Lessons and Saving Money

The ideal age to start a child on a coin collecting hobby is at six years old. Imagine the number of coins he can amass when he reaches adulthood! But there’s more than just introducing him to coin collecting. You can use this exercise to teach him how to save his pennies in a coin bank plus pique his interest in the country’s history when you start with local coins.

Since you may not have those very old and valuable coins dating back to the 1800s, get a book on coin collecting and show him the pictures of the coins. Add a story or two depicting the era that’ll make any child sit up and listen. Stories add value to the coin collecting hobby and expect your child to be an expert in historical epochs.

If someone gives your child a bag of coins, take out each coin and sort them. Teach your child how to do the sorting. As you go along, tell him a little history on each coin. Probably the bag of coins will yield recent mints so it won’t be hard for you to tell the coin’s story.

If you have saved all the coins circulating in the year of your child’s birth, that would be the best introduction to a lifelong of coin collecting for your child. Help him along with the collection. Learn the tricks yourself so you can teach your child how to collect, clean, and store the coins.

Starting the Hobby

For starters, get magazines on coin collecting, a pair of white gloves, magnifying glasses, and coin albums or folders. Start scouting for coins and learn all about the discontinued coins like the 1965 quarters, dimes, and half-dollars. Subscribe to coin collecting magazines and check out the websites on coin collecting. You’ll be amazed at the wealth of information you can collect and pass on to your child.

Using a magnifying glass to see the fine lines and the details of a coin is an exciting experience for a child. Make sure you are ready to give the information your child may need. Or if you don’t know the answer, you can make it your project to find out online.

Because this is just a starting point for you and your child, don’t buy expensive coins and if you find some dirty old coins, don’t attempt to clean it. Find out its composition and the appropriate way to clean it. You can get help from several websites specializing in coin collection.

Tips for Coin Hunting

This is not referring to a treasure hunt. You can do your hunting online. However, coin collecting is an expensive hobby if you want the rarer and more prized coins. In the meantime, make do with what is available and always get your hands on new mints. Tell your friends you’re helping your child start a coin collecting hobby but be prepared for the avalanche of coins that will start pouring in.

In the future, when he coin collecting bug bites you real hard, you’ll be running after a metal detector to clean out your yard and your grandfather’s house. The hobby meant for your child will be yours too.

The hobby like coins Collecting is a hobby can be pursued by everyone and anyone who is interested. But when it comes to the hobby of collecting quarters it is believed that this particular hobby is currently pursued by about one hundred six million Americans. Women, men, and children of all age groups likes collecting quarters.

It is really amazing, isn’t it? But then what is so unique about these quarters that lakhs of Americans seem to go so “crazy” about? This is because of the fact that these quarters can be easily found anywhere and the cost of these collectible coins are also not too much and thus they are very affordable.

So lets see the steps one should follow to start collecting these quarters which are in high demand.

1. For the ones who has budget in mind

If the budget is the constraint for the quarter collector then they can be got as change from various purchases. This is a very easy method of collecting the quarters. If the collector is really serious in his or her hobby then a large number of these coins can be collected from the coin dealers which can be easily found. Also it should be remembered to collect the coin which are no longer circulated.

2. The best way to store these quarters

Those of you who have just started to collect these quarters can start collecting these in a bowl or large glass jar. This is just as fine as anything. Those who are serious in their hobby can also collect these quarters in a special storage device made for these coins. These special device can be obtained from the shops or the near by coin dealers.

3. How to make this hobby of coin collecting more interesting and fun filled?

Children are perfectly suited to start this hobby of collecting the quarters or coin collecting. The excitement which is generally generated when you have a new quarter in your pocket is amazing. These quarters can also be used as a source of learning. The quarters are unique and very inexpensive way to know about the history which a child can learn. When a new coin enters a child pocket it can make him interested in knowing more about the coin like the place of the coin’s issuance. Thus a child can learn while still having fun.

Hobbies: Coin Collecting

Basic Coin Collecting Strategy

By Robert L Taylor, JD

Collecting coins is a longer term goal, however, the happiness of pursuit is always more important than the rapid completion of a set of coins. The inherent enjoyment is always found in the process of collecting, and fulfillment is found in its completion. Once fulfilled, a new goal, set quickly, will begin a new road towards further pursuits of happiness.

A solid collection will always have a solid value, at any level or grade. Higher grades, of course, will generate higher returns and higher appreciation. The higher grades will require longer term goals, a greater amount of money, and higher levels of frustration and more patience. For that reason, it is best to collect at a gradual or graduating rate, acquiring graded coins in steps, until your “goal coin” is finally acquired for your collection. These gradual steps will offer continuous levels of enjoyment, but with more positive progress and happier dispositions.

If collecting a set of Sacagawea dollars, one will experience difficulties in acquiring the Mint States more frequently than in collecting Proof coins. Sacagaweas are not unique in this respect; as this difficulty is shared by the majority of coin collecting categories. Probably for reasons of popularity, and greater ease of acquisition, modern proof coins are easier and less time consuming to acquire. For the serious collector, the extra challenge of collecting Mint State coins, modern or rare, will be more invigorating, exciting and rewarding. Now that we have four top grading companies that strictly follow the ANA guidelines (NGC, PCGS, ICG and ANACS), acquiring quality coins with a reliable grade is consistently possible. Availability still depends upon the laws of supply and demand; but this is always the challenge.

Despite the high level of your personal abilities to grade a coin, the reason that we invest in coins that are certified and graded by the “Top Four”, is that it creates a market for us when we want to upgrade and sell. It is not our opinion of the grade that matters, it is what will bring us the greatest return on our investment of time and money. The grade of a coin is everything. Coin prices are based on the grade. Buyers want the highest grade, but more important to them is an accurate and reliable grade. Personal opinions on the grade of a coin are never satisfying. Therefore, a professionally certified and graded coin eliminates the biggest issue in buying and selling a coin.

The Top Four give us stability, reliability and reputation. They also guarantee the grade and authenticity of the coin. This we need to market our coins, when we upgrade and sell. Buying raw coins is always an invitation to get cheated; someone usually loses, and the grade is always in question. Investing in raw coins should be avoided by the average collector, when possible. An alternative is to agree to pay for the cost of grading and the coin, if the grade represented by the Seller (or higher) is the result; if not, the Seller pays for grading.

The added protection from a sealed case – a slab - will greatly inhibit deterioration of the coin from exposure and damage. It will also enhance the maintenance of the coin’s grade and its appreciation. Marketing coins we need to upgrade and sell is enhanced with certified and graded coins, since: 1) there are larger pools of buyers; 2) the issue of grade is eliminated; and, 3) selling at book value and above is far more likely. People don’t mind paying a fair price for a solid coin, but do mind getting cheated for a misrepresented grade.

Don’t hesitate to buy a coin in a grade lower than you hope for or strive to acquire. One must consider that the average collectable coin is constantly appreciating; although not always at a steady or consistent rate. The Laws of Supply and Demand always have a hand in the value or worth of any coin. Having an investment in a coin is preferable to no investment. A savings account earning 3% interest is no investment, and yields no enjoyment.

Stepping up, or improving your coin’s grade, in a graduated process, is far more pleasing because it adds more activity, allows completion of sets (albeit temporary for the actual grade desired), the cost is less or spread out, and makes for continuous progress. The fewer numbers of coins available in the next higher grade, the costs of each upgrade being higher, and putting a higher value on your time, makes the approach of buying only the “goal coin” undesirable. Doing so will degrade your progress, enjoyment and appreciation.

The challenge of graduated acquisition will last longer, adding to the thrill of each new addition. With each higher step up, comes a higher investment in time, your patience, and money. Secondly, the coin you have will be appreciating, while the collector striving for the “goal coin”, may be waiting months and years to find the right coin – with no benefits to him in the mean time. Thirdly, your collection will be growing, and so will your appreciation of what you have. How quickly you can complete your collection is not the goal; it’s the path you take to get there.

Finally, don’t be overly concerned about either getting a bargain, or paying book value or more. The value and worth of your collection will not be greatly affected by either. Time spent getting a bargain price is the single most commonly wasted activity. Your time, not spent in the happiness of pursuit, is wasted. Bidding on 20 different auctions with a goal of getting a bargain price is foolishly applying one’s time.

“Teach us to make the most of our time,

so that we may grow in wisdom.”

- Psalm 90:12

Our time holds a far greater value than each of us wants to admit. It should not be wasted, but spent in positive thoughts and endeavors. It is better to pay book value, avoiding the stress and waste of time, thereby investing your time on more rewarding pursuits.

Enjoy collecting.

Robert L Taylor, JD

Copyright 2008, Robert L Taylor, JD

As a business owner, have you experienced customers who are delinquent in paying their debts to you? Being in business, its difficult not extending credit to customers specially if you are in the wholesale business. But some in the retail & service sectors also extend credit to increase their sales.

Debt collection is a huge problem for business owners today in the Philippines. Most businesses do not have enough resources to give the proper amount of time and effort it takes to properly collect its past due receivables. Debt collections is a very arduous process, and keeping your in-house collection staff motivated to collect from abusive customers is difficult. Collection agencies can help with some of these issues.

Most of the time, the attempts to collect debt consume a lot of time and are very frustrating and emotional. If you find yourself emotional or angry about not getting paid, you might consider using a debt collection agency. Collection agencies and professional companies who’s only function is collecting money.

Most of the debt collectors in the Philippines are on a commission basis, some as high as 50% of the debt recovered. You can find most collection agencies advertised on your local hews paper, some even on street posters.

But what collection procedures will the collections agencies apply to the collection of your accounts? Most collection agency rely on letters plus phone calls and when necessary place your accounts with attorneys for legal action.

For example, credit card companies here in the Philippines usually rely on collection agencies for difficult clients with long overdue accounts and use verbal abuses and threats of legal action and jail time. While I would not like to be the receiving end of a debt collectors phone calls, these type of practice almost always results in the delinquent payer paying some if not all what they owe.

You know what it is like when the kids have time off from school and the weather is playing up. They always sit about moping and saying they are bored, even though they have endless video games and toys at their disposal. What they needs is a past-time that has been around for generations, is cheap and easy to get started in and won’t make much mess for the parents to tidy up. Stamp collecting for kids may not sound like the answer to parent’s dreams but with so many possibilities on offer, this is one hobby that is sure to be a hit.

Stamp collecting for kids is a great hobby because it doesn’t cost a lot of money to get started. Every kid will start with a few stamps. Later the kid can develop their collection based on what he likes. The hobby may look dull and boring but if the kids see the wide variety of stamps the kids will get to like it right away. There are countless stamps featuring their favorite comic book heroes, singers, TV shows and sporting stars which means that stamp collecting for kids can follow on from their existing likes. Stamps are being issued all the time and some of them feature kid’s favorite. The means that they can have a collection without knowing that they are already collecting stamps.

Another great benefit of stamp collecting for kids is what the child buys today can be a great investment for their future. There are a number of investors putting money into stamps to guarantee a return in the future and even on a child’s pocket money, a decent collection built in their youth can provide a return when they are older. It may not be enough to put them through college but it can certainly provide a return to allow them to have some fun when they get there. So stamp collecting for kid can be really fun. And in the future, their stamp collection can bring them money too!

One thing that most parents like about stamp collecting is that it is a hobby that will keep them buzy. It is also a hobby that will teach their kids about value and learning how to take care of their things. The kids may think that they are not learning much in this hobby. However, they may not realized that they are cultivating the responsibility of taking care of a collection. This trait will serve them well in the future. That is one reason why many parents like to see their children to take up stamp collecting. It is even better if they have some friends with the same hobby as it will allow them even more interaction as they can swap and collect together.

Stamp collecting for kids may not be the most exciting hobby in the world. Most kids would rather play video games. However, it is a hobby that will still provide fun, instill reponsibility and allows interaction with other people. This should be a great hobby that all parents should encourage their kids to adopt.

People often find the idea of starting an antique collection daunting. Since there are literally thousands of things to collect, many find it hard to choose what collection to start. Moreover, people are afraid to delve into collecting antiques because they think that it is expensive and a time consuming hobby. Since there are a lot of unscrupulous individuals, there is also a chance that a budding hobbyist might get discouraged after having bought a fake antique or a reproduction for a steep price.

Here are some things to consider when deciding what antique objects to collect:

Determine the reason for starting the collection

The first consideration you need to think about is your reason for collecting. If you just want to start your own collection for your personal satisfaction then you really don’t have to worry too much about the market value of the objects you will be collecting.

However, if you think of your collection as an investment, you may want to surf the Net or shop around for things that many people consider valuable. If you eventually want to earn money from you collection, you must study and research about antiques on the market.

Consider collecting something you like

Even if you are planning to sell your collection afterwards, you still have to choose something that you are interested in. If you don’t know anything about baseball and you’re not interested in the game, then it won’t be fun collecting baseball memorabilia even if they are hot items on the market. However, if you follow what you like, you won’t regret investing time and money in building up your collection.

If you are still confused or clueless as to what objects to collect, you can probably look back to your childhood. Think about what items you desired or wanted badly when you were a kid. Did you like fancy dolls? Were you an avid airplane fanatic? Did you admire the China and other porcelain items in your grandmother’s cupboard? Did you like to read and love books, newspapers, or comic books? Do you love music and records?

After asking yourself these questions, there is a big chance that you will have an epiphany of what you would like to collect. Antique collecting should be enjoyable as much as it is profitable.

Do your research

Collecting antiques is a very demanding hobby. You need to allocate a significant portion of your time every week or month in studying and collecting data about the objects you want to collect. At first, you can surf the Internet for articles and websites on antique collections. This will give you a rough idea of what you are getting yourself into. Moreover, you may even encounter blogs about other people’s experiences when they were starting out. Such information is very important for novice collectors.

Aside from the Internet, books are good sources of information about this type of hobby. You really don’t have to spend a penny in the beginning. Just visit your local library for materials about the things you’re interested in collecting. You can also look at your local bookshop for possible resource materials.

Another way to do your research is by visiting antique shops, galleries and even flea markets. This will help open your mind to what other things can be collected. Toys, books, jewelry and furniture aren’t the only things that can be collected. Bottles, boxes, posters, photographs, and even cameras and other gadgets are also good antique collectibles.

Aside from researching about what to collect, you should also start studying the world of antiques. You have to know how to detect fakes or reproductions before you start your collection because there are many people who are out there just to defraud others. Moreover, you should also know something about pricing, appraising, and the value of antiques. In the antique world, even identical items may have different prices because there are many factors to consider - cracks, chips, condition, marks or signatures.

Find other collectors

Once you have decided what object to collect, it is advisable to find other people who share the same interest. If you are lucky, you might even find organizations or web-based groups that promote your object of interest. You won’t know about the antique world and market alone. You need the help of other collectors, appraisers and aficionados.

Follow the tips above and you will discover what object to collect and how to start your collection.

Collection of sports memorabilia or sports collectibles, antique or modern is restricted by two factors: the money available and the space to be occupied. Once having decided on these basic factors, then it becomes a personal affair. The collectors taste may lead to Basketball Memorabilia, Baseball Memorabilia, NASCAR memorabilia, Golf Memorabilia, Football Memorabilia, Bobble Heads, Diecast Collectibles, Hero Posters, or innumerable other factors. Acquisition of an admired piece may also lead to a determination to get some more of the same, or to find out what the admiration is actually about.

The encyclopedia definition of sports collecting would be like this: “The hobby of sports collecting is about acquiring particular sports items based on a specific sporting interest of the collector. Such sports assortments of sporting things are frequently highly systematic, attractively displayed and carefully cataloged.” Sports collectible (or collectable) maybe defined as a manufactured product designed for people who are interested in collecting them. ‘Sports Memorabilia’ the term is usually referred to items related to sporting that are directly connected to a recent or historical sports personality or sporting event. There are plenty of people who collect these sports memorabilia and collectibles.

The collection varies on the choices of the individual collector; it could be about just about any subject including sports memorabilia & sports collectible. Depth and breadth of the collection may also vary. At times collectors prefer to concentrate on a particular subtopic within the area of interest, for instance Baseball collectibles of the New York Yankee, Football memorabilia of the Dallas Cowboys, Basketball memorabilia of the Los Angeles Lakers, posters of heroes such as Lance Armstrong, NASCAR memorabilia of Tony Stewart, Golf memorabilia of Tiger Woods, Bobble Heads for any sport & Die cast figurines of fire trucks. At times some others have a preference to keep a general collection, collecting any Football memorabilia, Basketball memorabilia, Baseball memorabilia, Golf memorabilia, NASCAR memorabilia, Hero Posters, Die cast collectibles or Bobble Heads.

A collection account is an account sent from a creditor to an outside agency or its own collection agency in order to collect an unpaid debt. After an account is charged off, it usually will go into collections, because they still want to receive the money for the debt. The account will no longer be reported as a charge off, but it will now be reported as a collection account.

Always pay your collection or it could mean no future credit!

It is always better to pay a charge off or collection account rather than to leave it as unpaid. On a credit report there are “paid collections” and “unpaid collections.” When disputing information on your credit report, if you have documentation that you have paid a collection or charge off account, it should be stated on your credit report. Unfortunately, most lenders will reject people for having any type of charge off or collection account on their credit report. But, if the collection account is paid, creditors will see this and it can possibly lead to an increase in your credit score.

Do you have a paid account but it is being reported as a collection account?

Many times accounts are taken care of and paid, but the record is somehow lost or misreported. So what happens next? The account can be reported as unpaid and can go into collections. It could be a utility bill, medical bill, or a similar small balance bill. You have paid this balance but now it is showing on your credit report as a collection and significantly lowering your credit score! Now what? It is your legal right to dispute this inaccurate information. Credit reporting agencies report the information whether it is accurate or not, so it is your job to check your credit report and dispute the misleading information.

How can I dispute/conifrm accuracy of collection accounts on my credit report?

CreditLawGroup.com provides low cost legal representation in disputing inaccurate, incorrect or unverifiable information contained on credit reports from the three major credit bureaus, Equifax®, Experian® and TransUnion® and their affiliates. You can monitor your progress online, as well as speak to your Paralegal whenever needed by phone or email. We have excellent customer service, and are always there to meet your needs!

Antiques and collectibles are two hot categories on eBay. Collectibles by themselves represent billions of dollars in sales every year. This boom has been fueled by an ever-expanding e-commerce market place. No longer confined to only a local interest base, antique and collectible sellers now have a huge opportunity to cash in on their unique finds. And buyers can shop the world for the items they crave. Whether online or offline, buying and selling is the same - namely, people will continue to seek the same type of info and ask the same basic questions.

If antiques and collectibles interest you there are numerous online resources you can refer to in order to better understand the opportunities present in these categories.

Make a Friend out of Your Computer:

Plan on spending some time checking web sites devoted to antiques and collectibles. The bad news is, it takes time to look at all the good ones. The good news is, you’ll not only love checking these sites out but you’ll learn a lot along the way. A good place to start is with ‘The Kovels’ Top Twenty list’ at kovels.com. While you’re there get a free issue of Kovels on Antiques and Collectibles. Google, ‘antiques and collectibles’ to tap into a huge research database.

Visit a Bookstore:

There are a lot of great books on the shelves featuring antiques and collectibles. Your local library may have an assortment of books you can borrow free. Amazon.com offers a large list of popular books you can purchase at reasonable prices, particularly if you shop the used book bin. If you know of others interested in sharing the cost of books you can quickly save a great deal on your purchases. Form a private ‘resource library’ for family and friends to contribute to. And don’t forget magazines such as ‘ANTIQUES & COLLECTING MAGAZINE’ at acmagazine.com.

Check out Forums:

As with anything in life, experience helps. Today you have that experience at hand with a few click of a mouse button. Join as many online forums and groups devoted to antiques and collectibles as you can find. You are sure to find lots of people who share your interests. Try fantiques.com, antiques-collectibles-auction-news.com, forumgalleries.com. Google ‘antiques and collectibles forums’ for more suggestions. And don’t overlook the boards, such as HGTV’s Antiques & Collectibles Message Board.

Attend Shows:

Asking questions at shows will go a long way towards building your knowledge base. Seek out those items that really interest you and ask questions. Pay attention to what is being said around you as well. Here, it pays to be a good listener. Carrying a tape recorder will help you pickup on things you may have missed or to recall those things you’ve heard. Having a cell phone with a built in camera can be a big plus here as well. Check out ‘Google Directory for Antiques/Shows_and_Events/’ for a listing of various events. Many locations publish shows and event news and can easily be found online.

Specialization: Key to focus:

It’s a good idea, when starting out, that you specialize in one or two items that really interest you and that you can happily spend time learning about. The key is not to expend your energy chasing too many antiques or collectibles at once.

Gaining insight in your niche is vitally important. Mostly it takes time and a lot of questions and reading to get a good education. The more you learn about various objects the more you’ll be able to negotiate for the best prices when you buy. Remember that your profit is made when you buy. Selling is something you do to claim that profit. So don’t be afraid to ask questions before you buy. And, knowing your antiques well lets you negotiate the lowest prices. Asking for a discount when buying is to be expected. After all, when you sell your collectibles your buyer will also seek a discount. Plan on this when you buy. There are no “bad” prices, only bad negotiators.

Avoid Reserves When Selling:

You want to avoid reserves in the antique business when you sell. Placing a reserve price on your items is a quick way to lose two-thirds of your potential audience. If you’ve invested a lot in your items you can decide to set a reserve. Just remember that you will be limiting your ability to make a sale. Sometimes this won’t matter, at other times it may. To get a good idea of what your items will sell for look at similar items currently being sold.

Keep Good Records:

It pays to keep good records. Along with quality photos you’ll want some background information to include in the description. Get this at the time you are making the purchase! Don’t wait until you’ve dragged the stuff home before you start asking about the history of the items you’ve bought. Get all the information you can while standing before the seller and TAKE NOTES! You may even want to know who was the previous owner and if it would be possible to contact them to ask a few questions as well. In antiques and collectibles having the right information, the history of each item, can be a major reason why someone is compelled to buy from you rather then from someone else. The more you know, the more knowledgeable you come across.

Assessing Value:

Save having your antiques and collectible items appraised for the most expensive items you buy. Appraisals are expensive and not really necessary on items up to a $1,000. If you must know what it is worth you can check web sites like antiquemystique.com to assess value. Or Google “appraising antiques” for additional web sites.