As a long-time collector of dolls, books, and antiques, I can tell you that part of being a successful collector is knowing where to look for things you collect.

For instance, the vast majority of my dolls and books were purchased on eBay.  The way eBay is set up, it is easy to get a good deal on collectibles, since auction prices typically start low, and bidders usually don’t want to pay top dollar.  Knowing where to look within eBay is also important — I’ve gotten many a good deal by searching in the wrong categories.

You should also never underestimate the ability to find things in odd places.  For instance, one member of an email forum I belong to reported finding a couple of copies of a very valuable, very sought after book at Goodwill — and how many people in that group think to check Goodwill for treasures like that?

Another possibility that is often overlooked is finding stuff at pawn shops.  For instance, many pawn shops buy and sell gold and silver jewelry.  Often when people need money they will sell gold for cash.  You can get a pretty good price buying jewelry at a pawn shop, too; it all depends on the current value of gold for cash.

Collecting is really all about the fun you can have looking for items to add to your collection — and trying to find especially good deals!

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