Collections are also great conversation starters and a great way to remember the occasion or event that brought each piece into your home. Was it a gift from someone special? Did you buy it to reward yourself for a job well done? Did you find it on an excursion with a dear friend? The memories are what make each piece important.

When I was a child, I remember collecting stamps and coins. It was fun and educational and a popular hobby. Some people collected match book covers from the different places they visited. I remember my Mom collected elephants and the trunks had to be raised for good luck. My brother collected baseball cards and wishes he still had them today. All of these are still popular collectibles, but today, there is so much more.

Collecting has become such a popular hobby and there are so many different collectibles to choose from that the options are virtually limitless. Over the years, I have had many collections but space limitations have forced me to concentrate on my two favorite. I now collect angels and treasures from the sea (seashells, coral, sea glass etc) and love finding new ways to display them to complement my decor. There are so many other options. Dishes, pitchers, cups and saucers, decorative boxes, pottery, paintings, posters, prints, dolls, quilts, books, tableclothes, antique toys, antique furniture, baskets, candy dishes, salt and pepper shakers, crystals, any type of figurine you can imagine - the list goes on and on. The point is, that you are sure to stumble on something that you love, that you just have to have, and there you go, you've started a collection.

There are even collectibles especially for children: from dolls, to stuffed animals to action figures. Some interact with web sites on the internet, allowing a safe online environment for kids to test their surfing skills. Some, like dolls of foreign countries, give kids an international learning experience. Just about any toy or treasure can be the start of a collection that can become a fun and educational hobby.

On vacations, for example, instead of buying cheap souvenirs, kids can add an item to their collection that also ties into the vacation and makes the memory last. You can allocate part of their room for them to display their treasures or even use their collection as the theme for decorating their entire bedroom. It will truly be their own personal space.

Whatever your interests, whatever your budget, or your space limitations there is a collectible out there that will enrich your life and help you tame your inner pack rat!