It used to be enough to me to have a few classics in a plastic storage bin under my bed. Not sure where it happened, but something snapped. I find myself with a collection that is out of control. In an enjoyable way, I'll add. Still, with Christmas coming I'd rather be spending money and shopping energy on other people rather than chasing down doubles of toys I already own so that I "can have one to play with" or "for a custom (that is 29th on my list of things to hammer out)." But I can't seem to cool my jets. So when you feel like you need to step away from the hobby, or at least turn down your intensity, how do you do it?
I stay away from this site. This has easily been the #1 contributor to the size of my collection! "I wasn't going to get this one, but damn that's an awesome picture..."
Easiest way I know of, step back, take a inventory of what you bought in the past 6 - 12 months, add that up. If it scares you, take a break and enjoy what you have already, or do a purge.
Yeah I would say this website seeing all these pictures of upcoming figures and everyone getting different things sometimes you dont want to get behind on all the stuff coming out.
stay off the web would be #1 if i needed to stop. ive been selling a bunch recently to help organize, downsize and fund new acquisitions.
I've found it's helpful to not let myself buy something new unless I see enough things in my collection to pay for it. I've been refining and downsizing my collection for years that way. I don't always do that, but when it comes to big ticket items like Hercules or whatever, I definitely do.
Play around with what I have on the shelves, change displays or sell things that are never on my shelves. Sometimes if a figure I receive is so good I want more of it [repaints, retools, similarly good figures in the same line] or just pose it around forever. Read a comic book\watch a season full of figures you own and then pose them around. That helps a lot and fills you with a sense of fulfillment that you've got most of one of your favourite books\shows. [Seriously, ever since MTMTE 1 I can't not pose alternity bumblebee and MP Rodimus together with a small matrix between them]
I look at how badly I feel that I really need something. If it sn't something that's priority on my list, then it's not getting bought. For me I'm mostly going with Masperpiece lately, so I'm able to keep myself in check because I only want one.
Maybe try to come up with a story for your Classics collection and have each TF you buy somehow fit into your story. That way, you can reduce purchasing random TFs that just end up sitting around. If you have a story, every TF on your shelf has a purpose. Keeping your Autobots and Decepticons evenly matched helps too; Generations Hot Spot vs Universe 2.0 Onslaught, that sort of thing.
play with SDCC Bruticus helps me realize there's really nothing out there i could want more. but other than that, i don't have much of a sense of moderation. which is why i'm glad my parents and grandparents say no most of the time i ask to stop by target or TRU on the way home this also helps
Gotta agree with some of the rest of you guys, stay away from this site! I've been on a 6 month buying binge and now I'm afraid I see a couple 3p combiners comin too...
