My wife says the house is too small for my collection

[schubox]

I knew the talk was coming. I had tried to organize and store my cards in as many conspicuous places as possible. My wife is OK with me collecting cards. We are just running out of room for my hobby. I've got a 3 bedroom house with a 2 year old and one one the way. I don't want to store my cards in open areas where my little one or guests can get to them. My extra room is soon becoming a nursery and play room. My wife will be watching other kids as well so 2 of the 3 rooms will now be taken. Plenty of bigger houses for sale but no one is buying anything much less mine. Plus with 2 little ones I am in no position to buy up right now.

20 years of off and on collecting can add up to a lot of stuff. As I pull things from hiding places here and there and pile together I can't believe all the things I have collected. I have moved a few times since high school so I have been opening boxes that have been sealed since I left my folks house. (I found my kick butt Walter Payton Card collection!)

Dang man! I have 4 options. The garage, the attic, the basement, or get rid of them. Looks like I will be taking my chances in the basement (which is not finished). I'm going to have to invest in some good old storage containers and a dehumidifier.

Anyone running out of room for their collection or have luck storing in the basement?

-Melancholy in Chicago

[Rockhound]

I guess it's time to get rid of the wife!

[brewcrew82]

I guess it's time to get rid of the wife!

I was going to suggest buying a larger house.

[schubox]

I guess it's time to get rid of the wife!

That would free up a ton of space and money! She's a keeper though! She is a Brewer fan. I had been collecting some Brewer stuff for her. Maybe that will have to start going... Or i could burn all the Cubs stuff i have! Maybe this will work out after all.

[MadHatter]

Sounds extremely similar to my situation. But I do NOT store my cards in the basement. Too damp! I worked out an agreement with my wife... I get one closet in the upstairs hall. Anything I can fit in there I can keep.

My daughter is 2, and doesn't care for that door - so far she hasn't gotten into the card collection. It's only a matter of time of course....

[schubox]

My daughter is 2, and doesn't care for that door - so far she hasn't gotten into the card collection. It's only a matter of time of course....

We had the family over for an event and my 2 year old and her cousins decided to play hide and go seek. Yep they found my stash. I like the upstairs closet idea. I am even thinking about building a bed frame that is raised a bit to store stuff underneath. Oh well we'll see.

[AutographCollector]

Anyone running out of room for their collection or have luck storing in the basement?

When I left home to enlist in the Navy back in 94' ALL of my signed baseball cards, postcards, etc, etc were in boxes in the downstairs rec room. 8 yrs later I went home after I left the service and all of them still look mint, don't stick to the plastics etc ,etc. And yes, my dad had a dehumidifier down there too. So yes, my stuff survived 8 long yrs.

[Zito75]

Anyone running out of room for their collection or have luck storing in the basement?

What's a basement??? Here in AZ we don't have them!

[icee82]

You have a dilemma and you only have three choices from a legal standpoint.

1) Designate the wife for assignment--However you must be prepared to pay out the rest of her contract. Unfortunately she would be entitled to half of your collection so this is the least attractive of all of the options.

2) Begin to "downgrade" your collection. Perhaps you could give these cards to charity. I am a very charitable person. This would definitely be the most attractive option because you will not be spending any money so therefore you are actually saving money. You could also file it on your taxes as a charitable contribution. Another possibility would be a yard sale.

3) This seems to be the most plausible solution...purchase a larger home. With the declining market rates, you should be able to purchase a rather nice home with a "sports room".

I will be anxiously awaiting your response to these suggestions.

[Mike D.]

I'd think attic would be better than basement...dryer and harder to get to for children, guests, etc.

I've been collecting off an on for about the same 20 years you have, and have a smaller house than yours (1200 sq feet)....and I'm getting married this summer and figure a kid or two will follow pretty closely. My "office" which I'm typing this from right now, and where I keep my cards, will probably be a nursury this time next year.

The one thing I've tried to focus on the last few years is consolidating my collection. Focus on what I like, try to trade off the rest. I've been actively making trading buddies on this site, and it's been great. People collect all kinds of stuff....teams, certain players, sets, autographs, etc. I've made a ton of trades of 500 or so cards of someone's team for 1-5 "good" cards I want for my collection. Everyone ends up happy, and I get rid of 500 cards I don't care about and get a few I do. It's been great, and despite the fact that I've continued buying cards, my collection has actually gotten SMALLER over the last couple of years. Smaller, but better!

Anyway, good luck with your collecting dilema, and with the family!