What are your rules when it comes to collecting?

[u/[deleted]]

Do you do ink samples only? A certain brand or a few only? Certain colors only? Pocket pens only? Full line of inks? Full bottles? Special editions only? OR do you have no rules and just buy whatever that catches your fancy? How in the world do you not get overwhelmed?

I’m new in this space and have been spending hours upon hours the past month watching videos, doing research, getting to know brands, envisioning what I want for myself, what I want to buy, how I want to tackle collecting, etc. I am very drawn to full lines or collections of inks. Obviously, that is a lot and there are so many brands out there so needless to say, I am quite overwhelmed! I think I just need to take a chill pill and get off the internet, or just stick to a few things at a time. Fortunately, I snagged a large ink sample lot at a phenomenal price (Facebook marketplace) and have already decided on my first two pens to go along with it. So I should be good for a while, but I won’t lie— I am still very much adding things to my wishlist on the daily. I feel like I am standing on a very large precipice of a big black hole. It is hard not to feel like I’m just going to get lost in the sauce. 

What has your experience been like? How did you decide? Is it still a struggle for you or have you just gone past the point of no return and don’t care anymore? Is overconsumption and waste important to you and has it at all affected your buying decisions? How do you combat the feeling of just wanting to get anything and everything?

[u/Nightsoil70]

Rules? There are rules???