70 Things to Collect for a New and Exciting Challenge

Sharing is caring!

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, I may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Learn more

Are you looking to get into collecting? These awesome things to collect are proof that you really can collect anything, as long as you find it interesting and exciting. I think there are few greater thrills than tracking down the latest release of an item or finding a buried treasure in the thrift shop, right?

Not sure what you could start collecting? Here are plenty of ideas to get you started on your collecting adventure.

Things to Collect

Want to start multiple collections? Get my list for free using the download link at the end, and get collecting!


Fun

Things to collect list.

Comic Books

Comic books have always been a top hobby for many avid readers, but thanks to the boom in superhero movies, they’re more popular than ever. You can choose to just keep up with the latest releases, or you can go looking for those super rare issues. You may not be able to afford a copy of Superman No. 1, but you could get into collecting those rarer, vintage comics that are out there.

Toys

Was there a toy you were into as a kid, that you wish you still had now? It could be GI Joe, Barbie, Matchbox racing cars, Polly Pocket, or anything that brought you joy when you were young. There’s a thriving toy-collecting community online, and there are even special events where you can start picking up all the toys you threw out.

Trading Cards

Trading cards are another fun way to start collecting. They’re super easy to get, and you can get trading cards for almost anything you can think of. That includes new and current properties and vintage cards too. If you buy the vintage cards though, make sure you’re not eating the bubblegum that’s still in the wrapper though!

Art

Head to sites like Etsy, where you can buy prints and original pieces for much less than you’d think. Start a gallery wall in your home to show them all off, and you’ll have décor that no one else has. What can be better than that?

More fun ideas:

  • Monopoly Boards
  • Impossible Jigsaw Puzzles
  • Retro Video Games
  • Lego Sets
  • Model Plane Kits
  • Action Figures

Popular

Funko Pops

Check Price on Amazon

Have you seen those little cuboid boxes, with pop culture figures in them in your local hobby stores? Funko Pops have exploded in popularity over the last few years, and many love them. They’re highly affordable, and their uniform shape and style make them easy to buy and display in your home.

Zippo Lighters

Check Price on Amazon

Zippo lighters have been collected for years by smokers and non-smokers alike. They come in a massive range of colors and styles, so you can easily pick up the ones that are interesting to you.

Sporting Memorabilia

This is a collection that you’ll probably have known a lot of people to have over the years. If you have a favorite team, why not try collecting their memorabilia? That’s not just the new items they release, but the vintage pieces too. 

Christmas Ornaments

So many people collect Christmas ornaments, as they’re such a good way to mark the end of the year. A good way of collecting is to find ornaments that sum up the best events of the past year. For example, picking up an ornament from a place you visited, or one that resembles a pet you got that year, are good options.

In addition, here’s more popular items to collect:

  • Sneakers
  • Band Merchandise
  • Special Edition Board Games
  • Graphic Novels
  • Autographs
  • Movie Posters

Cool

Vinyl Records

Vinyl records have been making a comeback for a while now, and it’s not hard to see why. There’s something to the sound of a record playing that you can’t get with other recording mediums. You can go after the more common releases at thrift stores, flea markets, and more, and you’ll even find bands releasing vinyl in the here and now, so there are lots of places to start. 

Vintage Cars

This is a collection for those with the cash and space to store them. If you love vintage cars and want to collect your own though, that’s something you can do. Many enthusiasts like to buy them and tinker with them, as well as show them off at vintage car shows. 

Vintage Clothing

Vintage clothing has experienced a massive boom, and people love picking up vintage pieces to wear. Not only do they give you unique pieces that you can’t get elsewhere, but you’ll also find lots of pieces that may otherwise have ended up in landfills.

Other cool ideas:

  • Film Cameras
  • Skateboards
  • Craft Beer Labels
  • Sci-Fi Memorabilia
  • Artisan Coffee Beans
  • Guitars
  • Artisanal Jewelry

Valuable

Wine

Ever wanted to be the kind of person who had a wine cellar? You may not have the huge amount of space that you see in the movies, but you can still start picking up bottles of wine as a collector. Some collectors buy wine with the intention of drinking it, while others will use it as an investment and sell it for profit.

Baseball Cards

Who would have thought that baseball cards would have become such a valuable collectors’ item? If you want to start a collection as an investment, but you don’t want it taking up a huge amount of space in your home, then baseball cards are where it’s at.

Autographs

Autographs are another collectible that has been around for as long as celebrities have, and they can go for huge amounts of cash. If you’re someone who likes to attend fan events like Comic-Con, then you can pick up autographs here directly from the stars.

First-Edition and Rare Books

Are you a book lover, and do you have the space to store your new acquisitions? Then you’ll want to take a look at collecting first edition and rare books. If you want to get into this, you need to know that there are a lot of forgers out there, and you’ll need to be able to pick between a fake and a real first edition.

Vintage Video Games

Believe it or not, video games are becoming very valuable as time goes on. If you want to make investments, you can start picking up physical copies of games that were made in the 90s or earlier.

You’ll be amazed at the value of some of these games, while the nostalgia factor is so strong, particularly if you collect games you played as a child.

Antiques

This is a classic way of starting a collection. An antique is anything that’s over 100 years old, so whether you’re looking to collect tea sets, flatware or furniture, or anything else, if it’s over that age bracket you can save them and sell them on later for a profit.

Here’s a few more ideas:

  • Luxury Watches
  • Fine Art
  • Rare Coins
  • Historical Documents

Easy

Stamps

Stamps have been a collecting staple for decades upon decades, and if you want to get into collecting it’s a good place to start. You’ll be able to connect with collectors all around the world, and easily collect stamps from almost anywhere you can think of. 

Coins

Coins are another cornerstone of the collecting world. It’s very easy to get into and, as a bonus, those coins won’t take up a lot of room. They’re a fascinating collection to have, as they all have their own history and you can learn about currency from all over the globe.

However, you’ll see that some coins get pricey fast, so you’ll need to decide just how much you’ll want to spend on the hobby. 

Guitar Picks

Here’s a collection you can start if you’re in the habit of going to gigs. Guitar players are often in the habit of throwing out picks at the end of a gig, and if you can catch them you can collect them. It’s something that you keep as a memento of the event, and so it’s an easy way to start collecting as a music fan.

More easy items you could try collecting:

  • Keychains
  • Bottle Caps
  • Postage Labels
  • Fountain Pens
  • Sarcastic T-Shirts
  • Phone Cards
  • Badges

Cheap or Free

Fridge Magnets

The joy of fridge magnets is that everyone has a space to display them; your fridge! Ask friends and family to bring you back a fridge magnet when they go on vacation, and you’ll soon have a fun and quirky collection.

Bookmarks

This is another collection for readers, and it’s useful too! Bookmarks come in a vast variety of sizes, shapes, and designs. You can collect them from places you’ve been, such as from gift shops on vacation, or the store in any museum you visit.

Dried Flowers

This collection is 100% free to start, so if you want to start without spending anything, here’s a collection for you. To press flowers, all you need are some flowers and some heavy books. Once they’re pressed, you can put them in a notebook or scrapbook.

You can also mount some in a frame and hang them on the wall if you’d like to. They’re very versatile when it comes to how you display and keep them.

Postcards

Here’s another collectible that’s super cheap, easy to store or display, and lots of fun. You can buy postcards from wherever you go on your travels, whether you go abroad or you just visit the local tourist attraction. You can also ask friends and family to pick them up for you when they go on vacation, as it’s a cheap souvenir to bring back.

Seashells

Here’s yet another collection that’s perfect for those who are going on vacation, or simply live near the beach. You can pick them up as you visit, clean them out, and display them however you’d like. One great way is to place them in a clear vase, that you fill up as you visit more places. Plus, it’s totally free.

Bar Mats

If you like to visit different bars, why not pick up a bar mat as you leave? These are free and easily collected items, plus again they don’t take up a lot of space.

A few more cheap or free ideas:

  • Nature Photography Prints
  • Rocks and Pebbles
  • Listed Furniture for Upcycling
  • Leaves and Flowers

Weird and Unusual

Tattoos

Can you call getting tattoos a collection? You sure can. Many people get tattoos to mark events in their life or to commemorate loved ones. Others just get tattoos that they think will look good. No matter the reason you get tattoos, you can collect them and wear that amazing art on your skin for all to see.

Vintage Photographs

Author Ransom Riggs wrote his Home for Peculiar Children series around the photos he collected, but you don’t need to go that far. Arranging them on your wall or in a photo album will be a great talking point when people come over.

Menus

Like bar mats, you can pack and take home takeaway menus when you visit restaurants. This is an option for those that like to try new eateries, or travel a lot and want a keepsake. 

VHS Tapes

Finally, there’s a thriving market for VHS tapes out there. It’s a taste of nostalgia for those of a certain age, and you’ll be able to find some tapes that never made their way to DVD or streaming services.

More ideas:

  • Maps and Atlases
  • Circus Memorabilia
  • Retro Technology
  • Keys
  • Old Photographs of Your Hometown
  • Fortune Telling Tools

Whether you’re looking for a new challenge in life or a fun hobby to do in your spare time, starting collections can lead you to unique and fun places and on some wonderful journeys.

These things to collect are a great place to start to get inspired and see if you can develop an exciting new hobby or pastime to focus on in your free time.

Feel free to download this free list of things to collect and check off as many as you can!

You Might Also Like to Read


Keep these things to collect in a safe place, ready for when you want to start a collection, by saving this article to one of your Pinterest boards.

checklist of 70 things you could collect