Collecting stamps?, here is some advice

If you have recently started collecting stamps, or are thinking about starting, you may be wondering if the hobby is expensive. Can you enjoy it with limited financial resources? What if you have no money at all for the hobby?

One of the biggest questions any stamp collector faces is where to find stamps inexpensively. If you intent to save stamps of the United States or the world and want to save used as well as unused stamps, the opportunities are really great. Not all collections consist mainly of unused stamps that you buy in the post office. Used stamps are worth saving, have value, and they may cost you nothing.

Many stamp collectors save only used stamps. Others save both used and unused ones. Others save stamps only from one country or one part of the world. Some collectors save stamps by "topic," for example, stamps that depict horse or trains or birds. There are any number of different types of collections.

1. All postally used stamps started out being received in someone's mailbox, at no cost to the person receiving them. The first place to search for stamps, then, is your own mailbox. Don't be discouraged when you notice that many senders use postage meters or the imprint "Bulk Rate Postage Paid' on their envelopes to enjoy a better postal rate or to keep from affixing stamps. Also, when people do use real stamps, they often use the same common small ones.

You can begin to change this by asking people who write to you to use commemorative stamps on their mail. These are normally the larger stamps issued to honor famous people, places, or events. These stamps are printed in lesser quantities than the common smaller (definitive) stamps and usually are of much more interest to collects. Many people will remember to ask for commemorative stamps at the post office when mailing letters to you or your family if you let them know you are a stamp collector. Also, if you write away for offers that require postage or a self-addressed, stamped envelope, you can put commemoratives on your return envelope, knowing that they will come back to you later.

2. Neighbors, friends, and relatives are another good source of stamps. The majority of people just throw away stamps when they receive them on mail and are only too happy to save them for someone who appreciates them. You may even know someone who gets letters from other countries who can save these stamps, too. Always be on the lookout for potentially good stamp contacts, and don't be afraid to ask them to go through their mail for you before they throw away all the envelopes.

3. Office mail maybe even better. You may know someone who works in an office that gets a lot of mail. Out of 100 letters a day, there may be ten or twenty good stamps that are being thrown away. Many businesses get a lot of foreign mail and regularly throw away stamps that have interest and/or value to a collector.

4. Ask your parents if they have any old letters, which may have stamps on the envelopes. When taking stamps off envelopes, always tear off the corner so that there is paper all around the stamp, and the stamp and all its perforations are undamaged. Anyone who is saving stamps for you should be told that this is the way to do it; otherwise, he/she may try to peel the stamp off the envelope. This will cause thin spots or tears, both of which ruin a stamp's appearance and lessen its value to collectors. If you run across envelopes that are very old or have postal markings that may be of particular interest, it is best to save the entire envelope until you can find out if the stamp is worth more attached to the cover.

Now that you have stamps on paper, what do you do with them? The most common way to get stamps off paper is to soak them in cool water, then dry them on paper. To understand more about soaking stamps, it is best to find a handbook on stamp collecting at the library.

There is a lot to learn about stamps as you get more and more of the. For example, different shades of color may exist on stamps with the same design, or them may have different perforation measurements (number of holes per side). Major varieties of stamps and "catalog values" are listed in stamp catalogs, which are available in most libraries. The most common one, the Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue, has a very good section in front that explains how stamps are made and how to tell varieties apart, as well as how to use the catalog. Having access to a catalog in a nearby library is very useful until you decide if you want one of your own.

5. Longtime collectors may be another source of stamps. Usually a person who has been a collector for a number of years has developed many sources for stamps. The collector may have thousands of duplicates, some of which may be very inexpensive while others may have more value. Often older collectors are willing to help new philatelists get started by giving them stamps, or at least providing packets of stamps mush more cheaply than can be purchased in stores or by mail.

6. Many stamp companies advertise free stamps. However, these ads must be read carefully before you send away from anything. Usually these ads offer "approvals," which means they will send you the free stamps advertised, plus an assortment of other stamps which you may either buy or return. By sending for the free stamps, you have already agreed that you will return the other stamps within a reasonable period of time if you do not buy anything. Usually you must pay the return postage. This is a convenient way to buy stamps from your own home.

7. Stamp clubs are another place to get stamps. A club may offer stamps as prizes, or have inexpensive stamps as prizes, or have inexpensive stamps you can afford to buy.

Some stamp clubs sponsor junior clubs that meet at schools or the local YMCA or community center. If you are fortunate enough to have one of these in your area, it can be a great source of both stamps and advice.

8. One way to increase your sources for stamps and also have a lot of fun is to help start a local club, if one does not already exist. All it takes are our or five other stamp collectors who are interested in getting together to learn about and trade stamps and ideas.

9. Obtaining a pen pal in another country is a very good way to get stamps from that country. His or her extra stamps may seem really common in that country, but over here they are much scarcer. Your own stamps may look fairly common to you, but he or she is sure to appreciate them.

10. Trading off your duplicate stamps can be a lot of fun. Even if you don't know many collectors where you live, stamps are so lightweight that they can easily be trades by mail. Check out the stamp newspapers and magazines available at your local library for classified ads that list stamp trades. You may find, for example, that another collector will send you 100 large foreign stamps if you send 100 U.S. commemoratives. Usually schools do not subscribe to any of the periodical stamp publications, so you will have to go to your public library. (Many stamp publications also offer to send one free sample issue if your request it, because they are always looking for potential new subscribers.)

Collecting stamps need not be an expensive hobby. Thousands of stamps are issued every year, and while some of them cost many dollars, others cost just a few cents each. Nobody expects you to try to save every stamp that exists, and they key to enjoying philately is to save whatever you enjoy the most! With free stamps and a few inexpensive accessories, such as a small album and a package of stamp hinges, even collectors with little money can have a great time. Don't forget to mention stamps, stamp albums, and hinges before your birthday or Christmas! Also remember that a great many inexpensive stamps in the past have turned into ore valuable stamps over the years.

You never know what will happen in stamp collecting!

Junior Philatelist of America

The Junior Philatelists of America, founded in 1963, is an organization primarily for stamp collectors under age 18. The JPA brings together young collectors from every part of the United States and many foreign counties. One benefit of membership is receiving the bi-monthly newsletter, The Philatelic Observer. As a member, you also can write articles for the newsletter, or buy and sell stamps through free or low-cost advertising.

Other JPA services include auctions where members may buy or sell their stamps, a service to help find penpals throughout the world, awards for junior stamp exhibitors, study groups, local chapter clubs, and contests.

To learn more about the Junior Philatelists of America, send a business size, self-addressed, stamped envelope to JPA, P.O. Box 850, Boalsburg, PA 16827.

The JPA also offers an Adult Supporting Membership for adult collectors who want to support and assist the collectors of the future.

American Philatelic Society

The American Philatelic Society is the nation's largest and foremost organization of stamp collectors. Among the many services offered to members are a monthly 100-page stamp journal, The American Philatelist; by-mail use of the largest public-access philatelic library in the U.S.; a division where members may buy and sell stamps among themselves (with APS serving as the agent); low-cost stamp insurance; and a variety of educational offerings. Information about membership and service is available from APS, P.O. Box 8000, State College, PA 16803.

Sound Goal Setting Techniques

Have you set goals for yourself only to fail to achieve them?

You need to follow sound goal setting techniques if you want to achieve your dreams. These techniques may be based on your own understanding of various issues, or on advice given by your parents, professional counselors, and seniors. But, no matter where they come from, they can make a big difference between success and failure.

The first thing you need to do is write down your goals. Remember that until a goal is committed to paper, it is not a goal; it is simply a desire. You also need to write down the benefits that you hope to achieve.

The next step is to pick a deadline and determine your current state of preparedness to achieve the goal. You should also identify which problems you are likely to face. This will make you mentally ready to conquer them.

You need to often review your course of action. This gives you a chance to change your goals based on your revised circumstances and needs. It is also good to surround yourself with people who are positive about your approach and who will cheer you on. Keep away from those who belittle you all the time. They can do more harm than good by trying to dissuade you from achieving your goals.

Your goals must arise out of your belief in your capabilities. This is very important, because no goal can be achieved that is not based on self-confidence. Motivation is another important psychological factor. In fact, motivation and goal setting are like two sides of the same coin. Your goal cannot be achieved without both of them.

Finally, all your goals should have several short-term targets and a long-term target. The short-term targets (or sub-goals) should have deadlines, and should merge with each other in seamlessly. You should review your goals periodically and modify them when and if your needs and circumstances change. These techniques are the best way to set and achieve goals.

About the Author

Patricia Johnson is an author for several popular Internet magazines, on home and family and home and family tips topics.

THE BIGGEST 5 MYTHS ABOUT FOOD - UNCOVERED!

(extract from the 'Reduce Your Size' healthy weight loss program for women)

It is the last week of your RYS program - you have read and learnt a lot about healthy food, nutrition and eating, however there are most likely still some things in your head that you've heard about food in relation to slimming that you are unsure of. There is plenty of seemingly contradictory information out there which can be very confusing and leave you baffled as to who and what to believe. So RYS is here to uncover the top 5 most common myths.

Myth #1: EATING ANY FAT IS BAD.

Many people think that to Reduce their Size, the best thing to do is to cut out all fat from their diet. However as you discovered earlier in this program, fat has its place.

The following list shows why an intake of some dietary fat and the possession of some body fat are needed for our body to carry out essential functions.

Fat supplies the body with energy; Fat supplies and transports fatty acids and the vitamins A, D, E & K; Fat protects vital body organs; Fat insulates, warms and regulates body temperature; Fat assists in the growth and promotion of healthy blood, nerves, muscles & skin.

The real issue concerning our intake of dietary fat is the difference between 'good' and 'bad' fats, and how much is okay to have.

Bad Fats

'Bad' fats are the saturated fats which mainly occur in processed and fast foods. They are not good for us as they are a major contributor to the development of high blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which in turn increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, heart disease and stroke. Therefore eat as little of them as possible.

Examples of foods containing saturated (bad) fats are: Fast foods; Deep fried foods; Pastries, cakes and biscuits which have been cooked using commercial & cheap) fats; Chocolate, and some other types of confectionary (eg. toffees); Salami, sausages and other processed meats; and Full cream dairy products. Good Fats

'Good' fats (poly- and monounsaturated fats) in contrast, provide us with the nutritional benefits we need but without the hazardous risks to our health. In fact, good fats even help decrease our cholesterol levels and prevent cardiovascular disease! We should aim to include all of the different types of good fats into our daily diets.

Examples of good fats:

Cold pressed olive and flaxseed (linseed) oil - these are much better alternatives to regular cooking oil, and taste great lightly splashed over a salad! Avocado - delicious to use as a sandwich spread instead of margarine. Nuts - choose a variety of these and definitely ones which are unsalted. Fish - sardines, salmon, mackerel and tuna are rich sources of the excellent 'omega-3 fatty acids' type of polyunsaturated fat.

You may have already noticed that butter or margarine did not appear on the RYS Shopping Guide nor has it been mentioned throughout the program. This is because these fats have very little nutritional value and are only kilojoule loaders. There are healthy and tasty alternatives for spreads and cooking, so do your best to use butter or margarine sparingly.

It is important to consume all fats as only a minor part of your diet as the kilojoule contents are high. Per gram, fat has more than double the amount of kilojoules as carbohydrate or protein! Refer back to your RYS Shopping Guide for recommended daily allowances of these foods.

Myth #2: CARBOHYDRATE FOODS ARE FATTENING.

Carbohydrate foods, such as bread, pasta and potatoes would 'increase your size' if you were to eat too much of them day in day out - but so would every other type of food (well, maybe not lettuce leaves). An excess of kilojoules ingested from any food source will be converted and stored as body fat. It is the spreads, sauces and accompaniments which are added to bread, pasta and potatoes which are the real kJ over-loaders and culprits. So instead of blaming the carbohydrates, the real attention should be focused on what's being added to them!

Here are some ideas to spice up your basic carbohydrate foods - without loading up your waistline!

Bread: use sourdough rye or multigrain (instead of plain white); accompany with honey, avocado or low-fat cheese (instead of peanut butter of chocolate spreads).

Pasta: convert to spelt pasta (instead of the regular wheat pasta); serve with tomato based sauces with lots of veggies (instead of cream based sauces).

Potatoes: lightly spray with olive oil and bake as wedges (instead of making into deep fried chips); top them with natural yoghurt and herbs (instead of sour cream and bacon bits).

Carbohydrates are the most preferred fuel source for your body and they also give the best feelings of fullness. So if you stick with the RYS principles regarding moderation and substitution you can enjoy your carbohydrates to the full!

Myth #3: CHEESE AND ICE CREAM ARE FORBIDDEN FOODS IF SERIOUS ABOUT SLIMMING.

Remember what was covered in Week 3 - Day 2 about forbidding foods? Forbidding foods, leads to cravings, which lead to binges, which leads to overindulging, which leads to a deflated self and more eating... hence forbidding any food is a big no no! Most cheeses and ice cream varieties have high fat contents, so of course a high consumption is not acceptable. Better choices for your dairy foods are low fat yoghurts, low fat cheeses (cottage cheese), and low fat milk products. 2 - 3 servings per day whether you are aiming to Reduce Your Size or not is what authorities rightly recommend.

Dairy foods are excellent sources of calcium (which is a vital mineral needed for strong bones and teeth), however there are other foods which can also give you the daily intake of calcium that you need. The RYS Recipes have included a few of these foods to give you an idea as to how to use them but their uses are almost limitless. Add them to salads, soups, casseroles - whatever you think of!

Extra and/ or Alternative Sources of Calcium: Sesame seeds Almonds Parsley Sunflower seeds Broccoli Spinach Pumpkin Celery Raisins Tops of beetroots (yes, they are edible!)

Myth #4: I SHOULD EAT ONLY FRUIT AND VEGETABLES TO LOSE WEIGHT.

This is definitely not correct. We must include other food groups in our diets so that our bodies have the large assortment of nutrients it needs to function to the best of its ability. Besides, imagine a diet that only consisted of fruit and vegetables? It would be so boring that there is no way anyone could happily stick to it long term.

It is important to ensure that the majority of your food is made up of fruit and vegetables but make sure you vary your intake. Even with fruits and vegetables we can overdo it if we eat too much of the same thing - for example, too much fruit will result in undesirable high blood sugar levels and sometimes even unwanted thrush. So keep them in balance: aim to eat 3 - 4 servings of different fruits and 5 - 7 servings of different vegetables per day.

Myth #5: THE HIGH PROTEIN DIET IS THE BEST FOR FAST WEIGHT LOSS.

High protein diets are effective in helping to lose 'weight' in the short term but (and this is a very big BUT!) there is more and more evidence that there are mild to severe consequences associated with this type of diet. Many people on high protein diets suffer from bad breath, headaches and constipation. In the longer term, it is very possible for high protein diets to cause severe damage to the heart, kidneys and bones.

Last week (Week 6 - Day 2) we discovered that carbohydrates in our bodies store water. If we eliminate carbohydrate foods from our diets, consequently our bodies have less water stored in them. That is why there is seemingly such quick 'weight loss' results from protein diets, and hence why they are so popular.

Another drawback of the protein diet is that many people instantly increase their intake of red meat products. Red meat is a valuable food group because it is rich in iron however eating too much meat increases a person's intake of cholesterol and bad fats, consequently increasing their risks of cardiovascular and heart disease.

Red meat should only be eaten 2 - 3 times per week as part of a balanced and healthy diet. To keep your daily intake of protein adequate eat a variety of other foods which contain protein.

Extra and/ or Alternative Sources of Protein · All vegetables · All grains · All nuts · All seeds · All legumes

Don't be swayed by fad, dramatic diet plans where particular food groups are targeted (or eliminated). The important thing to remember about such myths is that at the end of the day, people are out to make a buck. The temptation to twist the truth or take a fact out of context to create a ground breaking new 'diet' or 'weight loss' miracle is often irresistible. If anything sounds too good to be true - then it most probably is!

The healthiest and happiest people with nicely sized bodies are people who have diets which are varied, balanced, nutritious, flexible, inexpensive and naturally good!




To attain your freedom from endless dieting and food fixation all you need are the RYS Principles already covered in Day 2's reading of each week. Learn them, practise them and persist with them until you have achieved a healthy relationship with food, you have nutritious and regular eating habits and you have successfully Reduced Your Size!

Your freedom awaits!




About the Author
Leanne Hamilton and Maree Farnsworth are the creators of the 'Reduce Your Size' weight loss program for women - the only program needed to achieve the body you desire without the hassle of calorie counting, dieting or weighing yourself ever again! www.reduceyoursize.com

They are both university degree qualified in health and fitness education, as well as having personally experienced the challenge with and triumph over the 'battle of the bulge'.