If you are in debt, see my previous post. You should be using any free money to pay down or pay off your debt, not adding to it.
A simply essential Youtube channel for sensible money management tips is :
MINORITY MINDSET-
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT3EznhW_CNFcfOlyDNTLLw/featured
https://theminoritymindset.com/
A lot of it is seemingly common sense, but if common sense was common, most of America would not be drowning in debt, and a person who did not win the popular vote would not be in the oval office.
So we can not have too many people… talking sense to us.
Obviously as a nation and a world, common sense bears repeating often. 🙂
Anything you buy, should not be bought on credit until any existing debt is paid on first. If you can pay cash for it, after paying down on your debt, than go for it.
For the few of you who have done this, this list is for you:
For COMIC BOOK/GRAPHIC NOVEL/SLIM Fans:
First get the comic book fan in your life, quality bags, boards and tape. As a fellow collector I speak from experience, few things are as aggravating as a disorganized collection.
So let us start there, by helping the comic bibliophile in your life get more organized.
Every single comic fan needs comic book bags and backing boards, and typically never gets enough or the right kind for themselves.
I’ve done the hard work for you. Here are the ones to get:
Comic Book Bags AND BOARDS:
E. Gerber without a doubt is the name to trust in this hobby, and his MYLITES2 a must own. Get “standard size” as that will support not just today’s smaller comics but the older, larger bronze, silver and golden age comics. But plastic is not enough you will also need a backing board (preferably full back as it is acid free on both sides) to keep the books from getting damaged when stored or being moved.
Also with the board each bag can store two comic books, with the books facing out. Storing it this way actually better protects the books. Buy the bags and boards together and save money.
Get them here:
https://amzn.to/2TzXHES
TAPE:
Now, traditionally to close the bags a little bit of scotch tape was used, but that proved to be an issue as that tape would end up sticking and damaging the comic book, when it was removed or inserted into the bag. Some people use painters tape, but it defeats the purpose of having these books beautifully displayed in crystal clear mylar, if you are going to use unsightly blue tape to close the bags.
No, a good upgrade from both scotch and painters tape is two sided tape. There are several varieties one that works well for me is :
XFasten Double Sided Carpet Tape, 2-Inch x 30 Yards
All you need is 1 to 3 very small pieces, maybe 1″ x .5″, apply it not to the flap of the plastic bag, but the back of the mylar plastic bag, where the flap will seal, remove the film, close the bag, and tada you have an almost invisible, very non-obtrusive way to safely seal your comic book bags. And comics may be removed and inserted without risk of tape damage.
Get yours here:
Okay, we got you set with protecting the individual comic, now what do you store them in?
COMIC STORAGE:
There is arguably nothing more outdated about this hobby, than grown ass men and women filling their homes with these unsightly cardboard boxes. 🙂 Now don’t get me wrong, for many years I was one of these men. I think sometimes we go on inertia, and what worked for us yesterday, we continue with today and into tomorrow, unexamined.
And if you are still a kid, or even a bachelor, living by yourself, maybe that comic box fits your needs. But maybe it doesn’t. Maybe you outgrow it.
The surest way to entrenched failure, is to not continually reexamine the constants of your life.
It is like people voting along party lines, or treating elections like a horse race, or a basketball game. Where we need our team to sweep, rather than putting the best person in the position. That is not the way. You have to always reexamine, on a case by case basis, who we love and who we hate, because everything changes.
Midterm elections, is an example.
I had several Democrats, a couple Republicans, a couple green party, because sometimes the label does not tell you who best represents your or your family’s or your community’s best interest. That is the problem with America, we are voting for the label, and not the measure or voting history of the specific man/woman.
All this highly political tirade, — hey its my thing, to say always be on the lookout for the better mouse trap.
And the standard comic book box or even the newer drawer box, may not be the better mouse trap for you.
Here in 2018 I have completely transitioned away from the standard comic book box for a variety of reasons. Cardboard is a nice home for bugs, particularly spiders, silver fish, etc.
I love watching those storage reality shows, and people grab these comic book boxes, and the boxes are stained and rotting away around the comic books. And even when brand new, it is not something for a more mature, tailored environment.
And while your comics may be safely bagged and boarded the cardboard box itself is a convenient home and meal and breeding ground for such pests. And whether a storage unit or your home, insects, particularly spiders, find a way. Especially if cardboard is involved. Now definitely keeping your collection in a temperature controlled location, with ceiling fans constantly gently moving the air, and dehumidifier material/desiccants (such as that derived from volcanic rock) helps. But until you remove the main attractant for humidity and moisture and pests, stacks of cardboard, you are fighting an uphill battle.
So what do you do instead? You replace the cardboard box. You put all that cardboard where it needs to be… in recycling bins.
There are 5 great options out there, to replace your outdated comic book box. Two display options and 3 portable options.They are:
IKEA’S KALLAX is just wonderful for displaying books, graphic novels, and even bagged and boarded comics, to include certified CGC/CBCS sized comic books. I own six of the above Kallax cubes and they are one of the best purchases I have made.They look GREAT in any room, and display your collectibles beautifully as opposed to the horrendous traditional comic book box.
Price them here:
https://amzn.to/2S6U9bz
Another great and essential storage and display unit, that also resolves the cleanliness and organization and appearance issues with traditional cardboard boxes, is the above CASA PURA METAL STORAGE SHELVING UNIT. I have the 4 tier unit, that is rated to hold 155lbs per shelf.
Price them here:
https://amzn.to/2DUBYmi
Okay now while great for displaying your collection, the Kallax and Casa Pura storage units are not portable options. That is where the next options come in…
MUSCLE RACK BLACK MILK CRATE fits perfectly in the above KALLAX or is great stacked on the CASA PURA. Very reasonably priced and holds as many comics as the standard short box. Conservatively 150 bagged and boarded comics per milk crate. That means inserted into the Kallax you can hold up to 600 comics. And used 2 to the shelf on the Casa Pura you can hold at least 1200 comics with space in between for trades and hardcovers.
Made of hard plastic, you can toss away your stain and bug collecting cardboard box. As these MUSCLE RACK CRATES will not trap humidity (the enemy of paper based products) like your traditional comic book box.
Price them here:
https://amzn.to/2P1sRS6
Okay for strictly display needs, the above three items will handle everything you could want. They will turn your comic collection space, from a kids room, to an adults room, where your collectibles will not cause your significant other or guests to groan upon seeing it. The above items would be equally good for record or figurine or movie collections.
However, portability for the books you do not need displayed, but still want easy access to, and to be able to easily move them; you need something more. We will go over those last two options in the upcoming installment.
If you have found this post helpful, please like it up, spread the word, and use the associated links. You get great items and it generates helpful pennies for this blog.
Thanks! And more next installment!
– While marketed as a gift for kids and the aged, this is actually a great compact portable DVD/CD player that plays a variety of formats at a ridiculously low price. And comes with great extras including a carrying case.
– Not cheap at around $200 but it is actually nearly 60% off of its retail price.
Heroic Times 