Apart from being a fun and great hobby, collecting postage stamps can also be considered an important and financially rewarding leisure pursuit. For one, there’s very good money in keeping and selling commemorative or rare postage stamps. Also, stamps may be small and simple but they stand for a piece of history, a certain individual and a country. Hence, it’s important to value every postage stamp.

There are a number of ways to take care of these valuable collectibles. First off, you can buy a waterproof stamp album. Make sure that you buy enough pieces so as to accommodate your entire collection. Alternatively, you may want to purchase a stock book with small pockets you can insert the stamps into. Choose an album that has enough space for each stamp. Let the stamp “breathe”. Besides, it would also look better if each and every stamp gets “featured”. Keep the album off a busy desk and keep food, cigarettes, lighters, matches and drinks at bay. Avoid accidents! Secondly, don’t use your fingers in handling stamps. Experts of philately (the study of stamps) say that any outside matter such as a fingerprint can decrease the stamp’s value. This is why experts discourage the mere use of fingers to take a stamp off an envelope. They reckon that the best way to take it off is to let the stamped envelope undergo a process called “steaming”. Ask where you can buy a pair of flat bladed stamp collector’s tongs. Use this to transfer each stamp. Avoid using the regular pair of tweezers! The tweezers’ sharp points may damage the stamp.

Thirdly, avoid using both sides of an album page. Doing this allows the stamps on one side to come in contact with the stamps on the other side of the page. Don’t let that happen since it may decrease the value of the stamp. Fourthly, use inserts for the album. Place them in between pages to further keep the stamps from coming in contact with each other. An ideal insert can be as thin as onion skin paper. Don’t hesitate to ask the local school supply store which inserts are usually bought by stamp collectors. Fifthly, purchase stamp mounts or clear plastic sleeves with gummed surface. Use these to handle the precious stamps that are still in mint condition. The mounts can help protect the stamps since the gummed surface can maintain the adhesive on the back of the precious stamp. Lastly, never let your stamps get in contact with direct sunlight. This can cause discoloration and can also melt the adhesive on the back of the stamp.

Preserve your stamps by following these steps. Your collection deserves nothing but proper care.

Resize your favorite ring(s). Did you know that both sterling silver and gold rings are sizable? In most cases, either can be sized up or down by two sizes. The biggest deciding factor is the thickness of the ring and whether or not there is enough metal to make the change. In general, sterling silver is more affordable to size than gold.

Bracelets can be versatile. If you own a bracelet with a large enough clasp, you can use one of your pendants to convert it into a charm bracelet. To make it work, simply hook the clasp into the bail of your pendant. This works particularly well with coin pendants, which gives you the look of a very rich jewelry design.

Necklaces have many uses. You can take a 20″ necklace, wrap it twice around your ankle and have the look of a 10″ double anklet. If you wear a 9″ anklet, you can do the same with an 18″ necklace. If you have a longer necklace, you may be able to use it as a delicate belt to adorn your favorite little black dress.

Use your bracelet as an extender. If you have a matching necklace and bracelet set, you can add instant length to your necklace by attaching the matching bracelet to the clasp. For instance, an 18″ chain can instantly become a 25″ necklace if you attach a 7″ bracelet. This would allow you to wear the necklace over a turtleneck sweater in the fall and winter or drape it over your favorite tank-top in the summer.

Make the most of your charms. If you have matching charms, consider adding them to your hoop earrings for an instant dangle. This is a fun look that allows you to spruce up some simple hoops without spending a fortune.

Turn your pin into a pendant. If you love the look of a pin and would enjoy having the same design in a necklace, simply slide your favorite chain underneath the closed pin-back and you have an instant pendant. Be sure to take note of the weight of the pin and consider whether or not your necklace is strong enough to support it properly.

Create your own watch. If you have a bracelet that you absolutely love, why not consider turning it into a watch? Take your bracelet to a jeweler and simply ask him/her to remove a few links and add a watch face in their place. This should be a fairly simple process for a knowledgeable jeweler, and it can save you a bundle. Watches, both silver and gold, are expensive and it can be difficult to find a design that you love. But with you acting as the designer, anything is possible.

Almost Diamonds, a popular online retailer specializing in sterling silver jewelry, has a complete line of items featuring cubic zirconia and genuine gemstones in a variety of styles to choose from. If you are looking to maximize your jewelry collection without minimizing your wallet, consider the affordable option of sterling silver. Not only is this a precious metal that’s designed to last forever, but it also is an economical way to get the look of platinum or white gold without spending a fortune.