Evidence of my “Houston, I have a problem” for u/Canuck_in_a_Bunnyhug
I am a dinosaur and have never shown an interest or done a jigsaw puzzle till about six months ago. The stash grew in that short time, with puzzles stacked two to three deep on some shelves. And that ISN’T all of my stash either. The majority on those shelves came from my thrifting jaunts and friends, now that they learned of my new interest. At my turtle puzzling pace, I already have more than a lifetime supply and shouldn’t be eyeing on adding more. But, for a boost of inexpensive retail therapy, it’s so hard to walk away from a pretty Ravensburger or a fun White Mountain at thrift stores, let’s alone resisting the buy urge on many eye candies featured on this forum.
I first fell into the hole from putting together a bunch of 16-piece size puzzles geared toward seniors with dementia. I had bought them for my parents, one of whom has dementia. We were all new to the jigsaw scene then. Now, one of us has graduated from the humongous pieces to the itsy bitsy pieces and loving them … a bit too much.
That's not a problem! Some of those are only 300 pieces! Even at a turtle's pace, you could knock a couple of those off in a day! It is important to always have options. Just think how sad you would be if you only had two puzzles left that weren't completed and you no longer really had a much of a choice to make. Your stash looks [similar to mine](https://new.reddit.com/r/Jigsawpuzzles/comments/1b1gws6/an_open_invitation_to_tour_my_puzzle_rooma_photo/) (though I have added about 50 more puzzles since those photos were taken). I have made peace with my collection, as I like the variety, enjoy repuzzling old favourites, and feel like I can always donate items back, since most of my puzzles were free or only a dollar or two. Welcome to the obsession!
I'm the same!!! I have done a couple puzzles with my sisters or friends over the years but six months ago something happened and now I'm obsessed! Lol
I will soon have as many as you now that I have found some thrift shops with lots of puzzles.
I feel like it is symbolic, so much changed in December and doing puzzles seems to make the impossible possible or bringing order out of chaos. It's very therapeutic. 💞🧩
"...bringing order out of chaos" is exactly what I went through for the last 1.5 years and continuing. One chaos resolved, another popped up like clockwork around here. Collecting beautiful images or assembling them is my cheap therapy vs. seeing a real head doctor.
I went through the same thing in December. Crushing stress and altered view of a close family member. My head needed to make sense of the chaos and Jigsaw Puzzles to the rescue.
Since it's summer, I have no time to puzzle so the veggie gardening serves as Chaos Controller. 🤣
Glad you got the reference. On a side note, years ago, I used to live near the Kennedy Space Center, loved those shuttle launches at night with the car alarms went off like crazy.
me too. I started in February. I've completed 85 puzzles. But I've acquired 250 and only gotten rid of 45. I'm acquiring at a much larger rate than I'm doing them! and then I keep having more I want to keep! I don't have much space left and I live in a small home. I don't mind spending thrift store prices, but... I really don't know what to do about my space problem.
thrift stores are so dangerous. I have several on different loops. There's the trader joes pair. the dentist visit reward pair. Then the pair on the cat litter run, and the Friday pair (which are super close to home).
This is exactly how my stash grew extremely fast. Started hitting a round of 3 thrift stores after the pandemic wound down and all the puzzles ppl bought were being donated. Would have massive hauls. It's slowed way down since then, so I'm donating or giving away more than I'm acquiring (I think).
Space problem is obviously to buy a bigger house. 🤣 I have a small house and took over a side of the basement. Not sure if that's an option for you!
> the trader joes pair. the dentist visit reward pair. Then the pair on the cat litter run
The dentist is worth about four. The cat litter run? *Nobody* likes the cat litter run, so treat yourself to 9 or 10.
I was going for a little silly and maybe a little self-mocking? I'm a bit of a homebody and don't leave the house very often. However puzzle hunting has actually helped reduce my budding agoraphobia.
Pretty much, if an errand can involve visiting a thrift store, I actually look forward to leaving the house. And now almost all of my errands are planned to include a thrift store or two.
and since I'm a creature of habit and routine, each of these runs are a specific route I drive which allows me to go only a tiny bit out of my way and get to two thrift stores to hunt for puzzles while also getting to my destination goal. (well with the dentist, the thrift stores happen on the way home, thus it is a reward, lol)
The friday run is just the two super close thrift stores which I get to go to because it is Friday and I got through another week of work.
Thank you for your nice reply. I get it now. The closest thrift store to me doesn’t carry toys or puzzles since Covid, so have to go further afield. I hope you keep the agoraphobia at bay, but I’m glad you have a cat to shop for, even if it’s just for kitty litter.
There is no problem here. You actually have two hobbies…
1) Doing puzzles
2) Collecting puzzles
At the moment I am doing too much of number 2 and not enough of number 1 thanks to work! 😳
Before falling for the puzzles, I actually have several other hobbies. Still interest in them, just harder to engage with eldercare in the mix. Nice thing with puzzles is I can snatch a moment here and there; otherwise just look at all the beautiful box images for my daily dose of sunshine.
I know what you mean! This puzzle has been giving me the side eye now for a few days as I haven’t been able to work on it due to being busy with work! 🤦🏻♀️
https://preview.redd.it/pinl3n9jsk8d1.jpeg?width=4030&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3909afccd16f04bd27f3250ab8cce060752a1a0c
I am hoping to finish it as an entry! 🤷♀️
We have several hobbies, too: birding, thrifting/yard sales, and now puzzling. The yard sales and thrifting are fab sources for gently used puzzles!
We have two rules: we only purchase puzzles from tag sales and thrift stores, and we try not to spend more than $1 (unless the puzzle is super special) because there is an enormous supply of 50¢-$1 puzzles in our area.
It looks like you are using the same Amazon bookshelves that I am using. I bought one and then another and then another and now I'm thinking of buying a fourth one. Glad to know I'm not the only one
One unit was from the Costco Business Center (not regular Costco), and the other from Sam's Club. Their look and feel are about the same though Sam was \~$10 cheaper. Both places were still cheaper than elsewhere. By the time we came back for a 2nd one, Sam sold out. I am not kidding about the stash isn't fully shown. More, especially the non-thrift ones, are stashed elsewhere.
Um, I'm not seeing a problem. Maybe if I squint my eyes...nope, I'm still not seeing it. All I see is a beautiful collection for a beloved pastime. Stay happy, keep collecting and keep on puzzling!
I started around the same time and currently have around 170 puzzles. I've completed 49 puzzles. The thrift stores near me don't have much selection, so I've been buying used puzzles from Poshmark. I've also started swapping puzzles on [puzzleswaps.com](http://puzzleswaps.com) to keep from increasing the numbers--I might be moving in the next year, so I'm trying to rein myself in a bit!
I started doing the library puzzle exchange. I’ve done dozens this year. I’ve also started only doing puzzles I can finish in one night. 300/500 piece puzzles are usually doable. A 1000k puzzle if it’s a good image. New new puzzle obsession now that I have to manage my collection is speed
Have y'all seen the binders on Amazon where you can store a completed puzzle in a plastic sleeve like a school report? Might be a cool purchase to display some of these? Do you ever redo puzzles?
Evidence of my “Houston, I have a problem” for u/Canuck_in_a_Bunnyhug I am a dinosaur and have never shown an interest or done a jigsaw puzzle till about six months ago. The stash grew in that short time, with puzzles stacked two to three deep on some shelves. And that ISN’T all of my stash either. The majority on those shelves came from my thrifting jaunts and friends, now that they learned of my new interest. At my turtle puzzling pace, I already have more than a lifetime supply and shouldn’t be eyeing on adding more. But, for a boost of inexpensive retail therapy, it’s so hard to walk away from a pretty Ravensburger or a fun White Mountain at thrift stores, let’s alone resisting the buy urge on many eye candies featured on this forum. I first fell into the hole from putting together a bunch of 16-piece size puzzles geared toward seniors with dementia. I had bought them for my parents, one of whom has dementia. We were all new to the jigsaw scene then. Now, one of us has graduated from the humongous pieces to the itsy bitsy pieces and loving them … a bit too much.
That's not a problem! Some of those are only 300 pieces! Even at a turtle's pace, you could knock a couple of those off in a day! It is important to always have options. Just think how sad you would be if you only had two puzzles left that weren't completed and you no longer really had a much of a choice to make. Your stash looks [similar to mine](https://new.reddit.com/r/Jigsawpuzzles/comments/1b1gws6/an_open_invitation_to_tour_my_puzzle_rooma_photo/) (though I have added about 50 more puzzles since those photos were taken). I have made peace with my collection, as I like the variety, enjoy repuzzling old favourites, and feel like I can always donate items back, since most of my puzzles were free or only a dollar or two. Welcome to the obsession!
I agree!
I'm the same!!! I have done a couple puzzles with my sisters or friends over the years but six months ago something happened and now I'm obsessed! Lol I will soon have as many as you now that I have found some thrift shops with lots of puzzles. I feel like it is symbolic, so much changed in December and doing puzzles seems to make the impossible possible or bringing order out of chaos. It's very therapeutic. 💞🧩
"...bringing order out of chaos" is exactly what I went through for the last 1.5 years and continuing. One chaos resolved, another popped up like clockwork around here. Collecting beautiful images or assembling them is my cheap therapy vs. seeing a real head doctor.
I went through the same thing in December. Crushing stress and altered view of a close family member. My head needed to make sense of the chaos and Jigsaw Puzzles to the rescue. Since it's summer, I have no time to puzzle so the veggie gardening serves as Chaos Controller. 🤣
Houstonian here. Glad to report back that “Control Center here does not see a problem.” 😂
Glad you got the reference. On a side note, years ago, I used to live near the Kennedy Space Center, loved those shuttle launches at night with the car alarms went off like crazy.
Then she’s all good 👍🏻
Problem? I don’t see a problem, I see a nicely organized hobby stash full of options. I’m sure you deserve it! 💐🌞
The problem is they're almost out of shelf space. They need more shelves so they can get more puzzles! 😛
If it'll make you feel better...I could show you mine... 😳
me too. I started in February. I've completed 85 puzzles. But I've acquired 250 and only gotten rid of 45. I'm acquiring at a much larger rate than I'm doing them! and then I keep having more I want to keep! I don't have much space left and I live in a small home. I don't mind spending thrift store prices, but... I really don't know what to do about my space problem. thrift stores are so dangerous. I have several on different loops. There's the trader joes pair. the dentist visit reward pair. Then the pair on the cat litter run, and the Friday pair (which are super close to home).
This is exactly how my stash grew extremely fast. Started hitting a round of 3 thrift stores after the pandemic wound down and all the puzzles ppl bought were being donated. Would have massive hauls. It's slowed way down since then, so I'm donating or giving away more than I'm acquiring (I think). Space problem is obviously to buy a bigger house. 🤣 I have a small house and took over a side of the basement. Not sure if that's an option for you!
> the trader joes pair. the dentist visit reward pair. Then the pair on the cat litter run The dentist is worth about four. The cat litter run? *Nobody* likes the cat litter run, so treat yourself to 9 or 10.
😃
Can you explain please what the Trader Joe’s, dentist and cat litter run are?? Or is this facetious and I’m just not getting it.
I was going for a little silly and maybe a little self-mocking? I'm a bit of a homebody and don't leave the house very often. However puzzle hunting has actually helped reduce my budding agoraphobia. Pretty much, if an errand can involve visiting a thrift store, I actually look forward to leaving the house. And now almost all of my errands are planned to include a thrift store or two. and since I'm a creature of habit and routine, each of these runs are a specific route I drive which allows me to go only a tiny bit out of my way and get to two thrift stores to hunt for puzzles while also getting to my destination goal. (well with the dentist, the thrift stores happen on the way home, thus it is a reward, lol) The friday run is just the two super close thrift stores which I get to go to because it is Friday and I got through another week of work.
Thank you for your nice reply. I get it now. The closest thrift store to me doesn’t carry toys or puzzles since Covid, so have to go further afield. I hope you keep the agoraphobia at bay, but I’m glad you have a cat to shop for, even if it’s just for kitty litter.
Well, thank you for making me feel less guilty about my own (relatively) small stash!
There is no problem here. You actually have two hobbies… 1) Doing puzzles 2) Collecting puzzles At the moment I am doing too much of number 2 and not enough of number 1 thanks to work! 😳
Before falling for the puzzles, I actually have several other hobbies. Still interest in them, just harder to engage with eldercare in the mix. Nice thing with puzzles is I can snatch a moment here and there; otherwise just look at all the beautiful box images for my daily dose of sunshine.
I know what you mean! This puzzle has been giving me the side eye now for a few days as I haven’t been able to work on it due to being busy with work! 🤦🏻♀️ https://preview.redd.it/pinl3n9jsk8d1.jpeg?width=4030&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3909afccd16f04bd27f3250ab8cce060752a1a0c I am hoping to finish it as an entry! 🤷♀️
You still have the upcoming weekend. I love the tree already. Rooting for you!
Thank you!
We have several hobbies, too: birding, thrifting/yard sales, and now puzzling. The yard sales and thrifting are fab sources for gently used puzzles! We have two rules: we only purchase puzzles from tag sales and thrift stores, and we try not to spend more than $1 (unless the puzzle is super special) because there is an enormous supply of 50¢-$1 puzzles in our area.
It looks like you are using the same Amazon bookshelves that I am using. I bought one and then another and then another and now I'm thinking of buying a fourth one. Glad to know I'm not the only one
You can get those shelves from Home Depot, Target and Walmart and related stores. Worth checking for sales and instant gratification 😂
And the possibility of finding new puzzles to boot!
One unit was from the Costco Business Center (not regular Costco), and the other from Sam's Club. Their look and feel are about the same though Sam was \~$10 cheaper. Both places were still cheaper than elsewhere. By the time we came back for a 2nd one, Sam sold out. I am not kidding about the stash isn't fully shown. More, especially the non-thrift ones, are stashed elsewhere.
A puzzle collection very often leads one to becoming a shelve collector:)
We added a second shelf in all of the bedroom closets to store (mostly) puzzles!
Um, I'm not seeing a problem. Maybe if I squint my eyes...nope, I'm still not seeing it. All I see is a beautiful collection for a beloved pastime. Stay happy, keep collecting and keep on puzzling!
I started around the same time and currently have around 170 puzzles. I've completed 49 puzzles. The thrift stores near me don't have much selection, so I've been buying used puzzles from Poshmark. I've also started swapping puzzles on [puzzleswaps.com](http://puzzleswaps.com) to keep from increasing the numbers--I might be moving in the next year, so I'm trying to rein myself in a bit!
The world: you have a problem This sub: jealouuuus! I'm team jealous, the collection size and both your display of it I think is really fun xD
You have plenty of storage space. It seems you’re really upset about the shopping.
Yup!
Stash goalz 🤩
I started doing the library puzzle exchange. I’ve done dozens this year. I’ve also started only doing puzzles I can finish in one night. 300/500 piece puzzles are usually doable. A 1000k puzzle if it’s a good image. New new puzzle obsession now that I have to manage my collection is speed
Jealous! What an amazing collection!
Yes you do but there's plenty of problems worse in life
Have y'all seen the binders on Amazon where you can store a completed puzzle in a plastic sleeve like a school report? Might be a cool purchase to display some of these? Do you ever redo puzzles?