I've recently begun actively collecting again after taking a break to have a baby.  He's 18 months now and I've rediscovered my love of ponies!  I used to have a pony room but I had to give it up so the baby would have a place to sleep:)  I have a very large collection that is currently living in totes waiting for my hubby to build me a room.  I was cruising ebay a few nights ago and I stumbled upon something that I have been looking for for a very long time....Strawberry Scoops ice cream sundae!  Of course I scooped it up and anxiously rushed home each day to check the mailbox until it arrived. 

Don't you just love that feeling when you find a piece for your collection that you have been searching for?  I get so giddy, like a kid on Christmas morning:).....now if I could just track down the Rockin' Beat Guitar brushes....   

A few years ago I was staring down this problem.  out of nowhere my husband lost his job and my income wasn't enough to cover our bills.  When we looked at our situation there was no way to get by without some dramatic changes.  The plan we drafted included cutting cable, internet eating out etc.  At the end of that painfully short list was selling my pony collection.  Thankfully my husband found work quickly (and the $ settlement his old company had to fork over for wrongful termination helped:)).  I never had to sell a single pony but we learned a valuable lesson.  We reduced our debt and live off one income now.  I still finance my pony collecting with my income but that could easily be stopped if we ever get in this situation again.  I would have been sick if I had to part with my collection.