I’ve had the opportunity to meet many wonderful collectors at shows and on the Internet. This opportunity has allowed me to form one very interesting opinion.
Many adults are certifiable Beanie NUTS
My description of a certifiable Beanie Nut is as follows:
Someone who lives and breathes Beanies.
Someone who gives up real life luxuries for their Beanie collection.
Someone who identifies with the chase this collectible offers.
"Hey, wait a minute.... That’s me." But, I’m not alone. I’m not in denial. I realize Beanies have allowed me to find a part of me which I never knew existed. Many adults are ashamed to admit that they are collectors. They are afraid others will poke fun or find them ridiculous. Other adults proudly admit to being collectors and even take the hobby one step further!
I recently conducted an online questionnaire for Beanie Nuts. I was amazed at some of the responses to my questions. My amazement soon turned into a roar of laughter.
The following questions were asked and collectors were more than generous with their responses.
 
1. Should there be a Beanie Baby support group?
Responses.

1. YES, but it would not do any good. Too many adults are in denial!
2. I always use you as my support. I enjoy your humorous reporting, it not only informs me, and it educates me and keeps me on my toes.
3. A Beanie support group should be based on a twelve-step program, perhaps "Beanie Baby Anonymous".
4. We definitely need a support group. "Where do I sign up?"
5. I join Beanie mailing list for my support.
6. Who needs a support group? I’m not addicted; it’s just a hobby. I can stop anytime I want…really, I don’t have a problem…

 
2. What household fund do you rob to support your Beanie habit?
Responses.

1. I hate to admit this but, I have been known to rob the food fund and I've missed a few lunches searching for Beanies.
2. Somewhere between necessities and extra spending money, which somehow I never seem to have enough of.
3. The fund I rob is Groceries…hot dogs and beans are tasty and nutritional foods!
4. Any fund that has cash.
5. I’m robbing all funds to support my Beanie habit…food, clothing the basics.
6. I tapped into my 3-year-olds saving for a few extra bucks. I’ve never done this before. I feel rotten!
7. Those credit cards never seem to get paid off!
8. Hmmm…who needs to eat, I need Beanies!

3. Are you in competition with a child, friend or co-worker? I.e. - do you have to have it first?
Responses.
85% who answered this question said they were not in competition with anyone. BUT, as always, there were a few who answered differently.

1. I’m in competition with my older daughter who started me on this hobby. It’s sort of a friendly competition.
2. I’m in competition with my friend, the funny thing is, he does not know it!
3. I’m in competition with my best friend. We have so much fun collecting! We run like crazy and try to complete our sets before each other.
4. My friends and I are incredibly competitive, to the point of wondering, which of us are really friends, or not.
5. I’m in competition with my friend and sister. I usually get my Beanies first, but I don’t rub it in.

4. Have you ever-missed work, canceled a meeting or been late for an appointment because of Beanies?
Responses.
Many collectors answered this question with a YES.

1. I have left work in the middle of the day and have even left work early, just because I got a Beanie tip.
2. I schedule all my appointments around Beanies.
3. The girls and I at my office schedule our breaks carefully. We share Beanie tips and run like the dickens whenever we get one.
4. My boss is a doll. He allows me to run whenever I hear about Beanies. My boss is 58 years old and is even contemplating on starting his own collection.

5. Does your collection get finished before your child’s collection?
Responses. I found it very interesting that many collectors, whom answered this question, had NO children.

1. My child’s collection turned into my collection, as her collection increased, she got tired of finding Beanies all over her room.
2. I will admit that I have 4 children. I’m the biggest child of them all. None of my children collect, but I have them all!
3. Tyler ages 3 collects Disney and I collect Ty. "no clashes there".
4. I purchase Beanies for my niece, but she does not have as many as her Aunt Terri. I have been trying to talk her out of her Libearty, so far I have not been very successful.

6. Is your spouse aware of the money spent on your collection?
Response.

1. I have no spouse; I have to deal with my own guilt.
2. If my husband knew of my addition he would not be very happy! I guess what he does not know will not hurt either one of us.
3. I’m a firm believer in don’t ask, don’t tell. LOL
4. If my spouse knew the amount of money I’ve spent on my collection, well, let’s just say he wouldn’t be my spouse anymore.
5. If I did not do trading and selling on the side, we’d be having Peanut Butter and Jelly every night, instead of a few times a week.
6. Oh no! I hope my spouse does not know about the money I spend on Beanies. I pay the bills. He just wonders why we don’t have a lot of money…but I don’t spend more than retail for my Beanies.

7. How friendly are you with your ATM machine?
Response.

1. I’m on a first name basis with the guy who runs the security cameras. He’s never asked me out though, because he knows I usually have no money.
2. I don’t have an ATM card but I have worn the numbers off of my credit card.
3. How friendly am I with my ATM? Well, the ATM screen says, "Hello Amythyst, going Beanie shopping today?"
4. I’m the best of friends with my ATM machine.
5. How friendly am I with my ATM? Hmmmm depends on whether it's talking to me.

8. Has your food budget and meal selection been reduced and replaced by Beanie a-la-carte?
Response. (I loved this response.)


Ms. Janie, On Sunday we have generic mac n’ cheese. Monday, it’s Ramen noodle night. Tuesday, we can’t wait for Spam sandwiches. Wednesday, we splurge for Hamburger Helper, and have figured out a way to make it with only half of the suggested pound of ground beef. Thursday, we love to eat bowls and bowls of puffed wheat and rice. Friday, we like to go out. Most of the time, hubby takes us to the Hills Dept. store so we can order hot-dogs from the snack bar. Sometimes we go all out and have two hot-dogs! He is so sweet to let us indulge. Saturday, I like to choose a recipe from "l0l Things You Can Make With Dog Biscuits." My family just raves about mama’s home cooking.
Ms. Janie, our meal selection has not changed much, but I don’t ask hubby to go out, as much…this way he won’t notice that the cards are maxed to their limit.
Chocolate Mousse…Chocolate the Moose, what's the difference?
 
9. How do you hide and protect your Beanies? Response

1. My Beanies are displayed all over the house, when company comes; they can see how cute they are.
2. I don't touch them very much! I just look at them.
3. I proudly display my Beanies in the living room. I made a wall pouch that holds 42 and it is behind the front door. All of my retireds are in plastic cases. I have two Beanie poles that my dad made those hold another 40.
4. All of my Beanies have tag protectors and stay in a locked spare bedroom. Otherwise, my cat will drag them all over the house and howl loud enough to keep us awake. "She's a trip".
5. I like to keep Beanies in the truck of my car. I'm the only one with a key.
6. My Beanies are out in plain sight so I can enjoy them;) I just tell hubby they are like rabbits…they multiply! J
7. My husband always kids me about building on to the house for my Beanie Baby collection…and leaving the light on at night so they don't get scared.
8. Does Fort Knox ring a bell?

10. Has your car been effected with all of your Beanie shopping?
Response

1. I just got a new car last December, this month I rolled over 16,000 miles. 3/4 of them had to be pure Beanie running miles. I'm sure of it! My car is my home.
2. My car is trashed! I drive a Mercedes. It's embarrassing to have a Mercedes having that lived in look. McDonalds wrappers and styrofoam coffee cups all over…blankets, jackets, pillows, umbrellas all strewn about the back seat, and lawn chairs in the trunk.
3. I have never run out of gas while Beanie shopping, BUT I have come close.
4. I've put so many extra miles on my car due to Beanie shopping that my husband is furious!
5. I'm a compulsive Beanie shopper. I run the road all day like a mad person.
6. My husband tells me I need help! I just laugh and push a "Snort" in his face.

There was one response that I chose to use in its entirety. The responses were excellent and I found it intriguing that it came from a male Beanie collector.
 
Should there be a Beanie Baby support group?
Yes, but it may be "Wise" if we just "Whisper" about it!
What household fund do you rob to support your Beanie habit?
We are "Pinchers" of pennies and facing a financial "Crunch", "Fleecing" our relatives and hoping for a "Fortune" to fall into our laps!
Are you in competition with a child, friend or co-worker? I.e. - do you have to have it first?
Of course! The "Early" bird gets the "Scoop" before everyone else!
Have you ever-missed work, canceled a meeting or been late for an appointment, due to Beanies?
I'm "Lucky" my wife does all the "Legs" work, so I don't have to miss work. I'm at "Libearty" to relax on the buying end!
Does your collection get finished before your child's collection?
No Children, just Beanies, so no competition from that end.
Does your spouse know of the amount of money spent to fund your collection?
I've been "Peking" in the checking account to see what's "Left" (Y) ---"Peanuts"!
How friendly are you with your ATM machine?
We just "Flash" our ATM card and the machine "Grunts" and "Flips" out cash in a "Flash"!
Has your food budget and meal selection been reduced and replaced by Beanie a-la-carte?
The beans (Pre PVC) in damaged Beanies can be eaten! "Kids, this is for fun. Do not eat the PVC"! Ms. Janie
How do you protect your Beanies?
We're "Sly" and have "Radar" set up along with "Doby" to "Trap" any "Kuku's" that would try to "Pounce" on our Babies!
Has your car been affected by Beanies?
Our "Tank" stays empty, it "Gobbles" up the gas, and our tires are "Baldy!" The neighbors made us park in the "Ally" behind the house!
What do you do with all of your Beanies? Example - hide them and only peek once in a while. Snuggle with them; play with them, etc.
We "Otter" spend more time with them, but we just "Jabber" about how "mystic"al" and "Peace"ful" they make us feel!
How much does Cellular One love you?
We traded our "Flip" phone for a "Tank"! It's not as "Speedy" but it gets you "Righty" to the "Spot" and you can "Seamore" Beanies! It saves you a long distance "Caw"
 
Ms. Janie, it's sad when at 4:48 a.m. on Labor Day weekend while my wife is sound asleep, I'm making up the worst puns in the history Beaniedom! Thanks for the questions Ms. Janie! They were funny and a lot of fun to answer. If all people, adults, Kids, Mom, Pops could just get together in the proper spirit (Ohhh Spooky) and enjoy the happiness these little Bean Bag Critters bring, it would make the world just a little bit better, don't you think?
I know it's brought my wife and I closer together and who would have ever thought it would be over a hobby of collecting Beans?
 
Sincerely,
John McE…..
 
Guess what folks? I wholeheartedly agree with John. The true spirit of Beanies has been tarnished with unfounded rumors, fake Beanies, cruel behavior towards children and overall negative attitude.
I thoroughly enjoy writing well-researched articles, but I must be honest; articles that touch the soul and allow collectors to voice their opinions are what it's all about!
This article has allowed adults to share a humorous side of Beanie collecting.
The longer we keep Beanies in perspective and the longer we enjoy them as they were meant to be enjoyed, will help to insure they will NEVER die.
 
Written by:
Janie Daniels (Ms. Janie)


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