I started out picking up some Hot Wheels to give to my first son as gifts for being good. Every time I would see some at a store I would pick up a few and store them at home for when he was good. Before I knew it I had about 80 cars stashed away and quite a few of them were doubles and triples. Something then clicked and I started to collect them for myself. I was lucky back then as Hot Wheels hadn't yet taken off, so I could walk in to any store and come away with 30 or 40 different cars. Also the occasional swap meet would give me more of the older blister packs. I even found someone that sold me 50 plus Redlines from his childhood days that boosted my collection. I have always enjoyed
keeping the cars in the blister packs rather than taking them out, more than likely because I just don't have the room to display them yet and I can easily store them away until that time comes. 
 
The biggest help was buying a computer two years ago and getting on the net. I was very lucky as I found Trish and her Museum very soon after and have swapped quite a few emails ever since. I have also been able to swap a lot of Treasure Hunts for other cars that we could not get here. 
 
I have always sold my cars for the value I paid for them or for a 1 on 1 swap, and will never pay anymore than that original purchase price for a First Edition or Treasure Hunt. I also enjoy trying to find cars for fellow collectors here and overseas. All the years I have been collecting the best things I have got out of this hobby has been the friends I have made and the people I have met and dealt with. I still find the hobby fun.