I now have 496 puzzles in my collection and luckily I have a she shed that I built shelves in just for my collection. This count includes the approximately 70 that I’ve already completed. My husband and I do them together so it doesn’t take us long to complete one. Most are 1000 pieces. We don’t travel or spend money on much else so we don’t feel too guilty😉. As long as you are not going long periods without puzzling but still can’t stop buying I think it’s all good. My issue is parting with my finished ones😊

@thecasualpuzzler

3 ай бұрын

The not buying part is my struggle! We love traveling and this is an area where we could easily save.

My mindset is that I don't buy puzzles, just to buy puzzles. I buy puzzles to do them. So I keep my todo pile small, it's currently 10 puzzles strong, 11 if you count the one I just started yesterday :) When my todo pile reaches around 5 puzzles, then I allow myself to buy new puzzles. There are always exceptions, but this is the general rule I have for myself. And yeah, there a lot of beautiful, exciting puzzles out there that I would love to do. But they will do me no good if I buy them just to forget I even have them, you know?

@thecasualpuzzler

3 ай бұрын

My intent is always to do them - I just buy way more than I need at time.

The MIC sounds great!!!

@thecasualpuzzler

3 ай бұрын

Thanks!

I just did an audit on my puzzles today. I have about 60 on my to-do list, but i only started buying them in January! I plan to do about 5 a week this month in order to train for a competition. Ive never completed a 500 piece puzzle in under 2 hours, and my goal for the competition is to finish the puzzle. Most of my other puzzles i got to try the brand, or there was a good sale! I am running of storage space now, so i hope that helps me slow down on the purchasing!

@M_SC

3 ай бұрын

Same boat.

@thecasualpuzzler

3 ай бұрын

They accumulate so fast!! Good luck on your competition!!

@beckyg2604

3 ай бұрын

Me, too! I have 61 puzzles in the to-do pile. Well, piles really, all over the house. All purchased this year. But I've done 33 so far this year, so if I keep at it (and quit buying every puzzle I see) I should be able to get through them this year, no problem.

First off, the microphone sounded perfect! I've had good results with Rode in my professional use too (I'm still using one I bought about 12 years ago). The title made me look at my to-do stack. I have 17 of my own that I haven't done yet, and two that I'm borrowing from my wife to do. It's nowhere near as many as you mentioned, but enough to keep me busy for a while. My local library has a monthly puzzle swap, and they encourage visitors to just take as many as they want at no charge, whether they bring one to swap or not. So I've got easy access to more, but I'm not going back again until I do what I've got now and can identify the ones to pass on for others.

@thecasualpuzzler

3 ай бұрын

I have a puzzle library near me too. It would be a great resource once I have my own to-do list a bit smaller. I know there are swaps a bit further away from me which is always fun. I'll have to check them out when I'm ready to add more to my collection.

This really resonates with me! I had over 200 puzzles in my "to do" collection at the beginning of the year. I am currently working on my 50th puzzle of the year, AND I still have over 200 puzzles in my "to do" collection. Oh well 🤷‍♀️

@thecasualpuzzler

3 ай бұрын

It is a great problem to have! I think I just need to have a system to do my oldest puzzles first.

Love your comment about forgetting about all the puzzles on your to do list as New puzzles come out.

@thecasualpuzzler

3 ай бұрын

Its easy to get roped into new things!

A year ago, I had over 100 puzzles on my to-do list and I am now down to 3 puzzles but they are big ones (5000 to 33200 pieces). I need to be in the right mindset to tackle a giant puzzle but my goal is to get them all done by the end of the year. One thing I have noticed too is that my tastes have changed over time and some of the older puzzles that were on my to-do list were no longer my style. On the technical side, the image quality and sound of your videos are excellent. 👍

@thecasualpuzzler

3 ай бұрын

Thats amazing! Great job getting your puzzles down! I'm finding my tastes have changed a bit too. Or when I buy them it seemed like a good idea, then I sit on them for a while and I'm like - what was I thinking??

I am excited for you. Good luck.

@thecasualpuzzler

2 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Good luck with your project. We'll be watching. New mic sounds good

@thecasualpuzzler

3 ай бұрын

Thanks 👍

Just enjoy your project and all the puzzles. You sounded good

@thecasualpuzzler

3 ай бұрын

I have been loving puzzling lately... and buying them lol

The audio is great. This sounds like a great project. I was getting a lot of puzzles from my thrift shop. I'm kind of picky though, and after a while I felt like the good ones stopped coming in. So I've quit going for a while, but I have quite a few puzzles. I'm noticing that my taste in puzzles has changed. I don't know how many are in my To Do pile but it's quite a few. I also will buy a new one if it's an image i totally need in my life, or it's on sale. I'm retired and a widow, so I don't travel much but I have to keep busy. For many years my main love was collecting books. Now my eyes don't see as well, and the print keeps getting smaller. LOL Now I listen to audio books, and can do that while I puzzle. The majority of my finished puzzles go to the thrift store because there isn't anyone in my life who puzzles.

@thecasualpuzzler

3 ай бұрын

Your local thrifters must love your donations!

The Mic has good sound quality- I started puzzling a month ago so my collection is small - 10- I recently found your channel and look forward to your videos- it was great to watch you at the USA Puzzle competition- hope you had fun!

@thecasualpuzzler

3 ай бұрын

Welcome to my channel & puzzling!! I hope you love both!

To knock that Blue Kazoo puzzle off your list, maybe you could do a comparison video of the company then and now.

@thecasualpuzzler

3 ай бұрын

That is what I was thinking - then I was like but then I'd have to buy a puzzle. Maybe I can find a loop hole and talk to the brand... we'll see.

Boy can I relate!

@thecasualpuzzler

3 ай бұрын

I'm thinking we're not alone in this!

I have this problem too...and no idea how many are in my to do pile ☠️

@thecasualpuzzler

3 ай бұрын

Good luck with your puzzles!

good audio, crisp and clean. Good luck with your to-do list

@thecasualpuzzler

3 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Good luck. I have over 200 and I just can’t stop shopping! 😂

@thecasualpuzzler

2 ай бұрын

It is a struggle!!

Galaxy Cat by Fred was super fun! You neeeeed to do that one, lol.

@thecasualpuzzler

3 ай бұрын

It looks so quirky & fun!

I've done 15 puzzles so far this year. I have 15-20 on my to do list. Been taking puzzles in and out of my cart for over a week now😊It's harder for me to purchase more when I have so many on my to do list. It has to be a really good price or something that I have been waiting to get.

@thecasualpuzzler

3 ай бұрын

Nice! I'm in the same boat.

Love the audio. The new mic sounds so smooth.

@thecasualpuzzler

3 ай бұрын

Awesome thanks!

I have Sonata for Spy, I've had it since it came out in 1991! One of my favourites and I re-do it every few years.

@thecasualpuzzler

3 ай бұрын

Oooooo well that's exciting!

Girl, great deal will get ya every time LOL

@thecasualpuzzler

3 ай бұрын

No kidding!

I have about 70 left in my to do pile. I have an in and out budget so I only use that money if I want to buy any. That works quite well for me. I have done that Abandoned Carnival one. I really enjoyed it. And I love Art and Fable, but they are difficult to get in the U.K.

@thecasualpuzzler

3 ай бұрын

That is awesome! I need to be better at keeping track of my budget.

🙏🙏🙏🙏

I have over 300 puzzles in my to do pile. It's hard to pass up great deals or resist buying a new brand, a new artist, or a new image from one of my favorite brands or artists. I'm trying to actually do one of the new puzzles that I'm so excited about, then do one of the oldest puzzles in my pile. Winter Bingo and Hopscotch are very helpful, because that makes it easier to choose a puzzle that matches a square, instead of dithering over puzzle choices then doing none at all. Over five years, I have also finished over 300 puzzles, finally passing a 50% completion rate.

I have no puzzles in my to do list :( I work them as fast as I get them

@thecasualpuzzler

3 ай бұрын

That's great though!!

Oh man. One But Many 💔 RIP If I did this I would have year's worth but honestly maybe I need to lol

I love your idea and have no doubt that you will get your puzzle numbers down!!! I love the audio of the new set-up,but (my 5 cent opinion, inflation 😂)found the Mike distracting. I have seen other KZreadrs put the mike on the inside of their shirt just at the collar line.

@thecasualpuzzler

2 ай бұрын

Thank you! I have to figure out the accessories.

I am traveling to the Seattle area soon. I will have a rental car and would like to peruse thrift stores for puzzles. Could you tell the names of places you go to for some of your thrifted puzzles? I don’t mind a drive.

@thecasualpuzzler

2 ай бұрын

Its a variety Value Villages and Goodwills. If you want a good puzzle store that sells new puzzles - check out Wishes. Theres a bunch of locations. The Everett one has the most puzzles.