Millennials Are Really Into This Old-Timey Hobby

Millennials have it rough. The Washington Post thinks they're the "unluckiest generation in human history," economically speaking. Or, to put it like the HuffPost does, millennials "are screwed." They live with their parents into their thirties, and by and large don't have enough money to have kids, buy houses, or get married (via Forbes). Except for having an unnatural affinity for avocado toast (a relatively new trend), it's hardly surprising that millennials are seeking refuge in the past.

For instance, hipster beards definitely resemble Victorian English hairstyles. Secondly, millennials are bringing back old-timey hobbies. From bird-watching and fly-fishing, to knitting, crocheting, embroidery, and jigsaw puzzles, old-timey hobbies are lining up to be re-invented (via The New York Times, The HuffPost and The Star). And now, it's stamp collecting's turn to enjoy the spotlight. 

According to The New York Times, an average household in the United States will get just 10 pieces of personal mail a year. Why collect stamps when no one sends letters anymore? 

If millennials are looking to connect to the good-old-days, there's no denying that stamps are pieces of the past that you can touch with your hands. More to the point, as both The Guardian and PureWow, have documented, stamps are also Instagram and TikTok phenomenons. They are, after all, colorful, image-oriented, unique, and now, suddenly, hip. 

Then there's the fact that stamp collecting is not something you do alone. It's an international movement. There are forums, societies, Facebook groups, and Instagram pages filled with exciting discussions, avid debates, and impassioned advice. The American Philatelic Society, for example, has members in over 110 countries. Finally, stamp-collecting isn't just a fad; there's really something to it. At least Queen Elizabeth II, Freddy Mercury, and John Lennon thought so, well before the hobby made it big on social media (via Born2Invest). 

Have we convinced you to try it? Maybe you'd also be interested in trying other old-timey hobbies. Bridge, homemade jam making, weaving on the loom, water aerobics, woodworking, and banjo-playing are all itching for comebacks.