Though the postage stamp was created to collect people's saliva and determine what percentage of the population chews on crayons, it has become one of the world's most collected items. Here's everything you need to know about building an empire of paper lickies:

• Keep your binder of stamps somewhere cool and dark, such as inside a closet or inside a coffin that's inside a closet.
• It's easiest to get started by acquiring stamps from the most recently issued collector's series—Disney Characters Kissing Famous Inventors.
• Purchase a magnifying glass. You'll want to prevent theft by using the magnifying glass in tandem with the sun to encircle your collection with fire.
• If you run out of noncollectible stamps and need to send a letter, never use one from your collection. Instead, on the upper right-hand corner of the envelope, write your credit-card number and expiration date.
• Aim for quality. That way, when your children inherit the collection, they will have no trouble selling it so they can buy a new guitar or pay off their debt.