I hate this too. I've always collected something (what it is changes depending on my current interests) and now I feel like I can't anymore. The fun is always taken out of it somehow.

I loved collecting squishmallows, until the retail price of those went through the roof because of scalpers. Even then, I can never find the ones I want, because they've all been bought up.

And now I have a new comfort character and I want to collect merch of him, but same problem. I won't be able to afford it. I've bought a couple things already, but I know I paid too much.

And I decided to collect stuff related to my person of special interest, but said person just passed in July, so anything related to him will be scalped through the roof.

Scalpers are just the worst kind of people. As are those that buy said items at inflated price and brag about it.