"Every pin I buy isn't just metal and enamel," she tells her friends. "It's a memory you can hold in your hand."

Sarah didn’t intend to become a collector. She just bought a single, small enamel pin of a retro roller skate at a flea market because it reminded her of her childhood.

Thrift stores and online marketplaces like Depop or Mercari are great for finding hidden gems.

She bought a specific pin after finishing a marathon, another when she got a promotion, and one to celebrate a trip to Amsterdam.

New member, started collecting pins with kids in 2003 - Facebook