Robert Hruzek has challenged me yet again with another unusual topic in our series of things that couldn't possibly be related to insurance. I have to admit, linking belly button lint and insurance is a definite test of my skills. Where to begin?

Well, there's that old joke out there about collecting belly button lint. And, guess what? Someone is actually doing it! Graham Barker from Perth, Australia has been certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the person having the largest collection of belly button lint from a single individual.

In fact, when searching the web for interesting belly button lint information, I came across a site concerning all things about navel fluff. Did you know that some brave soul out there shaved around his belly button in order to see if the hair on his stomach somehow contributed to his fluff quotient? (Some people just don't have enough to do in their lives.) Turns out that the hair on your body actually channels lint from below the waist into the belly button! As a result, the colour of any navel fuzz will have more to do with what you wear below the waist than above.

Too much information? I certainly thought so! However, you can find more information just like that at a website called The Great Bellybutton Lint Survey. And don't say I didn't warn you.

Back to our lint collector, Graham Barker. I have to wonder if he has insurance on his treasure trove? After all, as the holder of the biggest single belly button lint compilation, it could be worth money.

That, after all, is the issue with collectibles. As an individual piece, there may be relatively little value. However, as a collection, the value can increase substantially. If something is of high value, and can be stolen or damaged, and you would suffer financially as a result, it should be insured.

If you've got collectibles that aren't insured, check out our section on Insuring The Not So Usual. Sorry -- we don't have a specific section on belly button lint.

Monique L. Attinger