Money Question

[Apache]

Ever since I got back into lego, every time I spend money on other things like, food, clothes, gasoline I start to see it in legos. Like when I filled up the Gastank today, I was like "Crap, there just went half of a Fort Legoredo!" Or like when I went out to eat the other day I was like " If I go to Taco Bell and spend 3 dollars v.s. the 13 dollar sit down place, then I can put that money towards WW legos" I know some of you big timers have no problem with cash as I have seen the huge minfig armies. Do any of you out there who perhaps are short on cash like myself have this money problem? If so I would like to know, because I'm starting to think I might have a LEGO problem! :)

[Hinckley]

Your priorities seem in order to me. *sweet* *y*

[Nyundi]

I've always thought like that.... however I'd never stoop to eating at Taco Bell. The proper order of importance should be: health > legos > all else X-D ;-)

[meschepers]

I am a college student right now and as that implies I am on the poor side. I haven't really been able to buy anything lately except the smaller castle sets. I am looking forward to getting my hands on the Dwarves Mine set and some of the upcoming Indy line.

[ExoBuilder]

For me, everytime I get money I put 1\3 of it in this special LEGO box. So then I still have money to go out with friends and stuff like that. Hope this helps! *y*

[iamded]

I earn 10-20 bucks a fortnight, sometimes a bit more, which I spend on Lego. If I need anything else I get given the money. The money I earn is for Lego, and my parents know that. X-D The problem for me is quite different. Instead of thinking, "I could buy this game, or I could buy some Lego...", I think, "I could buy those sets, and that would give me 3 extra troops, and some more skellies, with a skellie horse. Or I could get two of those, to boost my knights..." :-D

Decisions, decisions, decisions...

~Peace

[Shadows]

It all seems perfectly reasonable to me. Perhaps you should post this over in the LEGO Confessions thread as well, since it qualifies. ;-)

Personally, I've always viewed money in terms of what else I could do with it. A good example is drinks. When you leave the house, do you take something with you, or drop a few bucks here and there for something out? Unless I'm eating somewhere, I completely avoid drinks out, as they're always horrendously overpriced (and since I drink tea and nothing but, they are rarely as good as what I make for literally pennies).

That doesn't mean that I view all money in terms of LEGO, but it's definitely one priority in the process.

Bottom line is to always get the most for your money, whether you have a little or a lot.

Penny Pinching On! *y*

[Batbrick]

I earn 10-20 bucks a fortnight, sometimes a bit more, which I spend on Lego. If I need anything else I get given the money. The money I earn is for Lego, and my parents know that. X-D The problem for me is quite different. Instead of thinking, "I could buy this game, or I could buy some Lego...", I think, "I could buy those sets, and that would give me 3 extra troops, and some more skellies, with a skellie horse. Or I could get two of those, to boost my knights..." :-D

Decisions, decisions, decisions...

~Peace

____________

I'm a lot like that too, except I think about only getting Lego AND which lego! :'-(

I need some more Crossbow Attacks, but then my skellies are too outnumbred, so maybe I should get the Cataput Defense, but then I can get more figs for the same price with two Crossbow Attacks! *wacko*

Its really annoying, especially since the skellies don't really have an army building set.

PS: Stalking you iamded! >:-) And not only that, but I own your head!

I Am FEAR Incarnate! *skull*

[legobear]

This discussion has got me feeling a little better now. I'm also a college student and I'm having a hard time balancing my school fees, living expenses, food etc with this hobby. This hobby is draining everything out of me and on top of that, I am running out of space. I am a LEGO crack feine :'-( , it's drugs in shape of plastic goodness.

Perhaps I should take the 1/3 rule and spend only 1/3 on legos instead. Not only is deciding which sets to get a mind twisting problem, I even dream LEGOs in my sleep :-D

[natelite]

Bottom line is to always get the most for your money, whether you have a little or a lot.

Penny Pinching On! *y*

exactly. buy lego during clearance. :-D it's a risk that some of the hot sets will not last until clearance sale but that's a risk you have to take. you can always buy it again from scalpers later when you got a real job. "get the most for your money" is a nice little financial mgmt lesson that will be useful later in life too!

edit: i wanted to write some tips i used/discovered personally for shopping cheap lego, but i felt it became more like a brag rant and i was digressing so i deleted. :-P

black friday is coming up. traditionally, target will have a $99 set on sale for $50. after BF, it may drop to $25 (or 75%). best to just buy it on BF, then price match if it dropped to $25 within a month. :-P

[Vader]

Well for me as much as i love lego, i would always make sure that things like bills etc are paid up first. I have seen far to many friends go broke for there love of lego, lego is my hobby but i know when other things are more important.

I once had a friend who bought a large lego set instead of paying his mortgage, i tried to warn him but he didnt listen..... 6 months later he was homeless and had to sell his collection just to survive.

So in the end he really screwed himself....

Now if your a kid then i guess its ok to spend as much as you like, or at least as much as your pocket money allows.

[LuxorV]

I agree with most of what you all wrote here.

I personally have always kept to small-medium sets for lack of money to devote to LEGO only (a few bigger sets weer my parents' gifts).

I smoetimes see purchases in terms of 'how much LEGO I could buy instead of this or that', but most of times it is just illogical to make a comparison: LEGO is my hobby, but there are other things more important. ;-)

exactly. buy lego during clearance. :-D it's a risk that some of the hot sets will not last until clearance sale but that's a risk you have to take. you can always buy it again from scalpers later when you got a job.

Unfortunately, Italians have lost much of their love for LEGO in the last few years, so when I find a long dreamed set I've better buy it: it usually never goes on clearance :'-( |-/

LuxorV

[TheFrisian]

Ever since I got back into lego, every time I spend money on other things like, food, clothes, gasoline I start to see it in legos. Like when I filled up the Gastank today, I was like "Crap, there just went half of a Fort Legoredo!" Or like when I went out to eat the other day I was like " If I go to Taco Bell and spend 3 dollars v.s. the 13 dollar sit down place, then I can put that money towards WW legos" I know some of you big timers have no problem with cash as I have seen the huge minfig armies. Do any of you out there who perhaps are short on cash like myself have this money problem? If so I would like to know, because I'm starting to think I might have a LEGO problem! :)

So recognizable... I don't have a lot of financial resources either, and after paying my bills and buying food and other necessities, there's just not much left to buy LEGO with. Not to mention that I have a girlfriend too that wants to have some fun every now and then. But I try very hard to save up some money, so I can pick up some nice sets around Christmas. *sweet*

[natelite]

Not to mention that I have a girlfriend too that wants to have some fun every now and then.

8-

[TheFrisian]

8-

[natelite]

Exactly! Not even that often though, but what we lack at quantity we make up for in quality. Just the other weekend I took her to a nice restaurant and after that we went to see a movie. We had a great evening, but I remember thinking ever so briefly what LEGO sets I could've bought with the money spent that day. Still, it was worth it though, we both needed to get out and have some fun! *sweet*

well, in this day and age, you can go dutch ya know. ;-) TGFWL. thank god for women's lib!!!

[gylman]

Ever since I got back into lego, every time I spend money on other things like, food, clothes, gasoline I start to see it in legos. Like when I filled up the Gastank today, I was like "Crap, there just went half of a Fort Legoredo!" Or like when I went out to eat the other day I was like " If I go to Taco Bell and spend 3 dollars v.s. the 13 dollar sit down place, then I can put that money towards WW legos"

I totally share this feeling.... I have found myself deciding to walk to work, or skipping a meal, with the promise that I would use the money I save on parking or food to buy Lego.

[iamded]

I have found myself deciding to walk to work, or skipping a meal, with the promise that I would use the money I save on parking or food to buy Lego.

Not to mention the money you save on petrol.

~Peace

[Hinckley]

I totally share this feeling.... I have found myself deciding to walk to work, or skipping a meal, with the promise that I would use the money I save on parking or food to buy Lego.

Great! The LEGO diet... :-D

[Apache]

I love the replys keep them coming. I'm glad I'm not alone. Hinckley you crack me up, Lego diet! Nice. I love the post about spending the money on the lady and wondering what set you could of bought instead. Great stuff. Skipping meals ect.. I'm still laughing because I've done all of it.

"Man can not live on legos alone, ..he has to have a cold beverage to wash them down!"

:)

[MatthewUSA]

Very good topic Apache. I definitly understand everything you are saying about the money issue. I am a divorcee, living in an apartment and currently starting a new career with an old friend of mine. Every cent I get goes towards surviving first then play. This play concept is either going out w/ friends or a Lego set. So far I have been spending more on going out than Lego. The time spent w/ friends has been important but I hope to be able to buy a few more sets and still go out w/ friends.

Unfortunetly, we have to pay bills :-X . I know the adults of EB understand what I mean. For the younger crowd, you will definitly learn this when you cross that bridge.

Model On!!

[SuvieD]

You only have a problem if you have no balance. You should be saving some money if at all possible, of course paying for what is neccessary, and then spreading out what is left on what you want.

If LEGO is it then by all means get some. I think most of us have scrapped and saved some here or there just so they can get the little bit extra. My favorite excuse is justify the purchase based on longevity. LEGO lasts practically forever where as video games, food/beverages, and many other things are usually only good the first time around and have very little or no lasting value.

[Opproperaar]

I once had a friend who bought a large lego set instead of paying his mortgage, i tried to warn him but he didnt listen..... 6 months later he was homeless and had to sell his collection just to survive.

Now that you have to be making up. i can imagine going bankrupt on hookers, drugs, financial failures, gambling but LEGO?

I've never in my life heard of a dude who went bankrupt cause of his love for LEGO, that's just taking the hobby too far.

As for me, well, for now, I'm a careless teenager, atm I don't really buy LEGO, I do play with what I have, I just don't buy it atm cause, cause... I dunno really ah still.

I've always thought like that.... however I'd never stoop to eating at Taco Bell. The proper order of importance should be: health > legos > all else X-D ;-)

Anyway, as for your priorities, I would alter one thing

food > LEGO > health > everything else, including girlfriend X-D (I don't have one though :'-( , perhaps because of that)[

[TheFrisian]

food > LEGO > health > everything else, including girlfriend X-D (I don't have one though :'-( , perhaps because of that)

Wait till you fall in love with a nice girl, I'll bet your priorities will instantly change to: girl > health > food > LEGO :-D

[Hinckley]

Wait till you fall in love with a nice girl, I'll bet your priorities will instantly change to: girl > health > food > LEGO :-D

Looks like you need to get your priorites straight:

Mine are: LEGO > Jocko > dog > health > food

rational, eh?

Perhaps the operative word is straight.

:-$