I'm further budgeting my LEGO spending and cutting back over the next few months because inflation & rising prices are hard to keep up with. I hope hearing the ways I'm cutting back is maybe even just a little helpful to others out there in case you're going through something similar. I acknowledge I get support from LEGO to create content and I'm very thankful for that - it is a tremendous help. But I still need to cut back in order to save money, save space at home, and find other ways to keep LEGO-ing!
Glad to see that you're championing more responsible spending on Lego, considering the cost of living crises in many countries and that Lego really isn't a necessity. I'm also trying to be smarter as well and anticipate better deals for the sets are genuinely desired.
You just covered a very important point that many LEGO TH-camrs miss for the sake of popularity, and that is encouraging unhealthy spending habits. The FOMO is bigger because of TH-camrs making every single release a big deal when not every LEGO set deserve the spot. The hobby of collecting cute plastic can get so addictive so quickly that spreading self control, priorities and order is one of our main responsibilities as LEGO TH-camrs. Thank you for addressing this important topic Emily!
Last January I started looking carefully at sets when they where released. Previously I'd buy everything I wanted day 1 then had nothing I wanted for the the GWP's. I started making priority lists for Day 1, Sale, GWP/Double points. Then I had a pile of things waiting for when a gwp I wanted would get released. Then other things I would just wait for a really good sale.
I've just decided to not buy "new" sets...I look at ones that are retiring this calendar year, I've picked 18 I'd love to have, the most expensive being the Mos Eisley Cantina...and I'm going to split up the purchases between 2x VIP sales (for those that I've noticed don't go on sale or for exclusive sets), and days like black Friday, amazon prime day, There's plenty of 2022/23 sets I want, and the LOTR D2C set too! but I'm happy to wait it out.
if I ever feel the urge to get Lego, I'll get something like the snowtrooper battle pack, or a speed champions car, or one of the new LOTR brickheadz that seem to only be on shelves for a year...
I have a lot of opinions on this subject for collectables, hobbies and fandoms in general but I do think LEGO make it fairly easy to find ways to limit yourself. If you're compulsively buying LEGO based around release dates, fear of missing out, etc you should reevaluate. All LEGO looks cool but you don't need every set. Focus on certain themes or licenses and what serves your collection/ MOCs/ builds/ etc best.
I agree with your video. Inflation here in Canada is super high too and I already have a house full of Lego, so I need to buy more responsibly and sell some of the ones I'd bought on impulse. I love to support other Lego builders and enjoy the Rebrickable website where you can buy instructions for a few dollars, and then use the same bricks from one set to build a whole new set. I'm doing it right now and love it.
I totally relate to the FOMO. I have to keep telling myself, I can get them after release day and maybe pick one or two things at release instead of 4 or 5. You are not alone. Love the content. It is nice to know that others feel the same way.
Agreed with you! Inflation & rising pieces has hit us as a collector hard. With the current rising prices, we used to be able to buy one medium size set and a small set but now even medium size set cost about the same as large size set and the large size set's price has increased. In my case, I love city, ninjago and star wars but because of the high prices, I had to narrow down my wishlist and only choose the ones on my top list. Because Lego is expensive and it eats up a lot space. Its not quite worth it to spend too much on lego and not having the ability to display them and just lying in the storage room.
It makes me so happy that more youtubers are talking about cutting back and being more focused on what they buy. There is only so much money and space that we all have. When the cost or storage or mess stresses us out that simple joy like you have with the Keychains is gone. Can't wait to see the girl scout troop in your city.
I support this sentiment. I keep a rotating display of 2 billy shelves of sets, everything else is parted into drawers, or in a bag with the instructions any exclusive parts,minifigs. Recently I waa quite surprised when I went to pull stuff out of my parts drawers, and almost completed the lighthouse, and modular Lego store, I am gonna buy the castle though.as I'm low on lbg, but yeah I'm burnt out on big sets.and I don't even buy that many. Wallet fatigue
I agree 100% Emily. For me, I spent $2000 a year for the last couple years and now in 2023 I still have a backlog of sets. I’m not buying anything anymore that’s not on sale or double VIP. It’s just too expensive and LEGO is releasing way too much product. Picking a theme and sticking with it helps a lot. For me it’s cara Like Creator Expert, Speed Champion and Technic. Prioritizing retirement dates vs new release helps a lot but doesn’t work well at all for making relevant content. It’s hard out there 😢
I’ve definitely revisited which themes I want to collect. If something new comes out that I’m intrigued by I might buy, build and then resell so I can get the experience.
Love the scouts camping idea. My lady wanted blinky shoes 25 years ago. They weren't available for adults back then. So, I feel your pain on the bucket hat. Happy that you're doing the 2x points or sales now. Yay.
100% support Lego TH-camrs talking about budgets and FOMO! Crucial to promote healthy spending habits. My personal plan is 1) List the items you want + priorizing them, 2) Track prices, 3) Wait for significant drops and/or VIP bonus. For my MOC's I always compare Bricklink and Lego store prices.
Yeah. Totally agree. I had to cut back on Lego spending. It sucks but Legos are a want not a need. Luxury item. Need to prioritize bills, mortgage, food cost...😔
I've only just got back into lego sets as an adult, and already I'm seeing the costs are going to be an issue 🙈 careful budgeting, planning and shopping around is needed!
I feel your pain, my son got me back into Lego, and now he’s older and doesn’t need my help, anymore, I started to build sets on my own, and now I love it. But the sets are getting so expensive.
I slowed way down buying Lego. It was becoming an obsession rather than a joyful hobby. I only buy ones that I really like and not just buying to have it. It also takes up way too much room
Great job for recognizing your spending habits and your breakdown on how to improve on making money last. I for one LOVE to rebuild my sets. I own EVERY LEGO Architecture set and each one has been rebuilt 15 times minimum. I guarantee that! I've had them since they were first released and love them. My 2022 Eiffel Tower will be rebuilt, my Titanic has been rebuilt, along with the Tower Bridge, and Taj Mahal. The hardest thing with disassembling the large sets is organizing the pieces to rebuild. When new they come in numbered bags, now that they're in the box to be rebuilt, organizing the pieces does take time to make sure they're all there before construction begins. Love your videos!
Last year, I made the decision that I would not be buying LEGO unless it’s on sale, there’s Double VIP, or if I’m getting a GWP with it. You’re certainly not alone! With that being said, in regards to content, I can see reviews becoming a lot more crucial for helping people to decide if they should get a set or not.
I think this is a really good video to post. I had been inspired by a previous vlogger to become more discerning with what I did and didn't buy for Lego, and it was a real AHA moment, that did change the way I purchased Lego. I am still a fan, I still build loads of Lego things. But I am much more likely to build something, get sick of it, pull it apart, and then go to rebrickable to buy new plans and see what else I can build with the parts I already have. So yeah, I have a lot of parts now thanks to overspending in the past, and so I can build just about anything with them, including new sets. Now I only purchase what I absolutely love. Like top 3 sets of the year, and generally nothing from the top tier which has just become too expensive.
I set myself a limit of 50€ (I’m from Germany) per month. If I don’t spend that 50€ entirely I stack the rest on the 50€ of the next month. But I might even decrease that limit.
The thing as well about the huge amount of new sets coming out constantly is that there is less of a shared experience among AFOLs because. Like... it's not like everyone is getting the new jazz club. Some will get the jazz club, others will opt for the eiffel tower, et cetera. You can't get them all (unless you're very rich ofcourse). So yeah... I sometimes feel like LEGO is aiming more and more at casual buyers and giving them a maximal diverse palette of sets too choose from, and take for granted that that approach is giving actual fans massive FOMO.
For me, the massive hike in LEGO prices, imposed despite making record profits (i.e. money in the bank after all expenses) coincided with me simply running out of space to not only display it but store it.
Here's a thought: Ever thought of updating / modifying older sets and builds with newer elements? It's one way of making your stuff more personalized... and in most cases an improvement with what LEGO could have come up with given the part restrictions when the said set first released. Mix and match minifigures is also another rabbit hole one could try venturing into.
Definitely agree to what you're saying. Over the past 2 years, I had spent way too much on Lego and a good chunk was from fear of missing out on the set my biggest example would be the 1989 batman sets I got both sets right before they retired just to never plan to open the sets due to having a plan and I didn't want to open them until I had all the parts to my plan in hand which consisted of the DeLorean, the Jurassic Park t Rex breakout set and 3 batman art sets plus both 1989 batman sets for my bedroom displays. Then, when Lego announced the home alone, set I knew I had to get it since I always watched that every Christmas on top of the $50 price increase the set got 6 months after I finally got it. So those are some of my worst fears of missing out sets that I didn't miss. The one I did miss is one I am hoping to recover this year which is finally getting a brick bank modular for my city.
Thanks Emmasaurus. Jan. 7, I found a book store with the 2023 CMFs. I found 2 orks and a Falconer. I’m good till March,maybe May. Extreme obsessive compulsive needs only.🤠
I absolutely let my lego spending get really out of hand a year or so ago. I’ve been selling off a lot of those sets, and I’m storing a couple of others that I’ll sell after they retire and are worth a lot more. I’ve been a lot more choosey about what I buy. I need to have a space to display it (I’m looking at you, the two d2c’s stores in boxes under my bed…), and I save the box and instructions in case I ever resell them. I’m just starting to get into alternate builds from rebrickable, which is great when you don’t feel skilled enough for Mocs. I’m also starting to get into modifying sets, like creating a larger scene or modularizing small buildings :)
The cost of grocery items have increased over the year - I have noticed that I would usually spend $250 a week for a family of 4 and now I spend $350 upwards. The stores here in Australia have announced that there will be further increases in the next week. In terms of my LEGO hobby, I stick to what I like and a particular theme. I make use of my LEGO VIP points, PAB wall, Brick Link, store loyalty discounts and sales at KMART and other department stores. I guess if you have some sets that are not bringing joy then perhaps you can dismantle them and use the pieces which will then save you some more money - that might help with landscaping. I also like to download instructions and build using existing pieces and then topping up with Brick Link purchases. Love your website and content! Keep up the great work!
Im with you 100%. Personally i love watching people building mocs out of what they have. A German i follow makes mocs over several episodes. Its not about finishing, its the journey :) I also love landscaping like mountain, water, and hills :) so just keep doing your thing and hold back a little on buying the new sets :D The most important thing is making content about building and the process... i really miss people just running their camera while they are building a moc in the city, like big brother. Doesn't need to be a speed build. So much more creative and interesting from my opinion. Could be fun if you startet a "finding lego cheap-hunting" thing as well. And shared tricks :) I watch allot of people doing that with video games :D
Inflation is caused by one thing and 1 thing only, owners and board members raising prices on things because they can. A boat got stuck in the Suez Canal years ago and yet we still hear about supply chain issues. Things take longer to deliver because there aren't enough Truckers...blah blah blah blah, well then, pay the truckers more! Trust me that IS AN OPTION. Capitalism itself is falling apart and monopolization is to blame...because if there isn't any real market competition, corporations will charge people an arm and a leg for things even though everyone is basically broke.
Gosh this video perfectly sums up how much inflation is affecting us! I’m so glad you touched up on this since many TH-camrs unfortunately don’t. Thanks for your videos! ❤
I just gradually sell my old sets. Ones i dont want to display anymore, ones i dont really like or even impulse buys. Clears up space, and gives more money back to reinvest into new sets.
Omg Lego collecting in Midwest is a problem. The Lego stores all draw from the warehouse in bauldwinviile. So all the Lego stores get shorted after because shop Lego also draws from that ware house. Lucky we have three bricks and mini figs in a close vicinity.
trick to financial freedom, dont spend more than u make, always pay ur self first (bank 10%). it doesnt matter how many letters are before or after ur signature, what matters is how many zeros are behind the first digit of ur bank account. all the best to you Emily and Ross in 2023..may i recommend a book or 2. the wealthy barber and the 4hr work week
The Lego Mario sets I noticed are the first ones to go to sale/clearance. At our local Walmart the clearance aisle has about 20-30 of these sets. I got lucky and got the Star Wars Shuttle from ROTJ, but there was only 1 of those compared to a ton of mario and the Action Video city sets.
I have a policy of only buying one LEGO set a month.I have to set a limit and I still have backlog of sets yet to open. I just don’t have the time or space to build and display them.
Inflation seems to be a killer around the world at the moment. Am buying less simply because my entertainment budget doesn't go as far these days. Can't really see prices coming down again either :(.
MOCs are good. I got Mos Eisley Cantina and have been focusing on collecting Tatooine stuff to add to it. I've decided I do not need every set and pretty much stick to one theme now. If I get a set I really have to like it and if there are a bunch of things I don't like about it I just don't buy. I always wait for 20% or more discounts now too, because I've found I buy sets and they sit on the shelf for a while anyway. Inflation sucks and bad economies, but after adulting through the Great Recession, I was on overdrive making sure those forces would have very minimal impact on my life. I missed an entire decade of great LEGO sets. It does make me sad sometimes, but I love where I am at now because of the sacrifice.
When a BIG set comes out (like the Castle) we’ll wait for double VIP points and buy from the Lego store, and get a ton of points that way. Also when there’s about to be a new wave, that’s typically when stores start putting the current sets on sale. Sometimes Target will mark down sets with damaged boxes.
Inflation is crazy and I've been trying to cut back and spend my money smarter. When it comes to legos, trying to hold off on anything unless it's a good sale or I'm afraid it will retire soon and is at least a decent price.
Gave into FOMO to get the Blacktron Cruiser despite not really being that interested. I think I'm going to limit my spending to double VIP, sales, or interesting GWPs that I actually want.
I 100% agree! I had FOMO a lot lasted year with Lego and this year I want to be more careful like “do I really need to spend x amount for a GWP that’s probably $5 to make if that?” No, no I do not. Also, I finally make enough to buy and splurge on thing I couldn’t before but this inflation is really hitting EVERYONE! Dinner for two is now $50 plus when it use to be max $40 with tip. And groceries. are a joke now, 4 small things come to $100 . So sometimes eating out can be cheaper which makes no sense 😅
On the Lego site I 💙everything I want to create a wish list. Then I wait for either those sets to go on sale, or a VIP event, or a GWP I want. This way I’m not just buying random Lego to get a deal, I wait for the deals/promos to buy the Lego I want.
I started cutting back on Lego a while back, I only buy a few sets a year and I have to think long and hard on which ones. I will check one out on the site, Target , etc, and then save the money for the one I really think I will want. Usually by the time I have enough money saved I dont want it anymore. I also been selling ones that are sitting in box collecting dust, that i know I will never build.
I only buy the exclusive sets such as Monkie Kid sets when there are nice gwp. For all other sets, I only buy on promos or sealed sets on second hand market.
I do like going to to the LEGO store, but it can be torture seeing all of the sets I can’t afford. I mostly get the Build a Minifigure and Pick a Brick and get my sets at better prices at some of the toy stores and department stores here in Australia. But when I win lotto I’ll be buying heaps from the LEGO store. I’ve got a Warhammer store at the same shopping centre too wchich is cool. I love your content have genuinely enthusiastic and energetic demeanour and it’s very refreshing. LEGO content creators tend to be very positive, at least compared to Warhammer content creators. Keep up the great work, kudos. Take care, Dusty.
I try to stay away from sets that I think look really damn good but just don’t fit me personally. For example, I think the Bowser set looks amazing and would be fun to build, but it just doesn’t speak to me enough to deplete the wallet. Felt similarly about the lighthouse and globe. On the other hand I felt a much more personal connection to sets like the Medieval Blacksmith, Disney Castle, Home Alone, etc. that there spending the money was worth it. As you said as well there are so many small sets in the under $20 range that are fun and worth getting-Brickheadz, Stunt Bikes, flowers from the botanical set. If you can look at a set and say “wow, that looks sick but it’s just not something I really relate to, so I’ll pass” you’ll feel good about spending the money when you find a set you truly love!
Damn right, I like Lego. New subscription, I’m pretty moderate in my Lego. I have other hobbies too but I’m really impressed with what Lego has become since I was a kid. I love seeing all these builds on here and learning how absolutely over the top insane Lego could become. Not only thousands of pieces but tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions. And so forth…just got back into it yesterday having a few small car type in stock . Most of mine are vehicles for sure. But I like the succulent plant one, there sure are los of Lego . Technics are pretty cool as well. (I’m only increasing my Lego, not scaling down) 1/14/3023
I love your shopping vlogs! They’re so fun to watch! And I truly find you and Ross very funny! Honestly I have never related more to a video in my life! Living is so expensive right now! Really smart to be a little more picky in which sets you do buy on release days and which you don’t! I’m doing the same and I’m kind of proud of myself 😁🥳 also; collection Lego and finding the space to store it is truly a pain! Another trip to Ikea is due! 😂 Please keep making content, you guys rock! 😄
I just got laid off last week and there have been so many sets that I've wanted or are coming out or that are leaking and I have no money/space, so I have to cut back, too.
Finally building Cinderella Castle, which I got for my birthday back in June. I can't keep up with the rising prices, for sure. Plus - bigger pieces like Cindy's castle, absolutely need "a home". So I am taking my time building it, and pondering where it will live when I am finally done. In the meantime... I am pacing myself, enjoying the process, and eyeing the Jazz Club. LOL Keep up the great work. Enjoy the videos !
The sets don’t have no where near as much value in the pieces and build of the sets than they are worth. Very expensive the best example is the Jurassic world gigantosaur set it’s 140$ and just is not worth it 😔😔
I had FOMO on the new lego star wars sets. I had a plan for the tie bomber to wait till the price dropped later in the year, but I saw it selling out quickly here in the UK and we don't have the wonderful options that you guys have like Target and Walmart. Last wendesday I rushed out on a 30 mile round trip to get the star wars battle pack and the following day I got the bomber from my nearest lego store along with the new speed champion and the cool recycling truck. I am holding back on the jazz club until there is a gift with purchase that I actually want. The current gift with purchase harks back to after my childhood. Galaxy Explorer was more my time as a kid so I have more affinity with that set.
I have very strict guidelines for myself with buying LEGO. I only buy on x2 VIP days or if there’s a deal at Target or on Rakuten. I have a budget of $1000 for the year and I can only buy sets that actually fit into the themes I’m collecting. A set has to be either Star Wars, Batman, Lord of the Rings, or I allow allotment for 2 sets that are not one of those themes. And within those themes, the sets have to be more displayable rather than a play set. So Star Wars helmets and USC are on my watch list and other 18+ sets. I do have a separate budget for holiday sets but they must fit into my winter village or Halloween village theme. I do plan on reducing my budget every year to be more conscientious about what I buy and to ensure I still have space.
Lego is such a good company. No other company would be letting you post this. Customer Service is perfect for lego hit them up. Right now just say hello.
Weirdly, 2023 is the year I got BACK into LEGO after the pandemic days. I don't think I can keep up with the LEGO TH-cam peeps. Although, little shelf space is my roadblock to buying more LEGO sets (since I have other non LEGO collectibles), not my wallet.
I usually only buy larger lego once or twice a year, and i dont go for the largest, just the modulars. I also never ever get lego sets on release, theres too much mania and theyll usually be out for long enough to give me time to buy it on sale or when its restocked. I usually just buy the GWP in the after market since its way cheaper, im not spending over 100 every single time they put out a gwp thats only worth maybe $20 or $30
In my opinion the LEGO Store VIP is not that great. You have to buy a lot to accumulate VIP points that go towards discounts. Even when you amass a good deal of VIP points, whatever amount of VIP points that equates to dollar+ discounts, that discounted amount is subtracted from your new accumulated VIP points on a new purchase! It's total BS! Target/Walmart do a far better job of having sales on LEGO sets. It takes forever if at all for the LEGO Store to have sales. Regarding budget spending on LEGO, I really don't go higher than spending $60 on one set. I bargain shop as much as possible with stores like Target and Costco. This really destroys my chances of ever buying any modular city or bigger Stars Wars sets.
I think if you target things for your city as a priority, you get a triple hit on the ROI: Shopping for it, Review It and place it in the city/city updates. You get the fun part and it helps off set the costs. Maybe do a rotation where every other month is a theme so like city/star wars/city/super mario etc and time it out based on waves.
I've run out space. I still haven't built mos eisley or the star destroyer, the creator pirate ship, the mando atst, a few force awakens sets, and the big avatar set. I'm going to put a cork in it myself. Regarding lego in general, the problem i have is they're largely showing an "evil corporate" face. They could raise prices, or they could make the models packing experience cheaper.. but they've done both. I could have taken either easily.. but both means they're just evil and i resent them for it. Ultimately im greatful lego doesn't "finish" or "get used up" so can enjoy the sets i have for as long as i can.
i sold all my lego sets i began investing in october of 2022, dont really have the time to wait 1-2 years to resell them. I'm mostly buying legos now to display especially the usc sets.
its so expensive now that I resort to buying good condition, used, disassembled, 100% complete parts, in zip lock bagies on ebay. I bought most of the 2022 collection at half the price and hardly used from ebay resellers who were repackaging their used sets in proper condition and still preserving the build experience. Saves me tons of money, and check my LIVE builds as I do many retired, rare old sets. Cheers!
I am trying to do better with budgeting and figuring out how to come up with a strategy on how to get sets I really want as well! Like the Jazz Club, I'm waiting to get it when I can get a GWP I would like. I also write down all sets I have and how much I spend so I can visually see how much I have spent.
I need to pick up the creator 3 in 1 birdhouse and viking ship. I want to get another medieval blacksmith and maybe some extra pieces for some MOCs. I definitely want to get the lion King's castle but I have to save in order to get it and wait for a double points promotion at this point. Just wait for a sale or hit up the local bricks and minifigs.
I'm further budgeting my LEGO spending and cutting back over the next few months because inflation & rising prices are hard to keep up with. I hope hearing the ways I'm cutting back is maybe even just a little helpful to others out there in case you're going through something similar. I acknowledge I get support from LEGO to create content and I'm very thankful for that - it is a tremendous help. But I still need to cut back in order to save money, save space at home, and find other ways to keep LEGO-ing!
I feel your pain! Just this morning the Hubs said “We need to talk about finances.” Errg.
I got the Blacktron Cruiser 😀
Space, the brutal limitation.
Then... Off-site storage!
Ok 👍
Honestly, I think you do the best Lego shopping vlogs of anyone on TH-cam...and truthfully it's not even close
Glad to see that you're championing more responsible spending on Lego, considering the cost of living crises in many countries and that Lego really isn't a necessity. I'm also trying to be smarter as well and anticipate better deals for the sets are genuinely desired.
You just covered a very important point that many LEGO TH-camrs miss for the sake of popularity, and that is encouraging unhealthy spending habits. The FOMO is bigger because of TH-camrs making every single release a big deal when not every LEGO set deserve the spot. The hobby of collecting cute plastic can get so addictive so quickly that spreading self control, priorities and order is one of our main responsibilities as LEGO TH-camrs. Thank you for addressing this important topic Emily!
Last January I started looking carefully at sets when they where released. Previously I'd buy everything I wanted day 1 then had nothing I wanted for the the GWP's. I started making priority lists for Day 1, Sale, GWP/Double points. Then I had a pile of things waiting for when a gwp I wanted would get released. Then other things I would just wait for a really good sale.
Yeah the GWPs and 2X VIP make the LEGO Store purchases way more worth it!!
I've just decided to not buy "new" sets...I look at ones that are retiring this calendar year, I've picked 18 I'd love to have, the most expensive being the Mos Eisley Cantina...and I'm going to split up the purchases between 2x VIP sales (for those that I've noticed don't go on sale or for exclusive sets), and days like black Friday, amazon prime day, There's plenty of 2022/23 sets I want, and the LOTR D2C set too! but I'm happy to wait it out.
if I ever feel the urge to get Lego, I'll get something like the snowtrooper battle pack, or a speed champions car, or one of the new LOTR brickheadz that seem to only be on shelves for a year...
Maybe if Lego stopped sending out so many free sets they could pass the savings onto all of us 🤣
I have a lot of opinions on this subject for collectables, hobbies and fandoms in general but I do think LEGO make it fairly easy to find ways to limit yourself. If you're compulsively buying LEGO based around release dates, fear of missing out, etc you should reevaluate. All LEGO looks cool but you don't need every set. Focus on certain themes or licenses and what serves your collection/ MOCs/ builds/ etc best.
I agree with your video. Inflation here in Canada is super high too and I already have a house full of Lego, so I need to buy more responsibly and sell some of the ones I'd bought on impulse. I love to support other Lego builders and enjoy the Rebrickable website where you can buy instructions for a few dollars, and then use the same bricks from one set to build a whole new set. I'm doing it right now and love it.
I totally relate to the FOMO. I have to keep telling myself, I can get them after release day and maybe pick one or two things at release instead of 4 or 5. You are not alone. Love the content. It is nice to know that others feel the same way.
Agreed with you! Inflation & rising pieces has hit us as a collector hard. With the current rising prices, we used to be able to buy one medium size set and a small set but now even medium size set cost about the same as large size set and the large size set's price has increased. In my case, I love city, ninjago and star wars but because of the high prices, I had to narrow down my wishlist and only choose the ones on my top list. Because Lego is expensive and it eats up a lot space. Its not quite worth it to spend too much on lego and not having the ability to display them and just lying in the storage room.
It makes me so happy that more youtubers are talking about cutting back and being more focused on what they buy. There is only so much money and space that we all have. When the cost or storage or mess stresses us out that simple joy like you have with the Keychains is gone. Can't wait to see the girl scout troop in your city.
I support this sentiment. I keep a rotating display of 2 billy shelves of sets, everything else is parted into drawers, or in a bag with the instructions any exclusive parts,minifigs. Recently I waa quite surprised when I went to pull stuff out of my parts drawers, and almost completed the lighthouse, and modular Lego store, I am gonna buy the castle though.as I'm low on lbg, but yeah I'm burnt out on big sets.and I don't even buy that many. Wallet fatigue
I agree 100% Emily. For me, I spent $2000 a year for the last couple years and now in 2023 I still have a backlog of sets. I’m not buying anything anymore that’s not on sale or double VIP. It’s just too expensive and LEGO is releasing way too much product. Picking a theme and sticking with it helps a lot. For me it’s cara Like Creator Expert, Speed Champion and Technic. Prioritizing retirement dates vs new release helps a lot but doesn’t work well at all for making relevant content. It’s hard out there 😢
In financial circumstances such as these your primary focus should be paying the bills and keeping a roof over your head.
I’ve definitely revisited which themes I want to collect. If something new comes out that I’m intrigued by I might buy, build and then resell so I can get the experience.
Love the scouts camping idea.
My lady wanted blinky shoes 25 years ago. They weren't available for adults back then. So, I feel your pain on the bucket hat.
Happy that you're doing the 2x points or sales now. Yay.
100% support Lego TH-camrs talking about budgets and FOMO! Crucial to promote healthy spending habits. My personal plan is 1) List the items you want + priorizing them, 2) Track prices, 3) Wait for significant drops and/or VIP bonus. For my MOC's I always compare Bricklink and Lego store prices.
Yeah. Totally agree. I had to cut back on Lego spending. It sucks but Legos are a want not a need. Luxury item. Need to prioritize bills, mortgage, food cost...😔
I've only just got back into lego sets as an adult, and already I'm seeing the costs are going to be an issue 🙈 careful budgeting, planning and shopping around is needed!
I feel your pain, my son got me back into Lego, and now he’s older and doesn’t need my help, anymore, I started to build sets on my own, and now I love it. But the sets are getting so expensive.
I slowed way down buying Lego. It was becoming an obsession rather than a joyful hobby. I only buy ones that I really like and not just buying to have it. It also takes up way too much room
Great job for recognizing your spending habits and your breakdown on how to improve on making money last. I for one LOVE to rebuild my sets. I own EVERY LEGO Architecture set and each one has been rebuilt 15 times minimum. I guarantee that! I've had them since they were first released and love them. My 2022 Eiffel Tower will be rebuilt, my Titanic has been rebuilt, along with the Tower Bridge, and Taj Mahal. The hardest thing with disassembling the large sets is organizing the pieces to rebuild. When new they come in numbered bags, now that they're in the box to be rebuilt, organizing the pieces does take time to make sure they're all there before construction begins. Love your videos!
Last year, I made the decision that I would not be buying LEGO unless it’s on sale, there’s Double VIP, or if I’m getting a GWP with it. You’re certainly not alone! With that being said, in regards to content, I can see reviews becoming a lot more crucial for helping people to decide if they should get a set or not.
I think this is a really good video to post. I had been inspired by a previous vlogger to become more discerning with what I did and didn't buy for Lego, and it was a real AHA moment, that did change the way I purchased Lego. I am still a fan, I still build loads of Lego things. But I am much more likely to build something, get sick of it, pull it apart, and then go to rebrickable to buy new plans and see what else I can build with the parts I already have. So yeah, I have a lot of parts now thanks to overspending in the past, and so I can build just about anything with them, including new sets. Now I only purchase what I absolutely love. Like top 3 sets of the year, and generally nothing from the top tier which has just become too expensive.
I set myself a limit of 50€ (I’m from Germany) per month. If I don’t spend that 50€ entirely I stack the rest on the 50€ of the next month. But I might even decrease that limit.
Bin von 100€ im Monat jetzt auf 25€ umgestiegen.
I started doing this towards the end of last year. I feel so much better about what I’m getting.
The thing as well about the huge amount of new sets coming out constantly is that there is less of a shared experience among AFOLs because. Like... it's not like everyone is getting the new jazz club. Some will get the jazz club, others will opt for the eiffel tower, et cetera. You can't get them all (unless you're very rich ofcourse). So yeah... I sometimes feel like LEGO is aiming more and more at casual buyers and giving them a maximal diverse palette of sets too choose from, and take for granted that that approach is giving actual fans massive FOMO.
For me, the massive hike in LEGO prices, imposed despite making record profits (i.e. money in the bank after all expenses) coincided with me simply running out of space to not only display it but store it.
Here's a thought: Ever thought of updating / modifying older sets and builds with newer elements? It's one way of making your stuff more personalized... and in most cases an improvement with what LEGO could have come up with given the part restrictions when the said set first released.
Mix and match minifigures is also another rabbit hole one could try venturing into.
Definitely agree to what you're saying. Over the past 2 years, I had spent way too much on Lego and a good chunk was from fear of missing out on the set my biggest example would be the 1989 batman sets I got both sets right before they retired just to never plan to open the sets due to having a plan and I didn't want to open them until I had all the parts to my plan in hand which consisted of the DeLorean, the Jurassic Park t Rex breakout set and 3 batman art sets plus both 1989 batman sets for my bedroom displays. Then, when Lego announced the home alone, set I knew I had to get it since I always watched that every Christmas on top of the $50 price increase the set got 6 months after I finally got it. So those are some of my worst fears of missing out sets that I didn't miss. The one I did miss is one I am hoping to recover this year which is finally getting a brick bank modular for my city.
When Emmasaurus says Lego is getting too expensive...Lego is definitely getting too expensive! Lol
Thanks Emmasaurus. Jan. 7, I found a book store with the 2023 CMFs. I found 2 orks and a Falconer. I’m good till March,maybe May. Extreme obsessive compulsive needs only.🤠
I absolutely let my lego spending get really out of hand a year or so ago. I’ve been selling off a lot of those sets, and I’m storing a couple of others that I’ll sell after they retire and are worth a lot more. I’ve been a lot more choosey about what I buy. I need to have a space to display it (I’m looking at you, the two d2c’s stores in boxes under my bed…), and I save the box and instructions in case I ever resell them. I’m just starting to get into alternate builds from rebrickable, which is great when you don’t feel skilled enough for Mocs. I’m also starting to get into modifying sets, like creating a larger scene or modularizing small buildings :)
The cost of grocery items have increased over the year - I have noticed that I would usually spend $250 a week for a family of 4 and now I spend $350 upwards. The stores here in Australia have announced that there will be further increases in the next week. In terms of my LEGO hobby, I stick to what I like and a particular theme. I make use of my LEGO VIP points, PAB wall, Brick Link, store loyalty discounts and sales at KMART and other department stores. I guess if you have some sets that are not bringing joy then perhaps you can dismantle them and use the pieces which will then save you some more money - that might help with landscaping. I also like to download instructions and build using existing pieces and then topping up with Brick Link purchases. Love your website and content! Keep up the great work!
Hey what further increases? I haven't heard about that? Thanks
Im with you 100%. Personally i love watching people building mocs out of what they have. A German i follow makes mocs over several episodes. Its not about finishing, its the journey :) I also love landscaping like mountain, water, and hills :) so just keep doing your thing and hold back a little on buying the new sets :D The most important thing is making content about building and the process... i really miss people just running their camera while they are building a moc in the city, like big brother. Doesn't need to be a speed build. So much more creative and interesting from my opinion. Could be fun if you startet a "finding lego cheap-hunting" thing as well. And shared tricks :) I watch allot of people doing that with video games :D
Hey who's the creator if you don't mind me asking? I love seeing people's mocs lol
@@kiara.516 th-cam.com/video/QVpo6cTyeWE/w-d-xo.html
:) SteinaufStein
@@Salacarol thank youuu
Inflation is caused by one thing and 1 thing only, owners and board members raising prices on things because they can. A boat got stuck in the Suez Canal years ago and yet we still hear about supply chain issues. Things take longer to deliver because there aren't enough Truckers...blah blah blah blah, well then, pay the truckers more! Trust me that IS AN OPTION. Capitalism itself is falling apart and monopolization is to blame...because if there isn't any real market competition, corporations will charge people an arm and a leg for things even though everyone is basically broke.
Would love going to the lego store a ton more if i didnt have to drive hours to get there haha
Gosh this video perfectly sums up how much inflation is affecting us! I’m so glad you touched up on this since many TH-camrs unfortunately don’t. Thanks for your videos! ❤
I just gradually sell my old sets. Ones i dont want to display anymore, ones i dont really like or even impulse buys. Clears up space, and gives more money back to reinvest into new sets.
Omg Lego collecting in Midwest is a problem. The Lego stores all draw from the warehouse in bauldwinviile. So all the Lego stores get shorted after because shop Lego also draws from that ware house. Lucky we have three bricks and mini figs in a close vicinity.
I bought a tote from lowes to store my lego collection. I store my parts in storage bags. They are sorted by color size and shape.
trick to financial freedom, dont spend more than u make, always pay ur self first (bank 10%). it doesnt matter how many letters are before or after ur signature, what matters is how many zeros are behind the first digit of ur bank account. all the best to you Emily and Ross in 2023..may i recommend a book or 2. the wealthy barber and the 4hr work week
Hey @ Marc PPP brother 👍
The Lego Mario sets I noticed are the first ones to go to sale/clearance. At our local Walmart the clearance aisle has about 20-30 of these sets. I got lucky and got the Star Wars Shuttle from ROTJ, but there was only 1 of those compared to a ton of mario and the Action Video city sets.
I have definitely gone to the lego store, got a PAB cup and ended up having much more enjoyment than a large set
I have a policy of only buying one LEGO set a month.I have to set a limit and I still have backlog of sets yet to open. I just don’t have the time or space to build and display them.
So excited to see how the builds come out
Inflation seems to be a killer around the world at the moment. Am buying less simply because my entertainment budget doesn't go as far these days. Can't really see prices coming down again either :(.
MOCs are good. I got Mos Eisley Cantina and have been focusing on collecting Tatooine stuff to add to it. I've decided I do not need every set and pretty much stick to one theme now. If I get a set I really have to like it and if there are a bunch of things I don't like about it I just don't buy. I always wait for 20% or more discounts now too, because I've found I buy sets and they sit on the shelf for a while anyway. Inflation sucks and bad economies, but after adulting through the Great Recession, I was on overdrive making sure those forces would have very minimal impact on my life. I missed an entire decade of great LEGO sets. It does make me sad sometimes, but I love where I am at now because of the sacrifice.
When a BIG set comes out (like the Castle) we’ll wait for double VIP points and buy from the Lego store, and get a ton of points that way. Also when there’s about to be a new wave, that’s typically when stores start putting the current sets on sale. Sometimes Target will mark down sets with damaged boxes.
Less is more!
Inflation is crazy and I've been trying to cut back and spend my money smarter. When it comes to legos, trying to hold off on anything unless it's a good sale or I'm afraid it will retire soon and is at least a decent price.
"Now I'm Hungry, Great!"
This made me laugh so hard. 🤣
I love rebuilding sets, which is why I tend to like 3-in-1 as the best sets. They're so fun!
Gave into FOMO to get the Blacktron Cruiser despite not really being that interested. I think I'm going to limit my spending to double VIP, sales, or interesting GWPs that I actually want.
Nice BAM update! I need to get to the Lego Store to pick some up 👍
I 100% agree! I had FOMO a lot lasted year with Lego and this year I want to be more careful like “do I really need to spend x amount for a GWP that’s probably $5 to make if that?” No, no I do not. Also, I finally make enough to buy and splurge on thing I couldn’t before but this inflation is really hitting EVERYONE! Dinner for two is now $50 plus when it use to be max $40 with tip. And groceries. are a joke now, 4 small things come to $100 . So sometimes eating out can be cheaper which makes no sense 😅
On the Lego site I 💙everything I want to create a wish list. Then I wait for either those sets to go on sale, or a VIP event, or a GWP I want. This way I’m not just buying random Lego to get a deal, I wait for the deals/promos to buy the Lego I want.
400 at the door line Kool as that s great. Knowing so Manny got into Lego of buying Lego. The Lego community is booming💥 it. Awesome. Emma 🙂👌.
I started cutting back on Lego a while back, I only buy a few sets a year and I have to think long and hard on which ones. I will check one out on the site, Target , etc, and then save the money for the one I really think I will want. Usually by the time I have enough money saved I dont want it anymore. I also been selling ones that are sitting in box collecting dust, that i know I will never build.
I only buy the exclusive sets such as Monkie Kid sets when there are nice gwp. For all other sets, I only buy on promos or sealed sets on second hand market.
I do like going to to the LEGO store, but it can be torture seeing all of the sets I can’t afford. I mostly get the Build a Minifigure and Pick a Brick and get my sets at better prices at some of the toy stores and department stores here in Australia. But when I win lotto I’ll be buying heaps from the LEGO store. I’ve got a Warhammer store at the same shopping centre too wchich is cool. I love your content have genuinely enthusiastic and energetic demeanour and it’s very refreshing. LEGO content creators tend to be very positive, at least compared to Warhammer content creators. Keep up the great work, kudos. Take care, Dusty.
The mystery machine is my favorite piece in my collection
I try to stay away from sets that I think look really damn good but just don’t fit me personally. For example, I think the Bowser set looks amazing and would be fun to build, but it just doesn’t speak to me enough to deplete the wallet. Felt similarly about the lighthouse and globe. On the other hand I felt a much more personal connection to sets like the Medieval Blacksmith, Disney Castle, Home Alone, etc. that there spending the money was worth it. As you said as well there are so many small sets in the under $20 range that are fun and worth getting-Brickheadz, Stunt Bikes, flowers from the botanical set. If you can look at a set and say “wow, that looks sick but it’s just not something I really relate to, so I’ll pass” you’ll feel good about spending the money when you find a set you truly love!
Damn right, I like Lego. New subscription, I’m pretty moderate in my Lego. I have other hobbies too but I’m really impressed with what Lego has become since I was a kid. I love seeing all these builds on here and learning how absolutely over the top insane Lego could become. Not only thousands of pieces but tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions. And so forth…just got back into it yesterday having a few small car type in stock . Most of mine are vehicles for sure. But I like the succulent plant one, there sure are los of Lego . Technics are pretty cool as well. (I’m only increasing my Lego, not scaling down) 1/14/3023
Note to self, try on hat before buying. Lol! Thanks for the laugh!
I love your shopping vlogs! They’re so fun to watch! And I truly find you and Ross very funny! Honestly I have never related more to a video in my life! Living is so expensive right now! Really smart to be a little more picky in which sets you do buy on release days and which you don’t! I’m doing the same and I’m kind of proud of myself 😁🥳 also; collection Lego and finding the space to store it is truly a pain! Another trip to Ikea is due! 😂
Please keep making content, you guys rock! 😄
I just got laid off last week and there have been so many sets that I've wanted or are coming out or that are leaking and I have no money/space, so I have to cut back, too.
Finally building Cinderella Castle, which I got for my birthday back in June. I can't keep up with the rising prices, for sure. Plus - bigger pieces like Cindy's castle, absolutely need "a home". So I am taking my time building it, and pondering where it will live when I am finally done. In the meantime... I am pacing myself, enjoying the process, and eyeing the Jazz Club. LOL Keep up the great work. Enjoy the videos !
I built it, didn't have room so got a rebrickable design and built it into the Disney Costume Shop.
The sets don’t have no where near as much value in the pieces and build of the sets than they are worth. Very expensive the best example is the Jurassic world gigantosaur set it’s 140$ and just is not worth it 😔😔
Absolutetly right but its so hard i dont want to miss out on new released sets!
I know I can’t keep buying so much lego but there’s so much cool stuff I can’t restrain myself.
It’s so hard!! But I think there’s so many ways to find deals on LEGO now that you’ll always be able to get a discount
I had FOMO on the new lego star wars sets. I had a plan for the tie bomber to wait till the price dropped later in the year, but I saw it selling out quickly here in the UK and we don't have the wonderful options that you guys have like Target and Walmart. Last wendesday I rushed out on a 30 mile round trip to get the star wars battle pack and the following day I got the bomber from my nearest lego store along with the new speed champion and the cool recycling truck. I am holding back on the jazz club until there is a gift with purchase that I actually want. The current gift with purchase harks back to after my childhood. Galaxy Explorer was more my time as a kid so I have more affinity with that set.
Here in South Dakota, eggs in my city are selling for $8.xx . Which means I'm def not buying eggs any time soon
Emma: cut back on LEGO
Someone: Limo time 😎
I have cut way back, just cant afford Lego right now, especially with the price of everything essential still going up.
I have very strict guidelines for myself with buying LEGO. I only buy on x2 VIP days or if there’s a deal at Target or on Rakuten. I have a budget of $1000 for the year and I can only buy sets that actually fit into the themes I’m collecting. A set has to be either Star Wars, Batman, Lord of the Rings, or I allow allotment for 2 sets that are not one of those themes. And within those themes, the sets have to be more displayable rather than a play set. So Star Wars helmets and USC are on my watch list and other 18+ sets. I do have a separate budget for holiday sets but they must fit into my winter village or Halloween village theme. I do plan on reducing my budget every year to be more conscientious about what I buy and to ensure I still have space.
Refreshing to see you cut back on spending. Constantly buying LEGO sets is incredibly unrealistic
Lego is such a good company. No other company would be letting you post this. Customer Service is perfect for lego hit them up. Right now just say hello.
I agree with having a budget and plan for Lego. I got back into Lego last year (2022) and I spent way too much money 😂.
Weirdly, 2023 is the year I got BACK into LEGO after the pandemic days. I don't think I can keep up with the LEGO TH-cam peeps. Although, little shelf space is my roadblock to buying more LEGO sets (since I have other non LEGO collectibles), not my wallet.
I usually only buy larger lego once or twice a year, and i dont go for the largest, just the modulars. I also never ever get lego sets on release, theres too much mania and theyll usually be out for long enough to give me time to buy it on sale or when its restocked.
I usually just buy the GWP in the after market since its way cheaper, im not spending over 100 every single time they put out a gwp thats only worth maybe $20 or $30
In my opinion the LEGO Store VIP is not that great. You have to buy a lot to accumulate VIP points that go towards discounts. Even when you amass a good deal of VIP points, whatever amount of VIP points that equates to dollar+ discounts, that discounted amount is subtracted from your new accumulated VIP points on a new purchase! It's total BS! Target/Walmart do a far better job of having sales on LEGO sets. It takes forever if at all for the LEGO Store to have sales.
Regarding budget spending on LEGO, I really don't go higher than spending $60 on one set. I bargain shop as much as possible with stores like Target and Costco. This really destroys my chances of ever buying any modular city or bigger Stars Wars sets.
i bought a house this last month so i had to rethink my lego shopping also .
you can take the metal chain off the keychain to display as an actual lego minifigure
I have cut down a lot on Lego, mostly because of cost (inflation) and space. Lego is really overpriced now.
Im going to focus more on sets i really want, and maybe wait for a sale. Because 2023 will be a big year for Transformers too.
Fun video, as always. Was the "slope piece" a chair? I usually just call the "L-shaped" piece a corner plate.
Looked like the chair piece if your referring to the L- shape piece she wanted to build a side of a cliff with.
I am disipline have only series 1 to 24 mini figures and Mr Gold. Even the mini figures is $6 a pack now in Canada.
and you get most of your sets free.....
I think if you target things for your city as a priority, you get a triple hit on the ROI: Shopping for it, Review It and place it in the city/city updates. You get the fun part and it helps off set the costs. Maybe do a rotation where every other month is a theme so like city/star wars/city/super mario etc and time it out based on waves.
You don't suck! You rock. Are you going to model the socks in an upcoming video?
I've run out space. I still haven't built mos eisley or the star destroyer, the creator pirate ship, the mando atst, a few force awakens sets, and the big avatar set. I'm going to put a cork in it myself. Regarding lego in general, the problem i have is they're largely showing an "evil corporate" face. They could raise prices, or they could make the models packing experience cheaper.. but they've done both. I could have taken either easily.. but both means they're just evil and i resent them for it. Ultimately im greatful lego doesn't "finish" or "get used up" so can enjoy the sets i have for as long as i can.
i sold all my lego sets i began investing in october of 2022, dont really have the time to wait 1-2 years to resell them. I'm mostly buying legos now to display especially the usc sets.
I have been a lego fan for more than 5 minutes and i can agree i am running out of space and only have. 5 big sets :( idk where to put my lego now
its so expensive now that I resort to buying good condition, used, disassembled, 100% complete parts, in zip lock bagies on ebay. I bought most of the 2022 collection at half the price and hardly used from ebay resellers who were repackaging their used sets in proper condition and still preserving the build experience. Saves me tons of money, and check my LIVE builds as I do many retired, rare old sets. Cheers!
You should do the grey seats as a rock face, I think it would be original and unique.
I got my first LEGO set in years recently and it reminded me how much I enjoyed them lol
I love lego sets but I always wait when them are in sale, because Even then I feel that I pay so much for them, it’s crazy the prices for lego
Wow..being a hardcore lego fan also means u r calculating almost everything😁
I am trying to do better with budgeting and figuring out how to come up with a strategy on how to get sets I really want as well! Like the Jazz Club, I'm waiting to get it when I can get a GWP I would like. I also write down all sets I have and how much I spend so I can visually see how much I have spent.
I need to pick up the creator 3 in 1 birdhouse and viking ship. I want to get another medieval blacksmith and maybe some extra pieces for some MOCs. I definitely want to get the lion King's castle but I have to save in order to get it and wait for a double points promotion at this point. Just wait for a sale or hit up the local bricks and minifigs.
Im following suit, concentrating on making mocs