Living the Lego Life on a BUDGET | Just Say "NO" to Overspending! 

Thanks for calling it a luxury item. It is. I’ve limited myself on themes to keep my budget tighter. I’ve been saying NO to all the awesome castle/medieval stuff 😢😢😢 so I can save money for Modulars, Pirates, & Trains. I also won’t buy a set if I don’t love it-unless it’s on a meaningful discount (for example the Orient Express). I’m also doing some overtime to scrape together $$ for Rivendell, which is too epic to pass up.

For all 'normal' folks: look out for those nice 2nd hand collections. I've made some bricklink lists of nice city, creator and technic sets to have things sorted out in my mind already and be ready to strike when something pops up. It takes patience and time, but luck favours the prepared!

I like the idea of being grateful for what we have and not being anxious about what we don’t have. Well said.

Not even having all the money in this world I'd buy EVERY Lego set! I look at some huge collections and can't stop myself to think "that's just a chaotic bunch of too different themes". I prefer to focus on what I really like with the money I can spend, avoiding whole themes, or even certain sets inside a loved theme.

Im actually not intested in the buildings or modular sets or even most of the themed sets , what i do like are the animal and plant sets.

One of the things I do when buying Lego sets is, I arrange my wishlist based on the set’s retirement date and then further organize them by whether they’re high or low priority. That way, I can decide which sets I can get in the immediate future, which ones I can save for a later date, and which ones I want but don’t mind missing out on. It helps me visualize how much money I need to buy all the high-priority sets I want per year, and I can then break that budget down per month. I can also more easily decide if I have enough money to start buying the next year’s high priority sets, which also helps ease the burden on my wallet if the next year looks particularly expensive.

Huge respect for emphasizing that LEGO is meant to be fun (and enjoyed with friends and loved ones if that's your situation). The key, as you said well, is to appreciate what you have rather than fret over what you don't have. This applies to all facets of life, not just LEGO, and is increasingly difficult in our constantly connected world. The internet has become a vehicle for making us want to consume.

I am also also on a budget. I am thankful that I am mostly a MOC builder, as well as only really interested in medieval themed LEGO. It certainly helps to only be buying medieval sets and parts, and not having to spend money on other themes, like Modulars, Star Wars, Disney, etc.

I am retired now and money is getting tight. I started my Lego city 7 years ago while still working and having some disposable income. Since then, the world fell apart, the prices of everything has doubled and pensions designed to keep you “comfortable , 20-30 years ago”…..barely meet the monthly expenses now. I search online in Buy and Sell pages, etc. for inexpensive bulk Lego which is usually young people, or their parents selling Lego their kids aren’t interested in anymore. I’ve gotten some really good deals that way. I’m enjoying your channel. Nice to see the family involved. I would love to build with my son and grandson, but they live in Australia. Cheers from Canada 👍🎶😎🇨🇦

As I was watching this vid, I was thinking "thank you for calling LEGO a luxury brand." Content creators call it a premium product. I'm OK with it being referred to a "premium," but I think it is far more informative to call it LUXURY. I have recently realized I need to cut back on LEGO. I'm a fan of Castle, Pirates, and Vikings. But I also love Ninjago, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars episodes 1-6, and more recently the D&D set. So to cut back, I've had to unfortunately drop Eldorado fortress, Viking Village, Lion Knights Castle, and the Medieval Village. That's a lot of money right there. They are also some of the best LEGO sets we have seen. But I need to make cuts as I still want Rivendell and Ninjago City Markets. As of now, I am CONSIDERING dropping Mos EIsley Cantina from my Wanted List. But that's a maybe. Still more likely I buy it. However, I am making cuts in other ways. Selling off sealed sets that I know I won't love as much as what is currently on my wanted list. So cuts don't just have to mean that you're not buying. It can also mean selling.

Very much enjoyed this video. I’ve got two large IKEA Ivar shelves and four floating Lack shelves - that is the extent of my display space and I have limited my collection to what I am able to display on those shelves. My rule is that there is no backlog - if I want to buy another set then I sell one to make space. And if I can’t make my mind up and am unwilling to sell off a set to make space, then I simply say “no.” It’s a simple rule but it’s helped me tremendously from making poor financial decisions.

this really opened my eyes. I was doing exactly that and spending over few hundreds to thousands of dollar every month to follow up on lego influencers. I looked back and realized I didn't need any of those what I have gathered so far. My house is full of lego wall to wall and ton of unopened boxes. I won't buy lego again, period. I hate what I become of and what a mess I am in. Thank you for this great video.

The FOMO force is hard to resist. I’m doing my best to stick to two Lego themes. It’s a discipline that helps with budget and display space. Stay strong Lego friends. Lego Mos Eisley was my last big purchase.

Until my 29th birthday, i owned only three lego sets, two from my childhood and one i bought randomly during the groceries. It's been nearly 6 months since i really plunged thoroughly into the Lego world and i have to say my behaviour was and still is a little bit maniac and uncontrolled. With the discovery of the concept of retirement date, i wanted to buy immediatly every set i never knew about from the past years (medieval blacksmiths, gwp's, winnie, hidden side haunted high school...) + buying the exciting new sets from the last months... i have the bad habbit of spending money too much when i feel a little down in my life... Every promo or vinted good plan was a buying trigger to me. Nowadays i manage to settle limits in terms of theme to avoid superfluous purchases. I stick to medieval-castles / fantasy worlds stuff / western and little of pirate sets.

Nice video. I almost never buy sets day one unless there is a very worthy GWP which has only happened with 1989 Batmobile and Forestmen GWP. I find most of the time, I would sell the GWP to help bring the purchase price down. Waiting for sale is definitely the way to go with these expensive prices. With rebrickable instructions, I think the most successful ones are alternate builds with no additional parts as that also helps make it more affordable to build. Anyway, best of luck with your channel. I really enjoy your thoughts, MOCs and analysis!

Sound advice! I think I'm a little older than you but sounds like similar income and I also have 2 daughters who are into Lego. I came to all the same conclusions. One additional guide I have is letting the kids guide the purchases. Its our famiy hobby so I try to avoid sets I want most and get ones my kids want: Ninjago and Monkie Kid. Recently we expanded into Castle. Like your channel says. It's more fun building together!

Thanks for sharing! We’ve been WAY more intentional with our purchases in 2024. We’ve had a ton of satisfaction sorting used lots and finding “treasured” older sets for fractions of retail.

This is so relevant to my own thought process seeing so many haul videos. Thanks for the calm tempering of my expectations.

I find those "haul" videos completely unrelatable and rarely watch them. Even ones from youtubers I watch regularly.

Well done! I think this video was needed and kudos to you for putting it out there! I also follow a strict budget for my LEGO hobby and RU-vid channel, and say "No" to a lot of sets that I would love to buy.

My plan is very strict. I allow myself to spend $300 annually. Any $ I don't spend I add to the next year's budget. Also, I only buy let when it's below 75% MSRP. That means if the price is never right, I am okay with not having the set ever.

Great video; better message. Thanks for doing this.

Here are my tips. For buying NEW: check when a set retires, don't buy it when it comes out, wait and buy it at at least 20% off MSRP, if not 30% (very easy for most sets after a few months). For buying USED: check 2nd hand online platforms, buy multiple sets together (saves on shipping costs). Buying USED is usually cheaper and you'll be surprised by how many people sell used sets that have just come out for less than 50% off. You're gonna open the box and build it anyway, why pay the premium? Control yourself and don't throw money at LEGO for sets that are 90% overpriced (esp. IPs like Star Wars).

Great video as always 😊Lego is definitely a luxury item for me and my family. For birthdays, Christmas etc. I've actually purchased a few Funwhole sets to see what they were like and they are cheaper and very detailed, plus they are light kits and actually very beautiful 😍 I will always luv lego but do also like the Funwhole sets as well.

I love the advice in this video. So practical! ❤

I’m only interested in the Animal Crossing Lego, and building my own island. Sometimes I buy new stuff for it, sometimes I buy knock-ff Lego. That’s how I manage to keep my budget under €100,- each month.

that was a very good video. thank you for addressing that topic. i am very limited by space and money so i cant really buy a lot of what i would actually want to buy. there is the occasional impulse purchase when i get very excited about something but it's still done with at least some planning ahead in mind. otherwise, i have something that i call my "nonsense budget" which is there for luxury items. and if i exceed it, then that's it for the rest of the month. the "build smaller" advice is a very good point, too. not only is it more budget and space friendly but also quite the creative challenge because of the limitations it brings with it. i really appreciate your content!

Great video man. So many truths here. Like a lot of content on the internet, a lot of what people believe to be the norm, is a warped sense of reality. With Lego bringing out so many big sets, it’s just impossible for most people to get them all. I also hate when I see Lego related content when it leads with a headline of $1,000, $500, $2000 etc haul.

Totally agree with your POV. Though I am passionate about Lego since my childhood and have a city with trains and modulars growing slowly, I buy Lego mostly on sale, even if I have to wait for a year or two...which is hard and risky as most lego sets are retired from the market after that time. I think all those major Ytubers who belongs to the LAN (€mmasau8us, 8ricksi€ for the worst examples) are completely out of this world and lie about sets real qualities just to please LAN's policy. That's why I love to follow your videos because you are realistic about this so expensive hobby ! I care about having proper food and quality of life first, and I try to not spend too much in...plastic, just plastic, soon Lego will be more expensive than caviar per kilo... Sorry for the too long comment, keep on the good work. Regards from France.

You are so right about this. As my collection grows, I now have to pick and choose sets sometimes for budgeting and space constraints. I wait for specials on things that are not absolute for me or when there are GWPs that I would like and so on. I try to keep up with the sales and deals from other sites too. Great informational video.

It would have been wonderful if you could have built a MOC from two of the Snow White's cottage set ... I would love to be able to see that.

Thank you, good and informative!

Just found your channel and I love it! Thanks a ton for this video - very informative and helpful! I struggle trying to keep costs down for the Lego Yachts I do on my channel so I thank you!

This is a good video. There are very few RU-vidrs that will remind viewers about money management and not to be caught in a "Fear Of Missing Out" mindset. The last set that I bought on the day of release was Lego Ideas - Old Fishing Store. Since then, I always wait for sale.

Thank you for the video, totally agree with you

One thing I could probably get better at is not buying pieces I THINK I’m gonna want to use for building something in the future. Although in a few cases I could regret not buying certain pieces when I could have, this will help in the long term. Great video!

Wow, great video, thank you so much for sharing. I am now a new subscriber. :)

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I agree I'm every way. That doesn't make no easy but possible. Great video

One way to continue to enjoy the hobby while sticking to a realistic budget: don't stick with Lego. There are other brands out there that are releasing sets equal to or better than Lego in terns of design and quality--often for far lower prices. Being a Lego purist/elitist is fine if that floats your boat, but you're going to be spending way more than you need to and missing out on some killer building experiences/display pieces.

I’ve said no to a lot of sets I really want: Rivendell, Eldorado, Market Village. I’ve been buying smaller sets and figures, bc I just can’t justify the price of some those bigger sets ATM. I’d still love to get them, but not right now.

Unfortunately, I find most of the sets too expensive to buy, even when it is a set that I really want. I often wonder how some people can afford to spend the money because it's not just one expensive set, but on multiple ones several times a month, and it's not just the sets themselves, but all the other maintenance things that go with it, like Ikea bookcases, custom-made tables, city back drops, etc.... I wish Lego would concentrate more on making the 3 in 1 Creator sets that are in the £20 - £50 range, and design them so that you can build up a collection to make a big castle, etc, as it would solve some of the financial issues when it comes to buying. It's also sad that there are some themes that I wish they would do more sets around, like the LOTR/Hobbit ones, or go back to making the Simpson's sets.

Great video, this is a topic that I really wish was discussed more in our community

It would be great if Lego would hit the breaks a little. There's easily over 2k worth of sets right now in themes that Lego has ignored for a decade.

Thanks for make a video about this. I had to stop following at lot RU-vid channels for the unrealistic spending. It’s not my interest and when a set is released it will be in the store for most likely 2 years . I can buy it later

Alot of grat mocs on RB though in combination with BL can get just as expensive. Though its cheaper to have a backlog of introductions then a backlog of sets. Lego certainly is a pricey hobby. I also think it’s important to only get sets you truly like.

I did not realize you guys were the ones with the Botanical Garden instructions on Rebrickable. I have not purchased it yet, but I plan to. I prefer it over the 2 garden design that Bricksie featured (I think Brick Artisan made the instructions maybe). I appreciate this video. Getting back to reality when Lego does fantastic with marketing to trigger the fomo in all of us. I am always playing catchup as a new afol as of 2020. So I only focus on sets retiring this December. So I missed out on sales last year I didn't know about. And only just learned of Walmart Clearence, Kohl's Cash, and Target Red Circle strategizing to help the finances. And creating a priority order on the list. So all the new sets I will want to get next year (if they retire in 2025), or the year after, like Notre Dame and the Midi Scale. Black Friday is hard for me to fund when it competes with my MMO hobbies and I need to use it for Christmas shoping. Due to my family situation, I have to plan my shopping before Thanksgiving and be done and wrapped and prepared to travel with gifts the first 2 weekends of December. Si Black Friday helps a lot. PAB Wall is less tempting since the price hike with the boxes. It seems better to wait and order online down the road when I'm ready to moc. My biggest fomo trigger is the GWP. This year is worse than ever with how may offered and I pretty much want every single one so far (except the mimic chest). I'm catching up on my retired sets list slowly and retired gwp also off Bricklink or locally when not overpriced. If money was no object, I still wouldn't get the large Eiffel Tower, and UCS Millenium Falcon or AT-AT. I can't stomach those prices on a single full set regardless.

Oh, I almost forgot. There is an easy way to receive 'free' Lego: Lego events where they give out free sets. You only pay with your time (waiting 1hr in a queue). That way I get 3,000 free bricks per year.

I mostly stick to Castle related theme. I stay away from City, Modulars and most licensed theme like Star Wars. Sure, I do buy HP but mostly the small sets. My weakness would be army building that can be expensive. I have since scaled down as I dont need a few hundred soldiers.

Agree - I usually on a budget most of the time or watch for sets on sale - Also I usually buy sets I want or like. My channel is new and as long as viewers like the sets I post. Awesome. - Keep it fun

I think one of the big issues I have at the moment is that Lego is releasing so many expensive sets, back in the early 2000s the Death Star Playset was amazing big deal because it was a big one off expensive set, they’re now releasing expensive sets almost every month now far too many to even attempt to keep up with, prices are a problem too, I used to collect the Modulars and get one a year for birthday but they’ve over doubled in price since I first got them

Great video 👍🏽 Did you consider buying alternative brands like Mould King, Panlos, FunWhole, Pantasy? They are having great sets with high quality bricks for about half the price of a comparable Lego set and they are 100% compatible.

Correct opinion

Very well put!!! I find that message so oppressing. And I'm starting to fed up with some RU-vid channels.

well said, I try to avoid those big haul videos... just does not seem like good use of my time to see someone flex on how much they can buy and by me watching it then gives them the views and revenue to buy it for them... I like reviews and people who make creative things that I find inspiring. I love all the classic remakes but have had to limit just to classic castle and not space, or other cool things like the Dune copter thing. But I still get a lot of animals and mins on ebay so I definitely overspend...

My name is Liam, and I'm a Legoholic.

The most educational thing about this great video is saying without saying how much the math doesn’t check out for a few professional RU-vidrs who I won’t mention by name. Either that ambassador program or RU-vid pays these people better than any job on the planet, or they made a deal with the devil. Could be both. All I know is, the math doesn’t math for a handful of professional LEGO RU-vidrs.

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Thank you for this video. It is something I needed to hear. Recently I have overspent on Lego sets and got into debt. The bank ended up foreclosing on my Avengers Tower leading to many of my Lego figs living on the streets. Hopefully I have turned a corner and learned my lesson.

Here is a good idea. Don't have a family. Be single and don't have kids. More money and LEGO for yourself. That's what I do so my budget is a lot higher. Lol

I think this type of video is a much voice of reason. Unfortunately i think the big lego youtubers are a victim of there success and dont showcase the reality of lego for the peiple watching those videos. Its obnoxious seeing them pick up high priced sets as though its nothing to them. I believe influencers have a responsibility to showcase the creative side of lego, not the clickbait thumbnail with gasps holding lego bags and thousands of dollars plastered over them.

I've worked a ton of conventions over the years, and pretty much all of these 'massive collection' retro game / toy / whatever influencers were born well off. It's incredibly unhealthy to look at their perfect collections and compare yours to it.

Not a fan of release day haul videos. They are all buying the same sets and just spending a lot of money. I buy most of my lego at 20% off plus use a store CC that will give me an extra 5%. I do like the occasional ebay or whatnot haul video where a youtuber buys older sets. Usually they found a good deal or found set in their niche that they had been looking for. More of a treasure hunt rather than "look at all the stuff I bought" video.

First: I hate Haul Videos. It's just lazy content for RU-vidrs who have money (or a sponsor) but no creative ideas. I appreciate you presenting MOCs. Who cares about the 23rd review of an official Lego set anyway? But you forgot one Tip for Brick Builders on a budget: Look beyond Lego. And no, I don't suggest buying rip-off copies of official lego sets or stolen rebrickable designs from cheesy Chinese vendors. But there are alternative brands that offer their own designs (or pay external designers). Most of them are much cheaper than Lego and their designs are often more oriented toward adults. Brick quality used to be an issue, but those brands are getting better and better every year. I have modular buildings from Polish designer Brickative sold by Zhe Gao, that make Lego's modular buildings (which I still love!) look like Duplo sets. No official Lego castle comes even close to Bluebrixx's Castle Blaustein in terms of number of parts, design and realistic look (though I have to admit that building the set wasn't really funny). And that for half the price of the Lion knight castle. Or the Fishing Clipper from the same company. It cost me 60€ and is larger than most ships that Lego ever sold. Not to mention the hundreds of little details. What I like most about this clipper: it has a believable size (about the size of the Lego Mustang) while still representing a small clipper that is manned by two or three fishermen. And it looks great next to my Lego Ideas lighthouse. Cada and Mouldking have technic models, that still have technical functions (Lego lost a lot in that department). Funwhole sells modular buildings with built in lighting that still allow the owner to take off the separate floors of the building. So, if you are on a budget and still you want to build cool sets with plastic bricks, take a look beyond Lego. You can thank me later.

Those Lego channels are so misleading, they give the middle aged men FOMO about everything.

I’m glad for what you’re take actually is… because the phrasing of your title could be read as the opposite. “Say no to budget”. Not sure titles can be edited but…