Bargaining with the family

tdhbr

So my wife and kids want a dog. I don't (but that's a discussion for the vat vs. dog forum on another website). I know I'll give in eventually, but I started wondering what I can get out of it. Helm's Deep? All the LOTR sets? New, sealed Cafe Corner? My own LEGO room?

Has anyone else used LEGO as a bargaining tool with a family member? What did you give and get?

joee

My wife won't let me and the kids get a dog so I say just let them have one. Though saying you need a lego room to keep the dog out is a good idea.

mattheww888

Hey, why not? I went on a week long vacation to visit my wife's family in OH (we drove from NY), so I told my wife while we're down there, we can visit a Lego store (never even saw one before this past March). I ended up getting the Death Star out of it. :)

graphite

I would say do it even without bargaining for something else. Dogs are a great addition to a family. I wish I could have one now but I like bigger dogs and don't feel apartment living is best for them so I'll just stick with my fish for now.

mressin

Dogs generally like chewing on Lego. Go demand your room.

Brickarmor

I have two Great Danes that sleep 90% of the time. Don't get a small dog that loves to jump on everything. And, depending on your finances, a dog can take a bite out of the Lego budget. Oh, and short hair, gotta have short hair dogs.

graphite

^ Or a dog that doesn't shed or smell, like a Standard Poodle.

tdhbr

Thanks for the comments .. except the dog isn't the point. All families make compromises, and with this group I'm expect many of those are like "you get this, and I get (something related to LEGO)." That's what I was asking about. I like @mattheww888 's story - anyone else have anything?

nkx1

Are you really sure you want to compromise on a pretty major life-changing addition (for better or worse) to the family for a few plastic bricks? I love Lego, but hopefully you have taken into account the totality of the impact of a dog to your life.

While I know they can be great companions, they are also a huge responsibility, assuming you plan to be a responsible owner (since you and the wife are the adults, it's obviously your ultimate responsibility to take care of the dog if the kids get bored with it). It's expensive to buy quality food; it's expensive to take them to the vet when sick; it's expensive to have them watched when on vacation; it's a lot of work to take them on a walk every day. It's also a hassle if you have neighbors nearby and they complain about the dog if it barks (can lead to fines, strained neighborly relations, etc).

Just me, but I would have a very hard time agreeing to a dog (if you don't want one) in exchange for a few Lego sets... Just my $.02

Oh, and to answer your question directly: Nope, I pretty much just buy Legos when I feel like it (no bargaining required). Not sure if that might change if/when the wife and I have a kid.