Collecting Guilt

Comments

• nkx1 Member Posts: 719

  November 2012 edited November 2012

  If you have sufficient discretionary income to spend on Lego, I wouldn't feel too guilty about it. It's a hobby of sorts; it's perfectly normal to spend a few bucks on your hobby.
  
  If you feel guilty about over-consumption of non-essential plastic toys that will, in all likeliness, eventually end up in a landfill and leach VOCs (such as vinyl chloride) into soil and groundwater and pollute the planet for future generations, well, that might be justified lol. Of course, I'm a guilty party, too!

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• Renny Member Posts: 1,145

  November 2012 edited November 2012

  Hmm..not sure you should be feeling guilty about buying something you enjoy. I used to be a little embarrassed buying Lego early on since it is marketed as a kids toy but I got over that after a little while.
  
  Look at it this way, you set that money aside to obviously enjoy so why feel guilty spending it on Lego? If it helps make you feel better a lot of Lego sets retain a good portion of their value even used, so if you feel any guilt just remember you can probably reclaim some if not most of your initial investment if you choose to move on.
  
  Just wanted to add, as long as you don't extend yourself financially and say.. buy Lego instead of paying bills or essentials than you should be good. It's when it becomes an obsession and you start losing track of your spending habits that guilt plays a role and is legit.

  

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• brickmatic Member Posts: 1,071

  November 2012 edited November 2012

  "I want you to be yourself. Y'know, boy, guilt is like a bag of f-----' bricks. All ya gotta do is set it down." -- John Milton in The Devil's Advocate
  
  Ironically, in your case, the guilt is LITERALLY a bag of bricks.

  

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• Englishbob Member Posts: 24

  November 2012

  Believe me, it's not a hugely guilty feeling, just a vague sense that I should be slightly more responsible like putting more in my 401k.
  Being a fiscally responsible adult sucks. Wish I was twelve again lol.

  

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• Renny Member Posts: 1,145

  November 2012

  As long as you are putting in enough to match your companies 401K contribution you shouldn't feel any guilt there. Of course the more the better but that's up to each individual's own financial situation.

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• nkx1 Member Posts: 719

  November 2012

  ^I agree. As long as you're on track to reach whatever retirement goals you have, have one year of living expenses in the bank, blah blah blah, then I would think it's fine to spend a few $$ on Lego. You can't save every penny you make. Well, you can, but life would be extrmely boring!

  

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• Renny Member Posts: 1,145

  November 2012

  ^Can't help but think of Uncle Scrooge swimming in his vault of gold ;)

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• Brickarmor Member Posts: 1,258

  November 2012 edited November 2012

  This thread pretty much explains that @englishbob is an ABS gobbling sociopath. The gobbling is fine, it's the guilt that makes it sociopathic.
  
  http://www.bricksetforum.com/discussion/2928/how-do-you-buy-lego-on-a-budget/p1
  
  Kidding obviously. No, you are certainly not alone in the feeling you get whenever you stop a minute to ponder the total: "let's see, uh, there was $60 for the um... Then $140 for that whatsitcalled... $210 when I oh I'm getting dizzy..."
  
  But to your question "will the guilt fade?"
  Yes. Absolutely. It will mutate into PRIDE!

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• Englishbob Member Posts: 24

  November 2012

  Ha-ha, not sure what an ABS is but the gobbling sociopath part is most definitely not true particularly not the gobbling!
  And yes, despite the slight guilt I am proud of my burgeoning collection and the spare bedroom it has enabled me to take over BWAHAHA!

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• brickmatic Member Posts: 1,071

  November 2012

  ABS=acrylonitrile butadiene styrene

  

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• Eric Member Posts: 376

  November 2012

  I remember reading on here once, that it's better to spend it on Lego than spend it on drinking or gambling.

  

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• nkx1 Member Posts: 719

  November 2012

  ^Unless you're a winning gambler (such as a skilled poker player) or a winning drinker (such as Charlie Sheen).

  

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• Jezebel_19 Member Posts: 31

  November 2012

  If it makes you feel any better your not the only one out there doing this. I have also recently taken up collecting lego and can't believe how much I've purchased in the last couple of months, but I love it and enjoy it so much that I would want to have to give it up.
  And at first I felt really weird about enjoying lego until I saw there are so many adults that also enjoy this pleasure.
  So I say don't feel guilty, you should be able to enjoy your hobby.

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• Bumblepants Member Posts: 7,638

  November 2012

  It is difficult to explain Lego addiction to other folks at the office or wherever, but when someone comes to your house and sees a giant Sopwith Camel on the mantle or a giant R2-D2 they are always blown away

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• akunthita Member Posts: 1,038

  November 2012 edited November 2012

  My grandparents who lived thru WWII in Europe always divided their income to necessities, savings, emergencies, play/hobbies, charity and education. They took out the money that was needed for necessities for the month, and whatever was left was divided equally between the other categories and kept them in marked envelopes.
  
  No matter they were poor, they always gave something in charity, and always had some money for play, and always got some books to read for the family. Even if it was something very little. My grandmother used to say that we need to keep balanced no matter how horrible the world around us, or how little we make. In fact it seems that people who go thru tough times unnderstand the importance of this balance even more. My grandma used to buy cut flowers from the play envelope to put at the dining table. She said it was important to remember there are beautiful things in the world - even if everyday life doesn't always readily suggests that.
  
  So if you feel some lingering guilt, I would suggest you look at your financial situation and establish a balanced budget for all areas of your life. That way whatever you spend your play/hobbies money, you know exactly how much you can spend and do so guilt-free, because you know you are feeding your mind and spirit - and the mind and spirit needs care and feeding too, not just the body....(c;
  
  

  

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• peterlinddk Member Posts: 170

  November 2012 edited November 2012

  I have been an AFOL for two years now, and still feel guilty when I look at the receipts for my purchases. But I can afford it - I've set a maximum on how much I am allowed to spend each month, and if I go over, I have less to spend next month, but not the other way around: if I don't reach my limit, I don't get to spend even more next month.
  
  It kinda works - as long as the numbers are in my head and not in an actual spreadsheet ;)
  
  It also helps that the very first set I bought was the #10212 Imperial Shuttle, and everytime I buy something I say to myself: "well, at least it isnt as expensive as the Imperial Shuttle".
  
  Some of my friends joke that I might need therapy to stop shopping LEGO, so I've actually calculated that therapy would cost a lot more ;)

  

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• murphquake Member Posts: 651

  November 2012

  @akunthita you have very wise grandparents =-) Kinda makes me wish I wasn't always sticking my money in the bank, I'd probably be much better at budgeting that way... I wonder where i could get a really big envelope for the Lego money though =-D

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• FollowsClosely Member Posts: 1,332

  November 2012

  akunthita said:

  My grandparents who lived thru WWII in Europe always divided their income to necessities, savings, emergencies, play/hobbies, charity and education...
  

  One thing I appreciate here is the focus on balance. Bills/Give/Save/Spend, don't forget any category. Some people ignore the spend and save too much, while others spend and save but show no charity. Balance is a wonderful thing, yet it escapes so many.
  

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• vwong19 Member Posts: 1,191

  November 2012

  If it helps, buying Lego to a degree is part of the "save" or "invest" category. You may find that you will get tired of some of your collection and have a desire to part with them. Often the value of the set will increase so you accomplish saving/investing with play.... or if you do not want to sell then there are charities or organizations out there that are willing to take Lego donations, such as Toys for Tots (unopened), pre schools, Goodwill and Brickset announces many events as well.

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• plantman Member Posts: 97

  November 2012

  The only problem I have isn't really guilt, it's when friends come over for the first time, see all my sets and give me a "what the hell is wrong with you?" look...

  

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• Englishbob Member Posts: 24

  November 2012

  Friends....?.......at my house?.......never

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• AFFOL_Shellz_Bellz Member Posts: 1,263

  November 2012

  Englishbob said:

  Believe me, it's not a hugely guilty feeling, just a vague sense that I should be slightly more responsible like putting more in my 401k.
  Being a fiscally responsible adult sucks. Wish I was twelve again lol.

  People who have hobbies tend to live longer so just think of it as putting years into your life fund and the amount that goes in your 401k will balance out! Enjoy the bricks!
  

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