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A lesson in LEGO obsession…

(Written by William)

Once you admit to yourself that you are an adult fan of LEGO, you will have taken the first step in an obsession that is impossible to avoid. Early fans may cringe at and envy older fans who spend thousands of dollars on LEGO. What these new fans don’t realize is something similar will happen to them as well – and soon enough. 😉

THE EARLY SIGNS OF LEGO ADDICTION

Holding off the inevitable usually starts with boundaries. For example, you realize you’re spending way too much on LEGO. Therefore, you tell yourself – in no uncertain terms – that you will only stick to certain LEGO  themes.

LEGO shopping is fun! by Dennis Coh

Many people can go years keeping firm to this mentality. Most people have better luck sticking to a month-to-month budget than certain LEGO themes though. However, eventually these artificial walls we build come crumbling down. It can be the silliest thing as a small set that you really want. It’s not in the LEGO theme you have planned to stick with or goes slightly over budget, but it’s exactly what you’ve always wanted.

Mind you, this stage does not necessarily apply to everyone. These stages are more common in those who don’t want to admit they’re obsessed and probably need an intervention. 😀

MAKING ROOM FOR LEGO

The next phase to look for is the “Making Room” stage. This is where you go from a single shelf of LEGO displays to clearing out multiple shelves for LEGO. You may even invest in additional shelving for this purpose.

Messy LEGO room before clean-up by Justin R.

LEGO is notorious for finding its way everywhere. It is relatively small, which means it doesn’t need a lot of room… at first. Don’t be surprised when you realize that LEGO is not only a hobby, but a decor theme for your home.

THE ODD LEGO PURCHASE

Finally, you cannot hide any longer when you realize you’ve just made an odd LEGO purchase that will blow your cover. To demonstrate, I’ll tell you about a LEGO purchase I made to get a deal.

Several weeks before the LEGO Collectible Minifigure Series 5 was scheduled for release, Toys’R’Us (TRU) had a “Buy-One-Get-One-50%-Off Pre-Order Deal!” This was fabulous since the Collectible Minifigures usually only go on sale after they’ve been marked above retail price. So, wanting to avoid paying shipping and handling, I went into one of my nearby TRU stores to place the order. (They give free ship-to-home service if you order this way.)

Unfortunately, the clerk informed me that you can only get the deal once per transaction. Well, I really wanted a full case worth (60 minifigures). That’s when I asked, “Do you mind doing 30 transactions?” 🙄

So, thirty transactions later, I walked out of the store having saved $45 off the retail price and $150 in shipping charges (if I had done the same thing at home). Then I figured I probably should contact my credit card company and let them know to expect this.

Well, the items were shipped and I got an email from my credit card company saying that some of the payments were held for fear of fraudulent activity. Evidently, one of the fail safes that the credit card companies have is only letting a certain amount of transactions take place during a single day. So my call ahead of time didn’t really help.

This led to an hour long conversation with my credit card company and TRU management making sure everything got straightened out. With a smile, I was assured all the items I’d ordered were on their way. Of course, I had no idea whether they’d send one big package or 30 separate ones.

The LEGO Collectible Minifigures arriving in separate packages…

As you might guess, thirty packages later I was sorting through pack after pack. Fortunately, I had enough people interested in the Collectible Minifigures that I was not stuck with any duplicates I didn’t want. I also spent time purchasing extras at regular price in case I needed to return any without losing any at the discounted price.

To my surprise, TRU decided to go from a no limit per purchase policy to a five per person for the Collectible Minifigures. That meant I couldn’t finish helping out all the members of my LUG that I had promised, but I did get a good start for them.

SUMMARY

The thing to keep in mind is that this is the eventuality when everyone in the home likes LEGO. There are cases where only one person simply tolerates it. In these cases, the collection will be contained along with your obsession by that other person. However, if everyone in the household loves LEGO, you should prepare yourself for the above steps. No matter how you try to control it, if you are a true fan, the LEGO will spread. 😈

If you feel like your LEGO addiction start to get out of hand, you might want to check out this humorous book: LEGO Book for the Brick-Addicted. The book is  available at Amazon.com. Click the link or the image below to check it out!

So what do you think? Are you addicted to LEGO? Is it taking over your life, your wallet, your living-space? Share your thoughts and discuss in the comment section below! Would love to hear other’s experiences! 🙂

{ 42 comments… add one }
  • cool post!

  • KING_BOO_XDDX September 15, 2012, 10:58 AM

    ok then…

    • NRG PYTHOR 42 September 15, 2012, 11:30 AM

      Im sure im not THAT addicted. Im not even an adult yet! 😀

  • CD's Lego Blog September 15, 2012, 11:14 AM

    I am addicted since my first Lego set

  • legostuff71 September 15, 2012, 12:25 PM

    Hi, I am a young adult and I’m addicted to LEGO. There are far worse things to be addicted to. I mean, nobody dies from this addiction . Maybe your bank account.

  • Lego Anonymous September 15, 2012, 12:39 PM

    I have a problem. I’m addicted to high quality moulded ABS plastic. In less than 1 year since I started, I’ve accumulated at least 300 minifigs and lots of bricks. Someone needs to start a LEGO anonymous site.

  • legodude19 September 15, 2012, 1:24 PM

    It’s a top-o-the-line addiction and its got a stranglehold on me. 😀
    Especially the part about it becoming decor, I’m only 14 but my room, and my piano, are begening to get crowded. Well that is when the piano isn’t be de-legoed….

  • KING_BOO_XDDX September 15, 2012, 10:05 PM

    i think imma post some hero factory mocs and news BUUUT how do i send photos? i dont have a camera maybe my 3ds could work……

  • KING_BOO_XDDX September 15, 2012, 10:10 PM

    i heard somone was SO addicted to lego that him and his girlfriend (met at a lego party ) go to everywhere in lego costumes 😮

    • KING_BOO_XDDX September 16, 2012, 7:15 AM

      and live outside tru

      • iLEGO+iBots August 15, 2014, 10:20 PM

        lol

  • Arthur September 16, 2012, 8:48 AM

    I’ll suggest that another sign of a Lego addiction in full swing occurs when you start buying sets for parts. Sometimes you buy duplicate of a set you already own. Sometimes you buy a set you don’t really like, simply because you read somewhere that it’s got unique parts that will be perfect for the next MOC you plan to build.

    • iLEGO+iBots August 15, 2014, 10:23 PM

      my FIRST Lego League team coach does that.

  • Dude September 16, 2012, 8:51 AM

    I am not sure if i am addicted well i got a tub of legos like umm.. 4 years ago and i have been collecting the hole time soo i think i am addicted and when i go to collage i want to get adegree to build legos in enfield CT

    {David}

    • iLEGO+iBots August 15, 2014, 10:24 PM

      your just like me only im 12

  • SKOUTLAW FOR LIFE September 16, 2012, 9:29 AM

    im brick adicted but not that adicted as pic 2

  • SKOUTLAW FOR LIFE September 16, 2012, 9:31 AM

    im adicted as the pic 1

    • lego king June 10, 2013, 8:58 PM

      now that i went through a spending spree Im 3 years of collecting away from that giant lego filled room

  • Tobymacboy September 16, 2012, 4:42 PM

    My room is taken over and lots of desks are covered……. But to even it out so I dont overflow I buy classic toys (Sonic the Hedgehog , Pac-Man) and display them on my computer desk.

  • Lori Woodel September 17, 2012, 4:51 AM

    I am so addicted….two bedrooms upstairs and the game room are dedicated to Lego display, storage, building area and 2 full file cabinets with instructions filed by set number, and magazines and catalog by date. Most of the art in my house is professional photography of Lego custom MOCs and vignettes, and Van Gogh’s Starry Night in mosaic. The fireplace mantle displays a vintage train depot and Maersk train set with dreams of a suspended Lego train set running through the house. Over 150 sets are waiting to be built, but first I must put the new Haunted House together! And I’ve only been doing this for 3 years!

    • admin September 17, 2012, 8:54 AM

      Lori, thanks for sharing! LOL! Looks like LEGO will soon run you out of the house! 😉
      You should definitely do a suspended train! That is my dream too! 😛

      • iLEGO+iBots August 15, 2014, 10:26 PM

        keep calm and go to a conserler it will be a safe pace just kidding your fine

  • Eric at A Lego a Day September 17, 2012, 9:21 AM

    I too am addicted to Lego. I buy sets for parts. I buy multiples of sets. I have dozens of unopened sets waiting to be parted out, built, or sold. I have creations throughout the house.

    And I wouldn’t change a thing!

    • admin September 17, 2012, 11:38 AM

      Good for ya! 😛

      • NinjaMelissa July 9, 2013, 11:12 AM

        Is there any Ninjago? I’ll take it if there are any! My entire desk and part of my dresser are covered in Ninjago sets!

        • iLEGO+iBots August 15, 2014, 10:27 PM

          MY BFF BRO KNOWS LIKE EVERYTHING ABOUT LEGO

  • VIE September 17, 2012, 9:50 AM

    OH dear , I ah well I really did not mean to buy that much but the price was good and I did not know when I could get back to the store and then they might be GONE then what do i do? So I just had to get them right ? right ? RIGHT????

  • Andy at www.smallplasticbricks.com September 18, 2012, 7:45 PM

    I have a 3 bedroom apartment by myself. One room is the display room, the other was the building room. The building room got so full with Stack-on storage containers that I moved it all to my living room and doubled capacity! Now I have 40+ containers with little compartments all sorted and labeled, back-to-back, and forming two aisles. I love to build and organize my bricks! 🙂 It’s an expensive, space consuming hobby, but it could be something worse.

    • admin September 18, 2012, 8:25 PM

      Andy, would love to see your LEGO space! Any pictures? 😉

  • cole September 19, 2012, 9:51 PM

    I really like lego. i started collecting when i was 7 and i’m 11 right now and i’m still collecting . right now i would say i got about 53. about 25 of them are ninjago , 13 of them are starwars,and a ton of space police a few city a few prince of persia

    • NinjaMelissa July 9, 2013, 11:13 AM

      Yeah! Ninjago is awesome! I am 15 but I only have 7 sets from seasons 2 and 3!

  • samuel October 2, 2012, 3:03 PM

    wow. i would not ever do that to get 60 mini-figures, ever

    good grief 30 orders

  • iLEGO+iBots August 15, 2014, 10:17 PM

    i have a lego problem if anyone gets near my legos i freak out! and im a 12 year old girl

    • admin August 16, 2014, 1:26 PM

      LOL! Yeah, I’m like that too! 😛

  • Tom Ryfiak September 24, 2014, 8:34 AM

    Legos are my primary addiction, but the eventual Middle Earth will be great for grandkids. I am somewhat different in the fact that I see Legos as something to be played with and not just displayed. I like to rebuild or alter the themed Lego sets to help them approach the descriptions in the books that they are based upon. My niece and nephew can take them apart but are required to help rebuild.

    • admin September 24, 2014, 10:26 AM

      Tom, thanks for sharing! Yes, LEGO is the most fun when you can share the building experience with kids! 🙂

  • Clumsybumsy October 31, 2014, 11:59 AM

    Addicted to LEGO bricks, well, you can call me that. But I can budget my LEGO spendings(easy for a TFOL).

    • admin October 31, 2014, 1:05 PM

      Yes, I’m not addicted either. I can stop at any time. 😉

  • Shhh May 24, 2017, 11:21 PM

    My cuz is an obsessive compulsive Lego nut, who falls under the hundreds of thousands blown category. Like many hobby enthusiasts he actually believes Lego is worth big money in long term. No thank you I’m a grown man that grew out of the Lego, Meccano, Zacks, Nintendo, Stamps, Coin, Model Kits collection a long time ago. I guess that makes me an overbearing, zealous, disruptive, wild imagination crushing one ton hammer. You remember those backyard kids that would screw up your Jenga or Domino setup? Yup I’m one of them now 😛

  • Patrick October 4, 2018, 1:03 AM

    I got myself addicted..started buying a Star Wars set that I thought was cool. Then, I discovered some sets I had as a kid, and purchased them, and was missing some instructions and a few random bricks. Then I bought a huge tub of legos off of Craigslist and found myself completing my incomplete sets I bought, and discovering parts for other vintage space sets in my newly acquired tub…now I’m hooked piecing together old sets ..

    • admin October 4, 2018, 2:04 PM

      Restoring old LEGO sets is a lovely hobby! Thanks for sharing! 🙂

  • megan May 18, 2021, 9:26 AM

    hello my name is Megan and I am addicted to lego and I was probably 8 years old when I started to get a lot more lego sets and now I am 11 years old and I am probably the over 20 and Lego sets I started out with five and then nine and now I’m up to probably 25 or more.

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