Hey there, fellow LEGO enthusiasts and curious investors! Today, we’re gonna chat about something that might sound a little crazy at first: LEGO as an investment. Yep, you heard that right. Those colorful little bricks that have been punishing bare feet for decades? Turns out, they might just be your ticket to financial success. Who knew?
I remember when I first stumbled into the world of LEGO investing. I was cleaning out my parents’ attic and found my old LEGO collection. On a whim, I looked up the value of some sets online. Let’s just say, I nearly fell off the ladder when I saw the prices. Who would’ve thought my childhood toys could be worth more than my car?
Did you know that some LEGO sets have appreciated in value by over 2000%? That’s right, folks. While we were all distracted by boring old stocks and bonds, LEGO was out there quietly outperforming the market. It’s enough to make you want to build a time machine and go back to tell your 10-year-old self to stop chewing on those bricks and start hoarding them instead!
So, grab your favorite minifigure (for good luck, of course), and let’s dive into the wild world of LEGO investing. Just remember, this isn’t financial advice – I’m a LEGO enthusiast, not a Wall Street wizard. Although, given how some of my LEGO investments have performed, maybe I should consider a career change…
The Building Blocks of LEGO Investing: Understanding the Market
Alright, let’s start with the basics. LEGO investing isn’t just about buying a bunch of sets and hoping they’ll be worth something someday. I mean, that’s part of it (and it’s the fun part), but there’s a bit more to it than that.
When I first dipped my toes into LEGO investing, I thought I had it all figured out. “I’ll just buy a ton of Star Wars sets,” I told myself. “Those are always popular!” Cut to me, a year later, surrounded by unsold Millennium Falcons and wondering if I could build a real-life X-Wing to fly me out of my bad decisions.
Here’s the thing: like any market, the LEGO market has its trends, its ups and downs, its surprises. It’s not just about what’s popular now, but what might be popular in the future. And let me tell you, predicting that is about as easy as building a Death Star blindfolded.
One thing I’ve learned is that rarity often equals value. Limited edition sets, retired sets, even those weird promotional sets that LEGO sometimes releases – these can be gold mines. I once got my hands on a Mr. Gold minifigure from Series 10 of the Collectible Minifigure series. Let’s just say, that little golden guy paid for a very nice dinner. And by dinner, I mean more LEGO sets.
But here’s the catch: not everything rare becomes valuable. I’ve got a closet full of “limited edition” sets that are about as valuable as a bucket of random bricks. It’s all about supply and demand, folks. And sometimes, the demand part is as unpredictable as a toddler with a sugar rush.
Oh, and here’s something else I’ve learned: condition matters. A lot. That Death Star you built and played with for years? Sorry, but it’s probably not going to fund your retirement. Sealed, mint condition sets are where the big bucks are. Which leads to the eternal collector’s dilemma: to open, or not to open? I swear, I’ve lost sleep over this question.
One more thing: keep an eye on LEGO’s production cycles. When a set is about to be retired, that’s often a good time to buy. I’ve made some of my best investments by snagging sets just before they disappeared from shelves. Of course, I’ve also ended up with more Bionicle sets than I know what to do with, but hey, you win some, you lose some.
Remember, LEGO investing is as much an art as it is a science. And sometimes, it feels more like a wild guessing game. But that’s part of the fun, right? Just maybe don’t quit your day job to become a full-time LEGO investor. At least, not without building a solid emergency fund first. Preferably not out of LEGO bricks.
The Thrill of the Build: Strategies for LEGO Investing
Alright, now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s talk strategy. Because as much fun as it is to just buy a bunch of LEGO sets and call yourself an investor, there’s a bit more to it than that. Trust me, I learned this the hard way.
First things first: diversify, diversify, diversify! I know, I sound like a boring financial advisor. But hear me out. Just like you wouldn’t put all your money into one stock, you don’t want to put all your LEGO eggs in one brick basket. (Is that a thing? It should be.)
I learned this lesson when I went all-in on Star Wars sets. Don’t get me wrong, Star Wars LEGO is awesome. But when the market got saturated, I was left with more Stormtroopers than the Empire. Now, I try to spread my investments across different themes. A little Star Wars here, some Harry Potter there, throw in some Creator Expert sets for good measure.
Another strategy: keep an eye on pop culture trends. LEGO often releases sets tied to movies or TV shows. If you can predict the next big hit, you might just strike gold. Of course, this can backfire too. Let’s just say I’m still waiting for my Sharknado LEGO sets to appreciate in value.
Oh, and here’s a pro tip: don’t ignore the smaller sets. Everyone focuses on the big, expensive sets, but sometimes it’s the little ones that surprise you. I once bought a bunch of small Minecraft sets on clearance. Turns out, those tiny trees and Creepers were worth their weight in gold a few years later.
Now, let’s talk about storage. If you’re serious about LEGO investing, you’re going to need space. Lots of space. I started out storing sets in my spare room. Then the garage. Now? Let’s just say my car hasn’t seen the inside of the garage in years. But hey, at least it’s protected from hail, right? Right?
Here’s something else to consider: to build or not to build? Sealed sets are generally worth more, but there’s always a market for complete, built sets too. Plus, building them is half the fun! I’ve found a middle ground by buying two of some sets – one to build and enjoy, one to keep sealed. My wallet hates me, but my inner child is thrilled.
And let’s not forget about LEGO minifigures. These little plastic people can be surprisingly valuable. I once sold a single minifigure for more than the entire set it came from. Now that’s what I call a return on investment!
Finally, remember that patience is key. LEGO investing is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It’s more of a get-rich-slowly-while-surrounded-by-awesome-toys scheme. Some of my best investments took years to appreciate. But hey, at least the waiting is fun when you’re surrounded by cool LEGO sets.
Just remember, at the end of the day, LEGO investing should be fun. If you’re not enjoying the process, maybe stick to mutual funds. They’re not as fun to play with, but they’re a lot easier to store.
The Dark Side of the Brick: Risks and Challenges in LEGO Investing
Alright, let’s get real for a minute. As much fun as LEGO investing can be, it’s not all rainbow bricks and minifigure profits. There are some risks and challenges you should know about. Consider this the “dark side of the Force” section of our LEGO investment journey.
First up: storage. I mentioned this before, but it bears repeating. LEGO sets take up space. A lot of space. When I first started, I thought, “No problem! I’ve got plenty of room!” Cut to a few years later, and I’m considering renting a storage unit just for my LEGO investments. My wife is not amused.
And it’s not just about space. Proper LEGO storage is crucial to maintaining value. Heat, humidity, sunlight – these are all enemies of the LEGO investor. I learned this the hard way when I stored some valuable sets in my attic. Let’s just say plastic and summer heat don’t mix well. Now I have some very unique, very worthless “melted edition” sets.
Next up: market unpredictability. Just because a set is rare doesn’t mean it’ll be valuable. I once bought a bunch of a limited edition set, certain it would skyrocket in value. Spoiler alert: it didn’t. Now I have a closet full of LEGO Fabuland sets that not even my kids want to play with.
And let’s talk about the elephant in the room: fakes. Yep, just like any valuable collectible, the LEGO market has its share of counterfeiters. I once thought I’d scored an amazing deal on a rare set, only to discover it was about as genuine as a plastic Rolex. Now I’m paranoid and spend way too much time examining tiny plastic logos.
Oh, and here’s a fun one: LEGO’s own re-releases. Just when you think you’ve got a valuable retired set, LEGO decides to re-release it. I watched the value of my UCS Millennium Falcon plummet faster than Han Solo made the Kessel Run when LEGO announced a new version. Not cool, LEGO. Not cool.
Let’s not forget about the time investment. LEGO investing isn’t just about buying sets and waiting. It’s about constant research, tracking market trends, hunting for deals. I spend more time on LEGO forums and auction sites than I care to admit. My browser history looks like it belongs to a very ambitious 10-year-old.
And finally, there’s the biggest risk of all: losing the joy. It’s easy to get so caught up in the investment side that you forget why you loved LEGO in the first place. There have been times when I found myself looking at a beautiful new set and thinking only about its potential resale value, not how fun it would be to build. That’s when I knew I needed to step back and remember why I started this crazy journey in the first place.
So, is LEGO investing worth it? For me, absolutely. But it’s not for everyone. It requires patience, research, space, and a willingness to occasionally explain to your friends why you have more LEGO sets than furniture. But if you can navigate the risks and challenges, it can be a fun and potentially profitable hobby. Just maybe don’t tell your financial advisor that your retirement plan involves little plastic bricks. Trust me on that one.
Conclusion
Whew! We’ve been on quite the journey through the world of LEGO investing, haven’t we? From the thrill of finding a rare set to the agony of watching your carefully curated collection take over your living space, it’s been a wild ride.
You know, as I sit here surrounded by my LEGO investments (and yes, I do mean surrounded – I’m pretty sure my couch is more LEGO than furniture at this point), I can’t help but reflect on this crazy hobby/investment strategy/possible midlife crisis.
Is LEGO investing going to make you rich overnight? Probably not. Is it a guaranteed path to financial success? Definitely not. But is it a fun way to combine your love of LEGO with the potential for profit? Absolutely!
At the end of the day, LEGO investing is about more than just making money. It’s about the thrill of the hunt, the satisfaction of a good find, and the joy of being part of a passionate community. It’s about holding a piece of childhood nostalgia in your hands and knowing that it might just help fund your future.
So whether you’re a seasoned LEGO investor with a vault full of rare sets, or you’re just starting out and wondering if that old bucket of bricks in your attic might be worth something, remember this: have fun with it! Enjoy the process, learn from your mistakes (trust me, you’ll make some), and never lose sight of why you fell in love with LEGO in the first place.
And hey, if all else fails, at least you’ll have plenty of LEGO to play with while you figure out your next investment strategy. Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I hear a new limited edition set calling my name. Time to go invest in some more plastic! Happy building, and may your investments always stack up nicely!