Buying dolls on credit?

Well for me my credit card has no interest. But I really do believe it is the same. Because really your saving away money that sometimes needs to be used for other thing. And when you are saving up sometimes you just have to pay something and use the money you are saving. It happens, I've been there plenty of times. But if you can buy it straight up then do it, if use a credit card more power too you as well. All in all your buying something you want it shouldn't really matter how you purchase it.

 

Huh, so how is the bank making money with it? Is there an annual fee? Or do you just mean "for me" in that you always pay off the balance?


I ask because I think one of the things that gets tricky in this thread is that sometimes people mean different things when talking about the same financial situation (like "not having debt" when they really mean "not having consumer debt" or "not having credit" when they really mean "not having credit cards").

I don't think you really mean that - after all, if it didn't matter then everyone could just go to a loan shark! I mean, it's nice to say that everyone should do what makes them comfortable and of course we don't need to be judging other people's financial decisions when we don't have all the details, but there are still limits to everything, and money is no different.

 

Have you ever bought a LE doll before? You've clearly never stumbled upon an amazing deal in the Marketplace (your post count is too low). This isn't always an option.

 

This is true. What I meant though by that is we end up buying the things we want in the end, how we go about that is our way. May it be through credit or saving up. The end result is we're happy because we have what we wanted. Also, what I meant by for me having no interest is that I have no annual interest rate. Plus I pay off more then the minimum balace dues each month.

 

I've been sorta up in the air over this. I know I wont be able to up and buy a doll from my account, but my income isn't strong enough to support a bigger credit card bill. I was unemployed a while back and raked up a large-ish cc bill.

After reading this, I guess I'll be working more hours and saving every little bit

 

I've got enough to worry about with student loans, unfortunately-- and I'm not the most financially-knowledgable person in the world, so I try to keep my situation as simple as possible by just using only what I have in my checking account-- and saving whatever I can afford to save for my wee ones.

I really only tend to buy dolls when a holiday comes around and I get gift money, anyway. ^^;

 

I do use a Credit Card through Paypal when I buy my dolls, but I don't ever buy any doll related item unless I have enough money to pay it back right away. (This is only because I do not feel comfortable linking to my bank account.) My credit card company is very cautious and if anything looks halfway suspicious they will not allow it to go through. Sometimes that's a pain but...hey, better than them being the opposite!

 

I probably commented here before, but I'll do it again anyway.

I got a large order on layaway right now. Probably a lot more than I should be spending, but I know I have enough at the end of the day.

The fact of the matter is I'm not going to live in austerity while the top wealthy 1% and/or the bankers plot some new way of scamming everyone out of their money and their jobs. Some people commented here that dolls might not have any value in a few years... Money might not have as much value either! But who knows? Maybe the dolls will just go up in value! Since I've been in the hobby, there's much more $1000 fullsets, and much more people buying. I haven't seen dolls go down in value, but going up lately!

Maybe I should have "rainy day" funds. But the way I see it, I would rather be happy at the best time of my life, than be saving for the days when I can no longer work or get around much. Because if dolls and money fall in value in the future, who knows what would happen to us. Maybe I'll drop dead in the next couple of years and all that saved money will just be for nothing! Seriously, I'm just not going to worry about saving just yet when there is so many unaccounted for variables. I mean if the wealthy can destroy the global economy so easily, it wouldn't be difficult for them to do it again. And all that saving would be for nothing. Maybe in a couple of years I can afford to save, but not just yet.

 

I bought my second doll with my credit card. AFTER I saved the money for her. That way, I can build credit, but by using the money I saved to pay the bill I'm not struggling. This is my system. Lol

 

I think it's awsome that the alternative is there. Maybe there's a limited doll that you really want but can't afford right now and so on. I mean, these dolls don't come cheap.

But I would never buy a doll on credit. In fact, I never buy anything on credit, and Im proud of that.
I think you gett a crooked sense of money if you keep spending money that you don't have on stuff you want. Many people get stuck in that vicious circle every year, and I don't want to be one of those people.

I do feel that I earned my doll when I paid for it right away, and I really think that it makes the doll more valuable to me. Can't speak for everyone else though

 

I have bought a doll with my cc before, although it's something I try not to do. However that'll be like my only big purchase on my cc at the time, so in that way I can sort of justify it and am able to pay it back quickly! I mean I think if you get carried away and are constantly charging purchases then that's not a good thing, but if something is a LE or even maybe just a doll you have really been wanting...I don't see why it would be a problem to put it on credit ^_^ I prefer not to, but like I said I have before. So long as you know how to manage your money and all lol.

 

I would not pay my doll with credit card, because I have a very short Limit. And it would have not make any difference here in Germany. The shipping time is the same.

 

I normally save and buy my dolls all in one go. If it's more expensive they I ask if there's layaway for it, that's what I'm doing on a limited doll right now :3 I just don't feel I've earned my doll if I haven't fully payed it off before she or he comes in. Tho I don't have a credit card for a reason XD knowing my luck I'd someone max it in a day -knocks on wood-

 

Very true. I grew up in a very restrictive environment, and that included restrictions on how to spend money, even if it was money I'd already earned for myself. (I started working part time as soon as I hit the legal age, while I was in high school.) And while some of the restrictions may have been overkill, they did teach me to have restraint and set priorities. Unfortunately, when I got out on my own for the first time, I was so thrilled to be able to do whatever I pleased that I went overboard - and that eventually included spending money I hadn't made yet. Some things were for myself and some were for friends who couldn't afford much. I rationalized it, saying I'd be able to pay it all off since I had a good full time job. But I lost that job, and things got very messy very quickly.

So now, I'm very cautious. My first few dolls were either very inexpensive for BJDs or were paid off on layaway installments. Now I have more money, but I want to make sure I can hold onto money as well. I pay my bills, pay for necessities, treat friends on occasion but am grateful for friends who do the same for me and don't rely on my wallet every time we go out. I live alone and don't have to support anyone but myself and my cats, so that makes my situation much simpler - I try to make the most of the fortunate situation I'm in now while still remembering that everything could change and no thing is permanent - whether that thing be money, dolls, financial security or life itself.

But that doesn't mean I don't understand why credit can be a nice option, and there are people who can manage their use of it very well. I just haven't chosen to rely on it myself at this time. I have a Paypal account tied to my checking, and for places that don't take Paypal, a debit card tied to my checking. I have two credit cards that are currently paid off and not needed. I hope I don't have to rely on them again, but for emergencies, they're around.

 

I used to pay my dolls with a credit card through paypal because it was the easiest way. HOWEVER, I would not spend money I don't have!
so basically, if I needed something, I gave the cash to my mom and she would allow me to use her credit card.

I would never ever buy something as expensive and not essential as a doll on credit thinking I will surely have the money to pay off the credit bill at the end of the month <.<
I am not even sure I ever want to buy a doll on layaway again! you just don't know what could happen by then! my mom keeps telling me no whenever I want to buy a book or movie these days because we are very tight on money... but I have to send $300 to soom in a week or two! X__x
in a way, layaways are just like credit. if you can't pay them off NOW, you'll be loosing money in the end! (because most company don't give back 100% of the money. they keep a percentage)

 

This is just the way I see it too. That is why I think using a credit card is not worse than doing a layaway. Of course, the interest/the fee is not present with layaway, but in the end, you are planning your expenses in advance with both possibilities. But with limited dolls, there are not many other possibilities - if one is not swimming in money and still want the doll, you can either borrow money from friends or family, use a credit card, or do a layaway. One way or the other, you will have some kind of "debt" or at least a contract you have to stick to.

 

This is a really interesting topic! I've recently just finished my first year as a bjd collector, and man, is this hobby ever a money sinkhole. I love my dolls, and though I'm reaching a slowdown point as far as my buying there's constantly new LEs that I want. Or I see something amazing on the marketplace.

Honestly though the best way I govern my spending is absolutely NOT using my credit card on a doll. If I see something I like but I can't even scrape together the cash for a layaway payment, I just can't afford it. I did, earlier this year, buy SDGr Lorina on my card, knowing full well that I could pay her off within a few months. Thing was though (aside from what I went through to actually get her, it wasn't a great experience), I couldn't connect with her much having her at my place and knowing she wasn't paid for, knowing what she put on my card. It freaked me out a bit even though I knew I could pay. Basically it was a layaway to my card, but I just couldn't do it--ended up keeping her outfit and wig and letting her go.

So I guess in the end using a credit card for me, for this hobby, feels like it might be a deadly land of no return. I have enough debt as it is from yearly plane tickets home and student loans without adding to it with my dolls!

 

When I first read this thread some time ago, I thought credit refers to paying via credit cards. Now that I read through more carefully, it means to say buying a doll on credit.

Honestly, to each its own and whatever rocks your boat. I believe in moderation, a balance between living today and saving for tml. I am a banker (yes, the so-called 'asses' who screw up the ecomony) but even then, I do not believe in saving whatever you have, hoping to compound it and live today miserably. If that doll is going make you happy and you are comfortable to service monthly credit card payments without going out of control, I think that is perfectly fine. By perfectly fine, I mean the outstanding amount shouldnt exceed 2x of your monthly pay. What is the point of life when you live each day preparing for the worst?

However, personally, I will not buy a doll on credit. But that is my own view and it stems from personal experience. I have seen my family struggled with credit card debts for many years and that is why I will never pay a single cent to the bank for the finance charges. But I am also fortunate that I am single and my job comfortably allows me to indulge in his hobby. Not everyone has that luxury, we have students, young parents in this hobby as well. As long as debts are within control and not done too frequently, I think its ok to buy a doll on credit once in a while.

 

I bought dolls on credit and on layaway, too. I did so on my limited dolls and on one doll I got from the marketplace, because I didn't have the money at that point.
I don't think it's a problem as long as you can easily pay off the depts in a short amount of time and don't have to borrow new money to pay them off.

 

I can't remember if I've answered this thread before but I was once in terrible debt after being made redundant and having to take a much lower paid job. The new wage couldn't service all my monthly payments anymore and the whole thing was really frightening and depressing. I had to declare myself bankrupt in the end.

That was really traumatic phase in my life and for me, personally, I will never pay for anything in instalments if I can possibly pay it all off at once because all those little payments soon add up each month. This goes for my TV license, my car insurance, everything I can possible pay for in one go. I have found that this way I have a lot more money in my bank account and feel much safer. If the worst happened again and I was out of work for a period or had to take a low paid job again, well, it wouldn't affect me so much this time.

I also have savings and have built up a separate doll fund. Until this week when I saw "the one that got away" going for a song at a really reasonable price on Ebay, I have never borrowed from my other savings and funds to top up my doll funds. Another bonus is that in the past I have bought clothing from a catalogue and used to hate that feeling of still paying off an item that has lost it's "newness". I always remember that when you see those ads saying "buy your sofa now with nothing to pay for 6 months"... great, you will have spilt wine on it by then and the dog will have run on it with muddy paws, enjoy making the payments then! Glad they don't do that with BJDs!!!

I know this way doesn't suit everyone but if I don't have the money there and then, I simply don't buy it. I don't ever want to go through the hell of debt again and this way I sleep soundly at night (surrounded by dolls I paid for in one lump sum, tee hee)