Do you ever name and create a back story for a doll you haven't ordered yet?

I write many stories. So some of my dolls are characters from these stories. ^^ But, I already created the whole background of some other dolls even if I didn't have them at this time.

For saving money, don't look at shops and artists. XD

 

Good luck ! And don't hesitate to ask for layaways if it's a limited doll.

 

I definitely do this. I tend to end up with more characters than dolls, so I’m always in search of the next character shell—which can be both frustrating and fun, considering there’s constantly a next “goal.”

I know this is a sort of blah answer to your question, but, to save money, I tend to look closely at every purchase I make in everyday life and ask myself “do I want this as much as I’m gonna want that doll?” Because I think this way, I make next to no impulse purchases and mostly all of my “play” money goes toward the doll hobby alone. Ultimately, my house is less cluttered, I save way more quickly, and every object I buy inevitably brings me a ton of happiness.

 

I definitely do. ^^ And once I receive the doll, I get inspired to add a few details.

For saving money, it matters a lot to know what you want. I mean, to get more money, you either have to earn more or spend less, and for me at least, the latter seems way more doable. That could mean managing your expenses carefully on a day-to-day basis, and/or having a clear plan for what you want to buy and not get tempted by other items. (It's easy to say "oh I could resell it if I don't want it anymore" but often, you lose a bit of money in the process and it adds up.)

 

This happens quite often for me. My dolls are mainly divided into two categories:
- dolls that I really really like the look of and must get! (For these, I usually don't have a name or story for them even after they get home. They are just pretty collectables that make me happy.)
- dolls that are shells of certain characters (These usually have a name, story, wig, outfit and so on ready for them before they come home.)

And, I don't really have any tips for saving money... but I do set a limit for myself of how much money I can spend on doll and hobby stuff each month.

 

No.

The one time I tried doing it before I had the doll in hand, she refused to cooperate and was a completely different character from the moment I opened the box.

Teddy

 

Sometimes yes, sometimes no, it depends if I'm getting a doll to shell an existing character or not LOL
My incoming Iset and Alan are 2 of my oldest ocs, so they definitely already have names and backstories!

 

I do often which makes me wsnt to have the doll more, but I just think of the back story. I don't write it down. I think naming a doll and thinking up of a back story makes me attached to the doll before I decide on getting the doll. Then it becomes harder to resist getting that doll.

 

Yep, I've made that move a few times now, for better or worse. One doll I bought 98% because the mold instantly told me exactly who the doll is and everything. It doesn't help that it was in my favorite shade of my favorite color either. My first doll I bought to shell a preexisting character, and my second was an impulse buy who's not much more than a pretty face with a name attached to it.

I currently have made two backstories for some dolls I do not own, but desperately want; though ironically my next planned doll hasn't told me a lot about themselves yet. We'll just have to see what (if, any) comes of it down the line.

 

Oh absolutely. That's a concept I wouldn't have ever understood before owning a BJD, and what an amazing concept it is.

 

I've come up with names and backstories before ordering dolls. It's usually because I'm planning a family group, and I prefer buying one doll at a time, or shelling a preexisting character.

As for saving money, the above ties into my policy of not buying dolls without serious thought in advance. The planning can go months or even years. I also recommend being very picky about molds.

 

Yes, I definitely do this! I really like to write, create new OCs, and come up with backstories for them. As a result, most of the dolls I want/have are preexisting characters. Although I don't want to shell all of my characters into a doll, there are several that I have a sculpt in mind for and or have been inspired by a sculpt ^^ I'm currently working on backstories for two dolls I don't have yet that will tie into a story for two that I do have!

For saving up money, if you're working then putting aside a little bit every paycheck is a good way to go about it if possible. Many companies and BJD dealers offer layaway as an option! I also try to stay away from unnecessary purchases or put off other purchases that I want but don't need (from other hobbies and such).

 

{laugh!} I wanted a super-slick secret-agent type and got a laid-back hippie chick instead. Not that I'm unhappy with her, but she's not what I'd planned.

So now I stick to buying dolls I like the look of and getting to know who they are once they arrive and I start the process of finding out out their hair coluor and style, eye colour and clothing preferances.

EDITED TO ADD: To date, none of them have turned out to be super-slick secret-agent types....

Teddy

 

I am currently waiting on my first dolls. When I purchased my very first doll, he took a while to give me his name but that's all I really got for him (made it hard to find clothes to have waiting for him when he gets home).

But then while I was waiting for him, I fell in love with another doll, who was limited. As soon as I laid eyes on this second doll, he told me his background and suddenly my first doll had a story as well. I'm a writer, and I've written almost 10k for these two...and I don't even physically have them yet xD (There's also a third doll I'm waiting on that has inserted herself quietly into their story as well oopsies).

But then there are two other dolls I Need, that are on my wishlist and I'm waiting for them to cycle back in. I know they're coming eventually, but they haven't told me anything about themselves yet.