Do you ever stop and think "WTH am I doing?!"

Yes I do feel guilty, but not because I am in financial trouble, but because others are. I spend so much money on a piece of resin and it's accessoires and people are starving. I buy my doll a dress and my parents save up for curtains. Whenever that feeling gets too overwhelming I remind myself that I'm not personally responsible for world hunger and that saving up would go so much faster if my dad quit his smoking.

 

Nope, never ever feel guilty I about what I'm doing. NO REGRETS!

 

I don't have a job so when I spend what little money I have saved up on dolls I can feel guilty but at the same time this is money I have saved once bills and food are paid for, it's my money to spend on what I want and dolls make me happy in a world that is filled with stress and sadness.
Don't let misplaced guilt ruin your enjoyment of this hobby.

 

I feel guilty. I have 5 kids and rarely ever treat myself. Everything was always about my kids. I find this hobby addicting. You can't just have one, whether it's one doll one set of eyes, one wig, or one outfit. You just keep adding. I have to say though, I get so excited whenever I know something is on the way. I feel like a little kid.

 

Sometimes i think about it from time to time, but if i feel guilty about the money, i just stop spending money on my doll and save it for more important things. I mean, its not like you lose the doll if you stop buying clothes and accessories for it xDDD.

 

I'm starting to feel a bit guilty. I've had several doll arrivals over the past few months and I have two more ordered... but now I'm considering a layaway for one of luts centaurs... when I know that I really shouldn't get another. I wasn't really bothered before by the idea of getting another, but today I've had second thoughts... I'm an artist, who just started a new (and tricky commission) and while I was going to get paid well for it, the client came back and told me that she wanted the characters drawn in a completely different pose with a lot of other changes... and I know I'm not skilled enough to do it now, so I've had to pass on the project (which means that money I was going to get for that project isn't coming in) and with my bills this month, I think even a layaway isn't an option anymore... It's got me so upset (especially since it's a limited doll) but I'm more upset with myself ... I have a fairly large doll family and here I am getting worked up about one that I really shouldn't get in the first place. *sigh*

Oh well. There's always the MP and the aftermarket. So someday maybe I'll be able to bring that doll home. ^^;

 

All. The. Time.

I mean, I'm buying a ton of bjds and bjd stuff. I'm not going broke anytime soon. But I still know the stuff I buy is not absolutely necessary. I really think I'm a bit nuts for spending so much. BUT--it does make me happy and having a fun way to spend my time is just one of the nice things in life.

SO... yes, I do really question what I'm doing. OFTEN. But I also have reasons. And I'm not spending every last penny of my money or going into serious debt, so basically, I can spend my money how I please... and if it's on something I think is crazy, that's still OK. Yeah, I could buy other things, or save up for something, but I obviously feel I want the dolls/things more...

 

Every day..
But not bcs i think i do smth bad, but bcs i think i do it wrong. I'm sure- if you start doing smth- do your best in it. But till now- i'm not the owner like this. I don't spend much time with my dollies, and i feel guilty about this. I always look at them and think, that if someone else had bought them- they would have much more happy dolls' life.

 

I don't feel at all bad about my doll habit -- I was guilty of overspending a bit when I first got into the hobby, but that settled down. I enjoy them, and it can feel pretty bleak if all I'm working for is to pay my bills and buy groceries. I know of course that those are the top priorities, and I treat them as such. However, that doesn't make me feel good about prying myself out of bed for work every morning. It's my hobbies that really motivate me, make getting through a bad work day seem not so bad.

 

Yes, often. I need a focus for my creative urges, though, and for a long time now it has been resin dolls. I may never get around to all my projects, but it is great fun planning them and thinking about them. I don't know what people do who don't have creative hobbies. I'm not interested in sports, shopping, playing games, or hanging around in clubs. I like that playing with dolls is something I can do alone or share with other people. I can live with being crazy; there are much worse things I could be doing.

 

^This! Life is not just about working, we should enjoy it and that means we are allowed to give ourselves a treat once in a while.

 

I moved recently and for insurance purposes and customs purposes (it was an international move) I had to write up a summary of the dolls and their costs. Seeing it all laid out like that did make me feel a little conflicted - it's a lot to have spent on what is, ultimately, just stuff.

That said, it's more the fact that I'm now in a smaller space that has me really re-evaluating my doll-related priorities - I put a lot of things in storage, but the dolls all came with me, and I'm not sure I like the percentage of space that's now devoted to them.

 

I've been feeling more guilty recently which is why I've seriously cut back on my BJD spending and am trying to take a break from the hobby. Replenish my savings and whatnot. I'm also paying more into credit cards than usual and trying to be more fiscally responsible. I'm not in trouble by any stretch of the imagination, I just want to... improve my safety net.

 

I don't feel guilty at all.

I grew up in a house where my parents constantly told me to save money, never get a credit card and never buy anything unless you A.) have enough cash to pay for it flat out. and B.) Still have MORE than that amount put back in savings. I have been guilt tripped for spending $20 on myself once a month when I was a college kid making min wage at a part-time job. I'm done with that. Now that my parents don't control my finances, or pay for stuff for me, and I work full time, I allow myself to enjoy it.

Why is there no guilt? Because I look at my grandparents. They're near 90, my grandpa still isn't fully retired and has been working since he was a kid, my grandma sews for extra money, but they have very little to show for it. They have a lot of money in the bank, but never spend it. They live like they're flat broke. I don't want to do that. I don't want to spend 80+ years working and never have fun with it! I strongly believe people need to enjoy living, not just do what's necessary to get by and never have a moment to really live.

I still take my parents' advice of not living above my means, but I do find a way to budget so I can pay for what I have to and still have some left to enjoy. I don't feel bad at all for enjoying what I earn. Some days, just thinking about earning that next doll is what motivates me to get through a work day! :P

 

I have on occasion thought omg I just spent £xx on a doll and then I came back down to earth and thought, well who cares, lol. Hubby and I make sure everyone is taken care of before we spend any spare cash on my dolls or his own hobby. So as long as the bills are paid, and the kids are fully catered for we can spend on ourselves guilt free.
Love,
Lee

 

Oh, yes. When I was still a student, I felt guilty for spending money when I should've been saving it for healthier food(..or really, any kind of food besides noodles!)and emergencies, and now that I'm graduated and working and not having to worry that much anymore, I feel guilty because most of my friends are still students and I buy dolls while théy don't have that much money! But I think that shows it's more a part of my personality than it is a rational thought. The fact is that I've always been responsible about the dolls I buy, and that I've enjoyed my dolls for the past 8 years and given up other things to buy them, things that my friends might spend money on(such as cigarettes and parties). Once, I calculated that my first doll, by now, has cost me roughly 17 eurocents a day. Considering the joy I get from him-still-that seems a very good price. It makes me feel better, too, though it may be a little silly

 

This, exactly. I don't feel guilty, but I do feel grateful.

 

No, I don't feel guilty, but the first time I bought an outfit (included with the doll,) and it was more than any article of clothing I've ever spent on myself (prom doesn't count, my parents bought that back in the day,) I thought, "Wow, isn't this a little backwards?" I have an old winter coat but just bought my doll a new one. It's a bit funny to me. I've never had a lot of money, but my finances are solid, so I'm not out of line. But yes, from time to time, I do laugh. It's not quite to the point of being a hobby for me, but man, aren't hobbies interesting in what they entail?

 

I don't think you should feel bad or guilty about it. In the end, what is money for if not to spend it? We all want money because it is likely to gives us access to things that will make us happy. I'm of the opinion that, as humans, our only real responsibility is to do what we can to ensure our happiness. This can be anything... some feel that being in the wild and living a philanthropic life is happiness, other feel that being a CEO of a company and having lots of money is happiness. Most people in this forum, if not all, find that owning and caring for a beautiful piece of art (in form of a doll) is happiness.

Yes, money is important to keep a roof over our heads, and feed us, but if you deprive yourself of what makes you happy, what is the point in living?

I ask the WTF question when I ordered my 1st doll. When I opened the box and saw him I forgot completely about the money issue. At the time I was a student living off my loan. I was miserable then because of personal life issues and when I held my doll I felt so happy. It's a priceless feeling.

Also, remember that depending on what doll your are putting your money in, it's possible that your money will come back to you with maybe a profit or maybe a little loss. Either way, most of what you pay will come back to you. That is one of the good things about this hobby.

 

Yes. Once in a while it crosses my mind. But then I think of people having other hobbies they spend money on : Boat Fishing, Sailing, Scubidiving , Mountain climbing... ok..some of those sounds cool point is ...we need a break from reality , and hobbies help us take our mind off work, worries , and just routine... someone rides horses , and some of us collect pretty things, that make us happy.