Do your families know the cost of / support your dolls?

My parents have both always been really supportive, even when I first started (I got into the hobby when I was 16 & I'm 30 now, though I've had some hiatuses). They both have expensive hobbies, so they understand that aspect of it, and they've actually gifted me a few of my dolls over the years. They worry when I'm buying dolls and don't appear to be otherwise financially stable, because I do have some issues with doing that with any hobby I'm into, but otherwise they've always been really cool about it.

My brother really doesn't care at all. He thinks it's a bit nuts how pricey they are, but again, also has expensive hobbies, so he doesn't say much about it. His wife thinks they're really cool & has expressed interest in seeing my collection whenever she gets a chance to visit.

Extended family is split on thinking they're either cool or creepy, but most of them don't care,

And everyone is supportive of my creative endeavors with them! I'm very lucky with all of it

 

My mom was a little shocked at first, but then she saw the doll and was basically like, "Oh yeah, that's a $600 doll." I think she was expecting something like a Barbie haha. She's definitely super supportive of the creative parts of the hobby and volunteered herself to help me sell at my first show next year!

 

That's so nice! Your parents are keepers. Anything above 50 would be too much for my parents to support

 

My father is a collector of rare and expensive vinyl, so he's been very understanding. I think it helps that I also make dolls, so it seems a little more creative. (My mom's understanding, too, but she doesn't share that expensive hobby experience.)

 

My mom was pretty supportive when I first got into dolls as a teenager. By that time she was already used to my "eccentric" hobbies as I was of course fully into anime, cosplay, etc. I think my working so hard to save for my first doll and being really dedicated also helped garner support.

The rest of my family were more or less indifferent, but didn't mind it, so I count that as a positive too.

 

lol no they don't. I always say they are cheap don't worry. My mon and dad will kill me if they know the price although I bought them with my own money.

 

I've made a post before, but I just wanted to share something that happened over Christmas.

I didn't get many presents this year, just a couple things to open along with plenty of money. My mum, when talking about her choice to gift me money, said "I know how you save for your BJDs and things". I don't save; I buy through layaway, mostly. But it was the most supportive thing she's said of late. She openly suggested I spend it on my dolls!! I didn't, in the end, as I bought someone's used Game Boy Color (a 'console' I never got as a kid, when they were all the rage) off of eBay. It's still nice that she suggested I could put it towards dolls. Apart from a few needing face-ups (when they've arrived), I've nothing to spend it on doll-wise at the moment. And I don't need another doll, despite impassively looking at some before settling on the GBC.

 

My husband knows and is incredibly supportive, as he is with all of my hobbies. My parents are rather indifferent and have no idea how much BJDs or their accessories cost. They've never directly asked, so I never said. Considering I don't live with them, I would have no reason to hide it if they did ask.

 

My Parents support it, My Mom gets kinda in-between sometimes but she's alright lol.

My husband is very supportive which I Love. His Family ehhhhh...☺

 

My husband knows the true cost. I have actually aimed to educate him on the subject since if something would happen to me, I wouldn't want my dolls ending up sold in a garage sale for a tenth of their true value because no one knew their true price. My parents probably have an approximate idea of how much a doll itself costs, but I'm sure they would be shocked to know that the dolls have outfits, shoes or jewelry that cost more than anything I ever buy in human size. Other relatives have no clue, but they haven't seen any either since I keep my doll cabinet closed whenever someone is over.

I have received a small amount of doll money from either hubby or parents a few times for Christmas, birthday, graduation gift etc. because I wished for it and really had no need for any other sorts of gifts. They usually ask me if I have any gift wishes, and I show them the doll I am interested in buying. I have requested that they rather won't make any actual doll purchases on my behalf or surprise me with a doll, because I have quite a specific taste, usually there is only that one doll I wish to have, and I would also worry they may end up buying something that is not legit.

 

My parents and grandparents are well aware and are supportive! I got into bjds when I was 16/17 and at the time I was also into anime and cosplay, which was another expensive hobby. Although bjds were a whole different level of expense, which did initially put them off a little, they could tell how much it meant to me and made me happy. I had paid for my first four dolls by myself from money I saved up doing extra chores, getting good grades, birthday/Christmas, etc. but both my parents and grandparents helped me pay for my grail doll!

As far as my partner is concerned, he knows that I have dolls but I haven't bought one in eight years so he doesn't really know a lot about them. He had asked me about them and how much they cost around the time we first met, but even that was almost five years ago at this point so I don't think he remembers! That being said, he's a huge nerd and loves collecting for his own expensive hobbies, not to mention I'm into kpop and collect albums which he definitely knows how much I spend on those Needless to say, whenever I do decide to buy dolls again I think he'll be alright with it as long as he knows I'm not totally depleting my wallet for it!

 

As some of you, my close people know, more or less approximately.
- My partner knows what it's worth, although I know that if I ask him, he'll just know it's worth several hundred euros.
- My best friend is interested in BJDs, so she will know how to get the information if needed.
- My close family knows it's expensive, in the hundreds of euros, but I don't dwell on it.
- And the people who are less close to me just know that it costs more than 100€ x)

 

I can relate to that one too well. Lowering the prices faster than black friday. They haven’t found out, yet.
Otherwise, they just think it’s another one of my weird hobbies.

 

My roommate and my sister are the only ones who I've told of my new hobby, and they're both fine with it. I trust them. I haven't told my parents or my younger brother bc honestly, I feel like my parents would judge me (even though I'm an adult) and I don't trust them enough to understand bc they just...won't. The language barrier doesn't help either since I'm more fluent in english than they are, and I can't speak any cantonese. Idk, they never let me buy new dolls in my childhood anyway (only passed down used or the rare bday/xmas gift), and if they weren't new, they broke due to my old in-fights with my sis. So I'm doing what they didn't and giving myself the dolls I truly want instead. This time they'll keep their hair instead of being cut bald out of old spite xD

 

I am so happy for you! It it’s a nice feeling to be supported on a hobby by family!
My biggest support is my Husband. He doesn’t like most my dolls necessarily, but he loves my excitement and happiness over them, and to him that is what matters. I have very supportive friends of my hobby too. They know I haven’t had a hobby for myself in more than 14+ years. They don’t mind the cost, and honestly hardly ever ask.

My mom would probably be very different if she’d know the exact cost. She somewhat tries to be supportive, but then overall we don’t talk much about it. And I don’t share finances much, since imo it’s honestly nobody’s business what I spend on things I care for.

Enjoy your hobby responsibly is what I try to go by I simply love this hobby! And you can’t put a price tag on happiness

 

The more I consider this topic the more I realize that none of my friends know the extent of my collection or plans. The most understanding, a roommate who used to buy and commission working swords, is married to a penny pincher who was horrified when I spent a 'mere' hundred on a doll. He has a tendency to blab to his wife, so I cant tell him everything, not because either of them would stop me from spending my own money, but good god the comments and judgemental looks... And not just about dolls. Pretty much anything I decide to spend money on gets me a raised eyebrow and a question why I don't make it myself...Or buy a cheaper version and modify it...

Another friend who thinks BJD's are awesome and knows all about my current boy, has such low income that I feel like I'm rubbing it in if I talk too much about them. That I ordered this, and pine over that .. She's supportive, but hard to talk to without feeling ashamed.

My mom herself has always enjoyed my doll collection and helped me put up shelves to display them, but I just moved to a different state and got a part time job, so I dont have the courage to tell her I moved from 20-30$ dolls to 300+. Maybe when I have a job that pays Real Adult Living Wages...?

All in all, I crave people I can blather too without feeling like I have to keep parts hidden or played down.

 

I mentioned the price at the beginning but got admonished for spending money on "something like that" so I just never brought it up again other than to say "I traded for this" or "I got a good deal." I very rarely spend money on anything other than necessities/savings so it's not really any of their business.

 

Oh my family has no idea. I started this hobby in college away from home and though my family sees my dolls, they have no idea how much I pay for them.

 

I was never ashamed to tell my family about my doll collecting since my mom and grandma both collected dolls, but BJDs are something else price-wise so I was reluctant to let them know the cost until recently. My sister thinks it’s stupid and my mom couldn’t believe her ears the first time I told her, but she’s come around and sometimes offers to pay for things (I don’t let her of course).

I’ve mentioned it casually to friends before, but they’ve never actually seen them in person because I don’t want people touching or breaking the dolls, so I always put them away before they come over. One of my former friends was creeped out by them and I would egg her on by talking about them even more and sending her pictures, but the rest never made a big deal about it. I do wish I knew another collector in real life though.

 

Mine know. They've always thought along the lines of "It's your money to do what you want with as long as you aren't starving or homeless etc. because of it." They only care if I'm financially stable and responsible, after that they'll support. They own expensive non-essentials like bikes so they know they have no right to talk when it comes to spending a lot of money on a high end version of something that can otherwise be bought for cheap. I'm kind of embarrassed to tell my friends though. They're totally nice about the dolls but I feel a couple would look at the price and freak. They buy stuff I don't totally think is worth it though so I just support them and hope they'd be supportive in return.