Doll Addiction: When does it become a problem?

Thought about it and I would have to agree with most of you. I think it would be an addiction if dolls and doll stuff came before feeding and housing yourself. I don't really think the number of dolls factor's into it if the person is healthy and it's still just a hobby.

 

I have fun while I can.
Buying dolls is my first priority, after my family, food, rent and credit cards of course. But I would still buy a doll first rather than a new clothes or shoes for myself.
I was never fond of clothes anyway, so maybe it’s just me.
I mean, I’m 27. In a year or two I will have a baby and then I will simply have to be more serious. So why restrict myself now? We live only once after all))
I don’t know if that’s an addiction, but since that doesn’t do any harm to me or others, I think it’s ok.
And, yes, I hid some dolls from my boyfriend, because he’s paranoid with hating them.
No matter, he will get used. He’s just jealous >__<

 

I agree with what everyone has said. Once your collecting habits affect your daily life with bills and that sort, then it's a real problem.

 

I collect a different type of doll and started to feel guilty that I was spending so much on them and always wanted another'
i have only got one BJD at the moment and intend to go slow and stick to my list of wanted dolls over the next two years as I don't want to feel guilty like I did before and I am intending to sell some of my other dolls to fund the BJD too!

 

I think it becomes a problem if the person purchasing these dolls is spending more than they have. If you aren't able to make ends meet because you keep buying dolls, it's definitely a problem. If you have more dolls than you can count or remember, you might want to slow down...

Aside from money, and I think this is something nobody has touched on, but I think that if you spend too much time with your dolls and don't get out and socialize with real talking people, it's also a bit of a problem. Just like people who play WoW all day. If your hobby is causing you to not be able to fully engage in life, it's not so much of a hobby as it is an unhealthy obsession. Anything can become addicting. It's all about moderation.

 

I think that part of the reason that the hobby becomes so addictive is the online community. I see posts all too often like, "I didn't think I would be able to order her this month, but my bills were less than I thought!" and "I don't want to sell her, but I need to pay my rent." And most people just treat these as totally normal aspects of the hobby. There is even a sticky here on DoA called "Ideas for how to raise doll money," or something like that (too lazy to go find it; now that's lazy). That's not a fiscally responsible way to support an expensive hobby. If you don't have the income or savings to comfortably support a large purchase like a doll without putting your financial stability in jeopardy, well, then, you shouldn't be making that purchase. But I feel like that is a foreign concept in this hobby. Fiscal irresponsibility is dangerous, and I sometimes wish we were as militant about spreading that message as we are about proper respiratory protection. Instead, we get a lot of "Well, I just ordered another doll even though I promised myself I'd wait until Christmas," or "I am addicted to buying her new wigs! LOL." When someone with an actual addiction sees that, they think, "See, it's not just me, so what I'm doing isn't even that bad." We feed each other's bad buying habits by not addressing the dangers of it, and then some of us develop addictions. Just my thoughts.

 

I say when you're getting into financial trouble because of it, you have a problem.

Hubby says if he can see more than 1 or 2 dolls at a time, there's a problem. He's just afraid of them looking at him though.

 

Ahahha, from the very moment I started collecting BJD I have no free money and no free space at home.
But I enjoy this anyway xD

 

I would say it's problem if rent and grocery money is spent on dolls (and other necessity funds). This hobby can suck you in with limited editions, discontinuations, and just pretty dollies that want to come home. I "plan" for unplanned BJD purchases by setting aside funds that I can use in the future for doll-related purchases. I love Soom monthlies, and it's impossible to say what they will release next. This way, I can purchase LEs that pop up, while not dipping into funds that I need for other things.

 

I might be having issues with this myself. I felt a little weird this month since right now I have two dolls I'm paying off. It's sort ofmy fault this is happening. This year I told myself I was limiting myself to one doll purchase a year. Well I waited until I found one I really really wanted and it fell in June. I'm about finished paying now... And then I saw my 2015 doll. Because of the time it takes to make these dolls I will probably end up getting both next year even though they are for separate years.

I didn't think I would buy more than a few of these dolls... Now by the end of next year I'll have 7. When my husband offered to get me this expensive limited doll I actually considered purchasing two dolls instead this year before I came to my senses.

I made a plan to only buy 10 dolls at most but my husband said I could have more if I like. Now I'm starting to think I might want to stop at 8. I just don't want to have a room full of bjd and no savings.

 

Wow! I can see where this is all coming from. I just bought my very first BJD and have spent hours and hours checking out websites for clothes, etc. and shelling out money for items for a doll that I haven't even received yet! Me thinks it's time to "cool my jets" so to speak.

 

It would become problems for me, if I would spend too much money that effects my financial and too much time that effects my university's life and home work. I try to make a balance between my daily life and this hobby. But it's better now because I've finally collected all my wish dolls and decided to quit to order any new doll. Now what I may spend, is just materials (for sewing their clothes) or some accessories for them

 

I can not spend my last money to buy a doll, because I'm responsible person. But I can spend my whole day flipping doll-diaries, doll-galleries an other stuff and not notice how the time flied by. And It is real problem for me.

 

I run into the "on my computer, should be writing, let's cruise all the different eBay sites for an hour" problem.

 

I definitely feel addicted. I am constantly researching companies or viewing the same ones over and over again. I am always making up "fake carts" on websites to see how much things cost. I am on this forum practically everyday sifting through threads and looking at pictures. I have 2 dolls, 1 on the way, 3 floating heads and plans for a new body. I "window shop" for dolls 24/7.

Yet my bills and rent are payed every month. I have clothing for myself (not much but enough) and a roof over my head with a warm bed to sleep in. So....I really see no problem with my addiction since it doesn't take over my other priorities.

Since I don't make so much money I DO have to sacrifice some things (new dress, new technology etc) But to me this is worth it and the things I sacrifice are also not necessities, same as the dolls.

 

I spent a lot of money on dolls last year, I should have put money in savings but I didn't and buying doll stuff was just so tempting. I impulse bought two dolls to get a free doll and I've sold one of those dolls today and the other is on the marketplace waiting for a buyer. I got the buzz from buying but when I got the dolls I only loved the free doll and the other two collected dust and I felt so guilty about wasting money.

I never spent the rent money or bill money so I was able to control myself that way. I do have a shopping addiction and as I'm moving to Berkshire at the end of October I've told myself until my fiance and I rent another place (Probably early 2015 hopefully) I won't buy another doll. That isn't to say I won't want to, but I'm determined to be strong.

I also have a clothing addiction and I gained some weight recently and it became my excuse for buying new clothes (we don't live near a gym and being disabled exercise is difficult) I realised the other day I was hiding the fact I'd purchased things from my fiance, he won't be mad at me because he never is but I hate feeling like I've disappointed him even if he never says it and I know with the dolly overspending I disappointed him.

I love my dolls and they let me forget about my disability and my depression and when my fiance and friends compliment me on something I've sewn for them I feel good and not a complete failure (three years out of uni and no job despite sending off hundreds and hundreds of cvs and applications) so I won't regret my dolls but I need to learn to control myself.