Families knowing the cost of dolls

My dad knows because he's the one that pays because i'm not old enough to have a credit card (I do pay him back). I tell my mom but she doesn't like it so I don't think I will be telling her much more (she doesn't really understand BJDs). Everyone else don't need to know.

 

So...I just got what I consider a 'typical' reaction when people find out that I spent approx $400 on a doll... "Oh dear" and "Are you crazy?"
I was just wondering then, if these really are the typical reactions...and has anyone had any way out there reactions that you totally weren't expecting? Now that I know I'll be getting these reactions for a long while, I'm curious to see what others experiences have been...

I just looked at the exchange rate and wish I hadn't...now I find that I spent $440 on the doll, which....overall I don't mind, because I already love her, but almost everyone else is like "o.O"

 

My mom knows their cost. She knows I'm spending my money on my first doll and she said my second I could have for my birthday coming up in April. Were no telling my dad though. he'd flip.

 

Good reactions:
My husband knows how much dollfies cost and supports me.
My father was supportive. He builds RC for racing purposes, which is also an expensive hobby, so he gets it.

Bad reactions:
My mother said that it was "my money", but she thought spending that much on "just a doll" was retarded.
My sister... well, she felt that if I had the money to "blow" on a "stupid doll", then I should help her with her bills.

 

Well, I only tell my mom for the actual price. She scold me for spending lots of my money.
The cutest thing after my doll arrives, she make a mini dress from leftover cloth specially for my doll.


PS: now my brother's gf fell in love with bjd because of me.

 

Gah, I know how that feels Kuharai! It's one of those, 'I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed' kind of reactions... Like when I asked if my hair would look good red, rather than saying she liked it blond, my mother had to do that same thing - Well it's your hair and if you ruin it... I wonder that sometimes family members don't realize that we share things like hobbies because we're excited for them to be included in special things in our lives.

Oddly, my mother who has no interest in my dolls, only had a problem with the price when I got my first one, as soon as she saw my first girl, a Soom Amber, she -totally- understood and has never had another problem.

My girlfriend also doesn't have a problem with price, what she has a problem with is my refusal to share 'OUR' dolls with her! XD I created a monster.

 

Well my parents have expensive hobbies. My dad likes Harleys and my mom lover sewing machines. So when I came to them about my dolls they were very cool with it. Of course they told me that I would have to keep charge of it, money and taking care of the doll, but it worked for me. They know it's my money and my hobby so I should be able to do what ever I want.

 

my parents flipped. but they have their expensive hobbies too.

 

They asked how much my first doll (a Volks FCS) cost, and since then they just haven't wanted to know!

They don't 'get' my collecting hobbies, but as long as I manage my finances okay then they don't have a problem.

 

I tend to give an approximation of the price. Being too exact makes my mum freak out sometimes, but given a relatively small range she'll understand I'm estimating but still being truthful.

Generally I pay for things myself too (Mum usually asks for an approximation of how much I spent then, she trusts me handling my own finances), but I had to tell her in the case of my first doll since she was my Christmas present.

 

Well, I guess being that I AM the dad, my daughter has it WAY to easy, she doesnt have to sell a doll on me or convince me that the price is worth it! But I have always been into the more expensive hobbies, some of which I still enjoy, just not so much now the funds highway has switched lanes. My mother, gets that look in her eye when she notices how much they cost, but I am careful with the money I spend on both my dolls, my daughters doll, and now what has become "our" dolls. Grandparents reactions I totally get. They were raised in the time of the "have nots" when money, what little they had actually went for life sustaining items, say like food! My Grandmother had stories to tell, heck, even my mom has stories, taking cold baths in a washtub and beans and old bread for dinner. Anyway, support is the key, and as long as we are not looking for validation from our families that the amount of money we spend on our dolls is worth it, then overall, I think they can understand.

 

Both of my parents know the cost and my mom is supportive (she herself collects Swarovski crystals, so she understands XD) although she gets baffled when I purchase casual outfits for my dolls and thinks if I'm going to buy outfits, I might as well go all out and buy really nice, 18th century dresses. Also, there's a doll she really really likes and we're ordering really soon. So, yay for getting mom into BJDs!
My dad on the other hand, think it's ridiculous, but is aware of the popularity and tries to understand how this is all serious business. When I told him it's like comparing mom's hobby of crystals, he was all "I don't get that one either".

 

My husband and I work hard. We budget 'mad money' at the end of each month depending on how much money we have leftover after our expenses, which we are free to spend as we like. As long as we don't overspend our budgeted mad money, we are okay with each other's purchases.

We both have funny hobbies that a lot of other people totally don't get. He collects Magic the Gathering cards and I collect dolls and develop my craftsmanship skills. We each collect them in part because they are beautiful. Kinda like a miniature art gallery. Beauty is theraputic. Beauty is valuable in its own right. They also give us a chance to express ourselves creatively. We understand our hobbies and respect them.

 

My aunt (whom I live with) knows -- she'd kind of have to, as she's bought one for me and is buying me my first SD boy for my birthday! But she's very cool about it. She thinks they're expensive, but she understands the kind of quality you're getting for the price -- you know, she gets why it's that much and why it's okay that it does. She's getting dolls of her own soon!

My mum (I don't live with her, thank god, lol) knows as well, but she thinks the dolls aren't "worth the price," and generally disapproves of my plans. She constantly says things like "how are you going to get the money for that?" and such. As a result, while I'm honest with her about prices, I don't usually tell her when I get a new doll. The weird thing is, she's into the dolls and would like one, but she's very odd about the cost. She also seems to think I'm loaded somehow because I have dolls xD;; ugh.

And.. other family: My brother knows vaguely what they cost but has no real interest, and for various reasons including that we hardly speak, my dad doesn't even know about the dolls in the first place.

 

My husband is into Harley Davidson and collectible vintage cars. So I am in the "don't ask - privacy" category. He is aware and has been supportive to many of my collections over the years. He also knows that I recycle some of my collections to get into a new one.

This time it is BJD. I have had large porcelain dolls and I continue to collect tall 22 inch Geisha dolls that have been displayed for years. So seeing a BJD SD size type of doll has not really upset my family at all. In fact, my daughter, who is 17, saw a Sooah in the cabinet and said "Wow, Mom she is a beautiful doll".

That was it. I actually had a BJD the other night sitting on the couch while I was watching TV and when my kids came home that night from swim practice looked at her; but, did not react. The only comment was: "nice kimono on your doll Mom"

They know how therapeutic my dolly collections are to me - and they respect that aspect of the hobby.

 

I am older and married so I don't have to tell parents or siblings. Sometimes I tell hubby...sometimes not. He knows they can be expensive but I just don't always want to hear about it because it's what I enjoy. He is mostly supportive though and has either bought me dolls, or given me the money too. My Christmas gift from him was going to Idex and getting a new doll. I haven't told him about the layaway I have though....and I won't until it's closer to getting her! LOL.

 

When I still lived with my parents and bought my first doll I told my mother it was only 100 dollars >> It was closer to 200 but I still didn't want to tell her that. I've since moved out and haven't spent more than 300 bucks on a single doll but my next purchase will be over 500. Since I don't live with my folks and don't carry my collection over there with me, they don't even know that I have them. I'm sure when I get my own place and they come to visit they'll be curious about the suddenly doll collection XD Even then I won't be too eager to blurt out how much I spent.
Although, I'm sure my mom would just be like 'As long as you can pay your rent and bills, I don't care how much you spend'

 

I don't tell them the exact price, and when I do, I tend to omit the "USD" part because it will make it costs a lot more in my local currency. But they know the dolls are not cheap - my dad kind of suspect they costs in the hundreds lol.

 

My parents know the price, namely because they asked me directly.......and they took it as well as was to be expected of them. (i.e. dolls = waste of money)

 

Hahahahaha my dad and brother know, definitely wont tell my mom how much some of my dolls were, she'd have my ass served straight on a platter, my dad keeps it secret from her but he doesn't like me buying them cause he liked to use my income for his overdue bills :/