Going Into Debt For Dolls - are the potential long-term consequences worth it?

I'm not an advocate for debt. Why?

I was a Katrina victim. Before that day I had a job that could pay my card bills without worry, I had the things I wanted in life... But the hurricane hit and destroyed it all. My card companies promised no payments for 6 months. My job was gone because the building was leveled. I had no money and FEMA wanted their money back because another person in my apartment building claimed FEMA...the only money I had to live on for months.

My card companies went back on the promise and soon I was in collections with my world crumbling around me. I didn't know this for 4 months until I started getting my mail again. I was hounded day and night about my debts. I was stressed and I quickly developed depression and a form of late PTSD. I'm still picking up the bits of my life 6 years later. My mind isn't sick any more. I don't live near my family and home though and I feel alien. I know how precarious life can be; your world can be taken away from you in an instant.

The point: avoid debt if you can. I have debt; I won't say that I don't. I have school loans out but that's it. With that kind of debt I don't think it's horrible since I need to be educated. Going into debt for dolls... not needed. Most companies have layaway. I'd say that is the best way if you can't afford the doll at that moment. If you can't layaway or get the funds together then maybe it's just not the doll for you.

 

I have only one doll, but I would have never thought about using a credit card to buy him. When I want something big and pricey like him, I save up for it. Same for the clothes I'm getting for him. If it came down to food/housing vs him, as much as I love and adore him, I'd choose my food and shelter. He's a luxury, but not a necessity.

 

Once something that is meant to be enjoyable starts causing you stress and financial troubles, there comes a point to stop and become more aware and responsible for your actions. Realizing your self destructive ways early on, spending wise or any other, can help you prevent problems later on.

If it gets to the point that this hobby will put me into debt, that is when I know that's a line that I won't cross. I will stop, not forever, just until I'm financially ready again.

 

I guess it is just the way I manage my money by focusing on staying debt-free as much as possible, but to me I am a little surprised that going into debt for dolls is a question that people would have.

It becomes apparent upon browsing companies' websites what the costs of different kinds of dolls are. If one does not have the money saved up in advance to be able to spend on a doll, one can just admire them from afar over the internet. One cannot afford them in person. Going into debt really isn't an option, in any situation where it is avoidable.

What about the emotional connection, you ask? If one were in debt, I'd suspect that your doll would be a constant reminder of that debt, no matter how much you loved them otherwise. I think it would be better to adopt your new daughter free and clear of any baggage on the emotional side, too.

Disclaimer: I have never gone into debt to buy a doll. So this is the POV of an outside observer on the debt topic.

 

I didn't even look at BJDs until I could afford them (I knew about them - saw them at Dragon Con 7 years ago).
But, as far as credit goes, I had student loans (eons ago) & an %#$@ first husband who caused me to default (you know, feed the kids & keep a roof or pay the loan - kind of a no-brainer).
I lived 30 years w/no credit. Not really a big problem for me & I'm SOOOOO glad now, because that lack of debt thing (did pay off the student loans finally).
So dollies free & clear - does make it feel better I think!

 

I think that if a person can actually, really manage it and not get it out of control or let it sit and fester for too long, going into debt is okay.

But if someone is going poor/at risk of losing their house/starving because they decided to buy a doll rather than food or something, than that is definitely a Really bad Thing and uh, they shouldn't do that.

Personally, I wouldn't ever go in debt for a doll. In fact, I'm really hesitant to buy one unless I have a really substantial amount of money in my checking account. If there was one thing I've learned from my parents, it is money management.

 

Sure, I could see someone using a CC as a short-term loan if it was necessary to secure a limited item and they just didn't have the money in advance, but expected it within a reasonable timeframe. Like a month or two.

Technically that's going into debt, but it feels not so bad when it is short term for a very specific purpose. So I could see someone doing that and not letting it affect their emotions towards their doll. Good point.

 

I hold the belief that you shouldn't spend money you don't have, and that includes on dolls. Now I do understand that there are things like homes and cars that the majority of people have to make payments on, but those are things that are for the most part necessary in daily life. Dolls on the other hand are not- I do enjoy getting them (or chances are I wouldn't be a part of this community) but I can wait to get them. In other words, I'm not dying for a lack of dolls.

I am currently planning on purchasing at least 3 dolls with my tax return, but I'm waiting until that money is in the bank before I do it- reason being, I would hate to order the dolls and then have something happen that is a more urgent need and thus go into deeper debt than what I would be able to pay off all at once, and it carries the potential to be past the point of me not being able to cancel the orders. Long story short, it really doesn't seem like a good idea to me to spend more money than I currently have on-hand to satisfy a desire for acquisition of something that is ultimately a want and not a need.

 

When it comes to me and my dolls, I feel they should have a personally and character first before I commit myself to buying them. I know there are people out there who buys or plans to buy dolls just because for their sculpt and not have a character for them yet. Even though they have the money saved up to get the doll they want they don't think about saving their money in the long run. I always try budget myself and make sure I have money on the side but many people close to me don't understand that I can't always go out to spend the money that I get. I will never go out of my way to get a doll out of my price range no matter what. Many of the limited ones are nice to look at but like I said the doll has to have a personality and a character picked out for them for me to even think about buying them. I never saw myself having an army of dolls despite my friends having more dolls than me I rather have money in the bank and space in my room than have my account at $0 and room full of dollies that I have no idea what to do with.

 

Personally, I have gotten myself into debt because I was lucky enough to have an opportunity to get a rare doll fall in my lap and I wasn't about to let go of it! Sure, I went a few weeks with hardly any food, and I'm just picking back up from the debt, but nothing really horribly came out of it. Rent was paid, bills were paid. Instant noodles for a few weeks and no social outings were the only real consequence.

Going into heavy debt, though? Of course not. I highly doubt collectors do that to get dolls anyway. Common sense people, obviously no one plans to go into heavy debt with their hobbies.

 

I personally think that it is not a good option for going into debt for dolls. Although the idea is tempting, I think I don't have enough guts to face the risk that there is a possibility I will not be able to pay the rest of the debt. Also, the interest is painful sometimes, no matter how low the interest rate is, at the end we still have to pay more for the doll compared to the actual price. Even if someone want to use lay away, I think it is best to do "the good debt plan". Means you actually have some savings to pay half or whole amount of the doll's price, but use lay away instead to help lift the burden on spending, so we still have cash for critical situations.

Fortunately (or unfortunately?), buying a doll on credit is also an option unable for me to do because I don't own a credit card (unless the company itself allow lay away), so there is no other way, I have to save up T_____T

 

Having debt for dolls, and spending money on luxury with no responsibility whatsoever is two different subjects. It annoys me to no end when people spend every dime of their money, and then 5 seconds later, the doll that they didn't wait patiently at all for, is on sale as soon as they receive it after complaining that it didn't come in 8.5 seconds after paying for it with money they didn't even have. Bills come first, life comes first, and then comes our time for enjoyment. Spending irresponsibly is the reason that half the people in this world are poverty level or below, and there is little to no excuse, except that we feel we should apparently "get what we want, when we want it...". NO, STOP, NO EXCUSES, just don't do it...

 

I feel that going into debt for dolls, if you were planning on permanently keeping the doll and never selling them, than yeah, go ahead and put it on a credit card if you don't have the money. But if you buy a doll on credit and then sell it later and not putting the money back on the card and using it to buy another doll or use it for other things, I say it's not worth it. Because you still are -$600 or more with that first doll.

 

I would never go into debt for a doll, especially if I didn't have the means to pay it off. Spending money I didn't have would give me so much anxiety, I wouldn't be able to enjoy anything! I feel conflicted enough as it is, spending money that should be going into a retirement fund or high yield savings accounts on dolls. ^^;

 

I think that there are very few instances where going into debt is an acceptable outcome. If it's a matter of doing something that can save me from a life-threatening disease, I'm willing to take on a little bit of debt for that if the treatment is a little expensive, for example.

But dolls? Not worth going into debt for. I know that if I wanted a doll, and couldn't save money right now to pay for it, it would kill me. But then I would remember all of the things I'm paying for already, and why it's important to hold off. If I don't pay for electricity, I better hope I come home when it's still light out. If I don't pay for my internet, I don't get on DoA or any doll site, period. If I don't pay my rent, I can't live in my home.

I can understand how someone could make the mistake once - maybe twice - and need to negotiate payment for a later date. But a person shouldn't chose dolls over rent or general well-being. I'm sure some landlords can give you an extension, but they're not going to feel confident in you as their tenant if you're continuously late on payment. You can't make being short on cash for necessities a habit; it's a bad habit and can lead to cutting more corners on things.

 

I feel like the hobby has taught me how to hold onto my money. Like, right now, I'm trying to save up for another doll, but I NEED a new tablet and photoshop, seeing as I do art for a living. So I need to set aside the dolly stuff at the moment =/

 

Oh no, absolutely not. There are few situations where it is acceptable to go into debt and buying dolls is not one of them. Please, please wait until you are back on your feet to start (saving up for and) buying unnecessary things.

 

I do not even own a credit card. I don't buy a doll unless I have enough money in my bank account (or paypal account) to pay for it.

 

that's something that i will never do. this is a hobby that makes me happy and helps me cope with my every day stress and routine, but i would never go as far as to go into debt for any! not even for the loveliest limited item as badly as i could want it. first of all i have a family to take care of and that is #1 priority in my life. when all needs have been taken care of and all bills paid if i can spare the extra money for the luxury of owning a bjd then i do it. iam very mindful of my finances and i would never put my stability at risk for any type of hobby not only this one

 

Practically everyone, with the possible exception of kids who live at home, has debt. As soon as you purchase anything on credit, you've incurred a debt. It's virtually inescapable, so if you've ever used plastic to buy dolly stuff, you've been "in debt for dolls", no matter how temporarily. I've done it, and I'm sure there are hundreds of others who have done it too.

That having been said, I don't buy anything that I can't afford. When I use my credit card to buy something, I pay it off within the 30-day payment cycle of my credit company. I would not buy something I didn't have the money for. I think it's irresponsible to put real life needs ahead of hobbies. I've got mortgage, utility bills, transportation, food and medication to pay for, so the dolly stuff always has to be secondary. Sometimes I spend more money than I should on my dolls, but I'm careful not to incur large or long-term debts for hobby stuff. If I don't have the money for it, I don't get it.