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

It would vary from person to person, I can afford to buy a credit card each month so I don't have a problem with putting a doll on it, but others are not comfortable with having debt so wouldn't.

If you can pay it and you are certain your not going to end up in over your head then it a facility you can use.

 

I would say that overall it probably isn't worth it but in the society we live in we go into debt for just about everything from getting married, buying a house, buying a car, or even purchasing something like a camera at a retail store. It is considered so normal for so many things that I don't see why we wouldn't for something like a BJD. I have gone into debt to purchase a doll in the past and while I wouldn't say I regret it, I will say that I'm disappointed in myself that I did it and I learned from it and will not do it in the future.

 

I have always wondered why some people would buy dolls worth thousands , only to sell it at half price in the end, because they needed the money for etc... some even down the line of basic needs. I only wonder but never interrogated anyone in that category ( thats rude LOL) . I guess if you cant afford a doll , find a layaway plan . If that does't work , just save up and buy one when the savings is enough.

Whenever i got stock clothes of dolls i don't need , i find people who want it and just send it to them. I was thinking at least someone can use them vis-a-vis to selling them which sometimes , literally takes forever!!!

 

Honestly, in most hobbies, I see people that can't afford things selling their livers (figuratively) just to buy "the thing they MUST have." As a person who can barely afford this hobby, I find it ridiculous the amount of people who don't have a penny worth their name, yet they have 15-20 dolls hanging around their house and somehow manage to buy them clothes, etc. I've been struggling to buy my girl a new body and some clothes and I ONLY HAVE ONE DOLL. Somebody explain to me how people who don't have money manage to live like doll princes and princess?

 

I would rather choose to stop spending on a doll rather then ending up in debts. For me, i only buy what i can get with the kimited amt of money i have, thus explaining why i love to modify/make/sew things for my dolls. I find that easier and better though i dun have the skill sometimes.....

 

well, i have learned quite not the nice way to never ever never own money to the bank, expending money you dont have nor will have in some time can give you a lot of troubles and make your life in other aspects quite difficult, so for now, ill really prefer to save money for something i want rather than getting on debt, otherwise i wouldnt be able to enjoy it as much as if would be with a clean record.

 

I'm of the same mind as Alrick on this.

My monetary priorities usually go something like: Rent, car payment, bills, food & gas, other necessary things, savings, then "fun money" for hobbies. I'm lucky in that I usually have a bit each month I can squirrel away or use for hobbies, but it took a lot of hard work and sacrifice just to get to that point. Being a responsible adult kind of sucks.

 

I'm going to say no. It's always better to remember that these guys, as much as we love them, are inanimate things made of poly resin plastic. Even if the limited one you want super badly sells out, it's never worth killing yourself financially.

 

My family is big on cash and the idea that if you don't have it don't spend it. I won't judge others on how they spend their money, but I couldn't imagine going into debt just for a hobby. My mother always taught me to budget, so while I do have a relatively large amount of dolls myself it's because I buy secondhand and budget the hell out of everything else.

 

I put my livelihood ahead of dolls always. If I have to sell a doll to get a doll I do, if I have to save for a year I do. At the end of the day this is a hobby just something I do to have fun and be creative. If I don't have money, I don't have money, period. I refuse to open a credit card for dolls, thwt seems crazy to me but again this is just how I feel, I'm nit judging anyone who does this.

 

As a newcomer, I can imagine this being a very addictive - and expensive - hobby! But I've never yet got myself into debt with a hobby and am fully intending not to with this one (even layaways seem a step in the wrong direction, for me at least)... I guess that the limited edition releases might be an evil temptation for people at times though?!

 

I NEVER wanted to use layaway but the longer you are in the hobby and the more limited releases you have to pass because you don't get $$$ in just two weeks the more layaway starts appealing to you. And then you just do it^^ But that's the only acceptable way of going into dept for me

 

Ah yes, I can see the temptations of something where there's a short time period during which you can buy, like limited editions, or even auctions ending / the fear that someone might 'buy it now' before you! I'm starting out with good intentions at least - and I guess with layaways, you don't actually get the doll until you have paid in full? (so you're not racking up debt while enjoying the spoils!).

 

I can only speak for myself, dolls are a luxury not basic life necessities, I save money before I buy. I'll get a bonus from my job minimal twice a year (this year x 4 YAY) I only use the extra money for my dolly habit. If I dont have the money right now and I really really want something very bad, I can see myself using layaway but only If I can afford it.

 

I agree with this. Dolls are beautiful, but I would never risk my livelihood for them. If I can't afford them, I simply can't and I'm not going into debt because of it. Money issues can turn ugly real quick.

 

No I don't believe you should get into debt by overspending on dolls. It's not worth it, the initial buzz you get from opening a new doll soon fades. Dolls are just dolls no matter how lovely they are to look at. If I don't have the funds available then I can't have it, simple. Layaway is a good idea if you don't have the full amount of the asking price available as you can spread the cost but I see no sense in purchasing dolls and related merchandise on credit cards or in some cases using loans with high interest rates. I save up for dolls and like to pay for them outright then I know they are mine. Without escalating debt I know a bailiff can't just come around to my house and take everything away as technically until you pay off any outstanding debts the items you have aren't actually yours anyway. Important bills should always be paid for first and be of upmost priority.

 

Yeah, debt isn't a good idea, period. I grew up dirt poor (skipping meals for days, constantly unsure if we'd still have electricity when we got home, scrounging between couch cushions for pennies to pay bills, periods of homelessness) and, well. On the one hand, not being able to have fancy things as a kid makes me want to overspend on them now. I want nice stuff! Gimme cool toys!

But on the other hand, I am SO aware of how difficult life can be WITHOUT debt, and how quickly huge unexpected expenses like medical bills can appear, that I keep my daydreaming about $500 dolls as daydreams. There will never be a limited I need that badly. I might want it badly, but again, growing up poor: you want everything you can't have, but you're acutely aware that wants can't be your financial priority.

I don't think it's appropriate to judge how others spend their money, but I do think threads like this can be helpful, especially for young people who don't understand money yet. Don't let others tell you how to use your money, but DO listen to people with more experience, please! We've made lots of mistakes and we want you to learn from them so you don't have to make them yourself. So read threads like this, see different perspectives, and think about your own situation for yourself!

 

While there are some situations where debt is unavoidable, I think a lot of it comes from poor spending choices and priorities. My grandpa and my dad both influenced me, as they both believed you should not buy anything unless you have the cash in hand to pay for it at that time, and that's how they both saved up over the years to buy nice things for themselves without going into debt. I'm a little more flexible and will do layaways, but I still won't if I don't know know for sure that I could pay it on time every month until it's paid off. Dolls, as tempting as they are, are luxury items. If I can't afford one, I don't have to have it. I can skip it, or save up until I can afford it. I would hate to think I ruined my husband's credit (everything is in his name) or had utilities cut off because I bought a doll. It's just not worth it to me. Bills come first, then other necessities and if there's enough left, then dolls and other hobby stuff. We don't even own credit cards because sometimes it can be just too tempting to use them on frivolous things.

 

I love my dolls, but I couldn't knowingly go into long term debt over them. I didn't start buying dolls until I actually had extra income to spend and even then, I fret and pass up on dolls that I love but can't justify the cost. It seemed ok when I first buying dolls because I didn't have any. But now I feel I need to be extremely thrifty when it comes to buying more.

But as for other people, I cannot judge. Some people do spend outside their income but it's just as likely they had a decent income at one point and something unexpected and expensive happened. That's just life.