How did you drop the bomb on your parents / loved ones?

I just finished my first year in college, and just recently started really looking into getting a doll (aka planning it all out) I have two sort of picked out, but I keep looking anyways.

When I told my mom she wasn't really.... excited. Even for me, who is the one getting it, the money factor is hard to swallow. It would be my own money, but when you're in college.... there's a lot of future to think about. Bills come in faster than the paychecks do. I got really serious when Iplehouse had a moving sale recently, and almost got a Tatiana, but then changed my mind when I started number crunching.

I want my first doll to be one that I really want. I've never seen one in person, and probably never will until I get one myself. The problem is where I live no one owns dolls, and I can't be driving around to a meet up either. It's impossible for me to go to any conventions..... I think that's where my mom get's a lot of her hesitation at. Besides, my money or not, I live with her and really want her approval on how I spend my money (I am know for spending it unwisely.) We haven't talked about it much recently, but I am planning on starting a doll fund over the summer so once "the one" finds me I can get it no problems.

 

Me: Hey mom I want this!
Mom: A doll?
Me: yep!
Mom: (complaining and arguing about the price and what I would have to do for it)...Fine
Me:
Yep not much of a bomb! X3

 

I'd been playing around with the idea of getting one for months, then I got a fantastic tax refund and was able to get 2 thanks to Iplehouse having their moving sale at the time~
Mom: "So what are you doing with your money?"
me: "I can get two Asian ball-jointed dolls I've had my eye on! They're made of resin and really, really customizable! -proceeds to prattle on....-"
Mom: "...what else?"
Me: "...nothing, that'll use up the money."
And then I got the whole "you're 19, you don't need dolls" speech. >>;

But I'm not one to spend money on too much and I help out with the bills as much as possible, so she didn't really care about the price. She knows how much of a planner I am with money and once i make up my mind to buy something, no matter how expensive, I WILL cut off all other frivolous expenses to get it. I've done that since I was a child.

 

I'm in my mid-20s and have lived in a different city from my parents for a few years, but I still keep in touch and see them every few months.

I told my mom about my GF's dolls, since she saw us and our friends each come back with a huge bag from the Volks store last time we were visiting, and saw the dolls themselves later, so she knows what they are. At the same time, I don't think I'm going to mention that I bought one of my own any time soon. I don't actually think either of my parents would care about the dolls themselves, especially since they're all vinyl and they'd just see it as an extension of the anime stuff I've been into for over a decade. The money, on the other hand, would be an issue. Even I know it's not the smartest use of my meager finances.

 

Me: "Mom, aren't these dolls so pretty! I want one... but they're really expensive. *shows price*
Mom: *doesnt like dolls; finds them scary* o.o Thats really expensive but they are pretty.
Me: I'm gonna work on getting one.
Mom: *disbelief* good luck with that.
Me: *working on secretly getting him*

I got 2 pullips beforehand so it loosened her up just a tad.

 

My nana was all for it ( not like she can complain because she has like 70,000.00 worth of dolls of her own...the royal doulton kind...not the BJD kind;P) so she was happy that I adopted the doll hobby she bought my first BJD for me... The only catch is is that she has to love it as much as I do...shes not keen and would not buy me say... a soom fantsay doll because she doesnt believe its worth the money but im working on her

 

I have no problem with my parents at all for a lot of things I ask them to buy despite the fact that I'm in college and I have saved up loads of money for my own use but they always offer to pay regardless what the item was. Then again, I don't buy things on a daily basis like dolls and stuff..I usually ask for them when I actually needed or during my birthday or maybe Christmas.

 

At first I wanted a luts kid delf and asked my mom for one for christmas even though I am married and we live away from ym parent's hosue,but we are close to them as in they come to our house and we go to thier house(more than they come to ours).
My mom was like not this year but maybe next. She hated the price though. Well I ended like another which was more expensive and bigger ^_^ My husband said we would save for her and get her. I showed my mom and she saw the price and freaked,but since it was a everything gift (xmas,b day,mother's day ..ect..)from husband not much she can say. She thinks she is beautiful,but she has mentioend she wishes they cost less. Now she tells me well you should be happy with your doll and you do not need anymore...lol Husband and I plan to get her a male companion in the future ^__^

 

The whole "YAY, TAX REFUND" scenario is like a dream come true when you need (a little) more money than you just have lying around LOLZ, in this case for a doll or other doll related things. I usually cackle with glee when I receive the tax notice, already brain-storming what to do with the money. It's like Christmas! \o/ Ah, that feeling of excitement.

Another scenario that has happened to me recently was getting a $200 refund from an eBay seller I've pre-ordered something from 2 years ago but never received because he freakin' "forgot" (yeah, right) about my auction and by the time I reminded him, the item was already sold out everywhere and now goes for three times the price on the secondary market. -__-; Thanks a lot. After literally years of begging and after he realized I was in contact with other people he's scammed/didn't send items to, he deemed me worthy of a refund (of course he didn't send it as a 'Refund' via Paypal but as payment, so I had to pay fees! *shakes fist*).

I more than gladly spent the money on a bit more expensive faceup commission for an Unoa faceplate. I don't think I could have spent it in a better way as it turned out absolutely gorgeous and sweet.

As for the thread topic, years back when I was younger and first got into BJDs, like some other people here I've talked to my parents about Volks dolls bit by bit over a few months, so they'd slowly get used to the idea such expensive dolls besides antique ones actually exist and are worth the money. It's always the price tag that raises most eyebrows here and to this day my mom can't believe a doll could be $1000+ in the end after all the auction deputy fees and shipping. She still goes "God, that was bloody expensive! It cost way too much! *shakes head furiously*" if I somehow mention the time I got my first Volks boy (blank School A heads were much rarer and more expensive back then and the body I got separately was pretty much new, hence the price).

Getting a cheaper doll like Unoa years later was actually a relief to her and now when I mention that I'd like a SD10 girl body which is "only lilke $300 if used", she doesn't bat an eyelash but rather mentions the other $1000+ tag LOLZ. Sometimes it isn't easy for non-doll people to grasp why one doll is $1000 and another $600. They eventually get over it but if they're anything like my mom, they don't forget. That's the key with my mom.

Now when it comes to dolly spending and prices, I tread carefully and casually and try not to make a big deal out of it. I also sound as excited and happy as I can, to make it 100% clear it's a doll I really want with all my heart. When they see how much enjoyment the doll hobby's been giving me all these years, they stop asking about how much money I've just spent. If they worried before dolls are just a phase, they don't anymore.

 

my mom didn't rant over my girl when she first saw it..but i tried to hide the fact that she's worth 350 dollars or so..but I felt guilty and tell her the true price eventually..she knows the money I spend on my doll was my own, and that she can't really stop me from buying stuffs and such since it's my money..she just keep on telling me to not forget to save up for more important things ..but she scold me when i told her i bought a set of clothes (set of clothes from h. Naoto) for my MSD boy that is worth 100 dollars..she told me to stop spending on expensive clothes..hahah..but not on expensive dolls..

 

Personally I do know what you mean about it being a big deal to reveal. My first doll was over 1k and I would never be able to tell my mother that this is what I spent. She just would not be able to understand. I have shown her my dolls and she doesn't mind them. I made sure to show her how they differ from generic dolls, the ability to change eyes, wigs...etc. She did sort of say "with all that, it can't have been cheap" and she did ask me how much it cost, but I simply evaded that and didn't answer. I say never hide the actual item from anyone you have to answer to. It will eventually come out. As long as you take into account who you are breaking the news to, adjust accordingly to how you know they will react. That's how I sort of handle everything and that's how I intend to continue handling large or expensive purchases like this.

 

i went up to my mother and raised the laptop to her and said "can i buy this?" (i was fifteen and she was teh credit card holder) she looked at me, cocked her head, and went on with what she was doing..... no response....
i went to my dad and said "dad, if you win the lottey (hes a sucker for lotto tickets) will you buy me this?"
"ummmm.... no. never. just no."

 

This is how i did it... (note: it didnt work out so well.)
me: Hey mom!
mom: Yes hun?
me: I want something...
mom: Oh this can't be good.
me: yeah well... so here is a picture.
*shows picture to mom on ipod*
mom:... are you... sure?
me: Yup i really want one.
mom: How much?
me: about 500... but i am going to pay for it myself.
mom: PAUL (dad's name)
dad: *walking into room* sup
mom: Our son is gay
me: 0.0 wait what *leaves room to look for more dolls*

 

I just brought her home and after a long time I told them how much I paid for her.

 

I just brought them home and thats how my parents found out.

 

Well my mom collects them too so she was fine with it, but when it came to my dad he had the whole "dolls are for little kids" type of viewpoint so he was kind of weird about it. I just had to make it clear to him that these dolls aren't for "little kids", and there are many people out there that collect them that are even much older than me. Besides whats wrong with embracing your inner child.

 

I got my first doll 3rd hand from a friend when I was 27 or 28. (Angel of Dream Mo Lan) I was at work, my Mom worked across from me in the office, and I was so EXCITED because I had looked at dolls for a long time but really had no idea where to get them or where to start. I think she was kind of curious about them because she had never seen them before, and was surprised how much she was (which was like, not even half the price of her brand new). But once I got her both she and my Dad were impressed with how creative you can get with them, especially since I like to sew a lot.

My second doll I sold a lot of stuff on ebay to buy, he was my most expensive yet ($450+) and even though I'm grown I did talk to my folks about buying him because he was such a major purchase for me. (HZ Xiao Han)

My third doll I bought from a seller here on DoA, she was expensive too, but I fell in love with her and purchased her without hesitation. My Mom offered to pay for her, but I bought her on my own. (Castle Anne Basic Anne)

My next two dolls were gifts from my parents, I got an Asleep Eidolon Shine because they had purchased something expensive for my sister and reciprocated for me by letting me choose a new doll. I received a ResinSoul Bei for Christmas last year, in fact, other than cookbooks and clothes, a LOT of my Christmas gifts last year were doll related. (Whenever we go to antique stores or yard sales, my folks are always also on the look out for stuff I can use for my dolls).

Now I've got my eye on a ResinSoul Yun and a Souldoll Vito Lester. My Mom kind of jokingly asked me how many dolls I planned to get. I can't help it, they're just so much fun! I remember when I got my first doll I expected to me happy with 2. HA! How naive!

All in all, I'm 32 now with a good job, so they really couldn't say how I spend my money, but I'm lucky because they're supportive of this hobby because it makes me happy.

 

Well, I just told my folks. I'd been saving for years for my first doll. Nowadays, I don't tell them of every doll-purchase but recently, when I mentioned to my Mum that maybe it would be wiser to put the money I've been saving for LLT's Ludwig into my savings account, she said to spend it on Ludwig. He's gonna be my last large doll (I'm really running out of space and he's gonna be my fifth large one) and I was gonna get him for my 35th birthday but he was delayed ... So I guess - I'll get him.

 

I was still living with my parents when I ordered my first doll (Pipos Mac), but I didn't talk to them about dolls beforehand. The first doll-related thing that arrived was a wig, and when they were curious about what was inside that package I just told them it's a wig for a doll I want. As far as I can remember there were no further questions. My Pipos Mac arrived when my parents were on vacation.

I think the day or the next they came back I went up to them and told them I bought a doll. They weren't that surprised and said it was nice to have a special hobby like that. I don't think they asked me about the money back then, but I think I told them anyway. Thankfully they thought of my doll as cute, not creepy.
While I was still living with my parents two other dolls arrived, one of them Ringdoll Sol. Despite the size they weren't freaked out and my mom was especially fond of him. She told me he's the kind of pretty guy you sadly don't see on the streets,
Well, I moved out a while ago and bough "some more" dolls since then - my parents have yet to visit me and I think they might be surprised at the size of my collection. But I don't think they'd scold me for spending money as long as it makes me happy.

 

I told my brother first, and then sort of brought it up during dinner one night. I went to the official company page and showed them the doll I wanted to get (Dollzone Yuu) and answered whatever questions they had. It was funny because both my parents made silly immature jokes about him being anatomically correct. xD My mom gave me a look about the price, but my dad didn't, because he has an expensive hobby as well. (collecting antiques) They didn't try to talk me out of it, and their reaction was sort of neutral, so I went ahead and ordered him a few days later.

I didn't run into problems until I had 3 dolls at home. My brother started trying to restrict my buying, and later on my mom did too. I think at this point they've almost given up. :P I mean I'm 24, live at home with minimal expenses, and have a full time job. I try not to give them excuses to nag on me about my hobby.