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Is it too expensive?

Mar 15, 2011

    1. I agree it is both ways. I only have one doll at the moment because it is all I can afford, she cost me a couple hundred and something dollars. So I wouldn't say it is super expensive for her. But I recently purchased new stuff for her. Clothes, shoes, wigs, eyes, accessions and to top it off a new face up. It added up quickly even though I was making sure I was getting good deals. It was all bought on the market place for a second hand price and you also have to add all the shipping for that too. It almost cost just as much as my doll! Your right about "its what you decide to pay for". I didn't have to. She had stuff all ready but I wanted something different. So it can be expensive hobby.
       
    2. My neighbor is obsessed with Louis Vuitton bags. I like dolls. To each their own!
       
    3. I have never given my dolls new outfits or eyes and still love them as much as I did when I first lied eyes on them. As a matter of fact, I still get that excited feeling whenever I look at them, so customization, though the largest aspect of this hobby is not its only appeal.
       
    4. I'd say the BJD hobby is quite expensive, even if you do try your hardest to spend the most minimal amount of money you can. I have 5 dolls, 2 of which I consider inexpensive. They each have 1 wig, 1 pair of eyes, 1 pair of clothes and 1 pair of shoes. Like mentioned before, there are hidden costs of shipping, etc.

      I've spent roughly $1450 on all my dollie stuff so far, and I think that's just fine. Some people love fashion, some people love vintage comic books, some people love to travel.
      Hobbies can be and are very expensive, so I don't worry that I spend $50 on a nice outfit for my doll when other people are spending $50 on sunglasses or Batman #200 or a bus ticket to another state.

      It's true that we should regulate our spending, (pay your bills before you buy those cute MSD boots!) but you should enjoy your hobbies! :)
       
    5. A lot of hobbies can be expensive. They may not necessarily have a large upfront cost like a BJD, but it can add up. For instance, say you are a film nerd and go to watch movies all the time. One movie isn't bad, but over the course of a year, you easily can have spent a lot of money to go watch them if you go see something pretty much every weekend (yes, I know people like this).

      All hobbies are as expensive as you make them, really.
       
    6. It's an expensive hobby~ but so are most hobbies actually... Why, because for the most part, one is never enough be it a doll, a musical instrument, a pair of skates, video games, trains, porn, sound systems, atv's, bikes, etc...etc.. Certainly it is money that could be spent elsewhere, but the point, like all hobbies, is it makes people happy. Sometimes people have to give up their hobbies because their priorities change and money is needed in some other area of their lives. It is an expensive hobby.. Oh, and wanted to see if you were paying attention ;)
       
    7. Like Glowbee and others said, I'd say "both!" Really, I think that there's a certain "base" or "required" price to owning a BJD. Accessories like wigs, shoes, clothes, etc., not to mention extra parts or face-ups, do cost money and it adds up really fast. But I think once you get over this initial (very expensive) cost, the hobby really is as expensive as you make it. For example, do you really need Dollhart clothes, or can your doll be satisfied with that simple shift dress you got for her?
       
    8. "Expensive" and "Too Expensive" are relatives and not absolutes. This is an expensive hobby for me. It's probably too expensive. It is not expensive nor too expensive for someone wealthier then me.

      I also think the hobby can be "Too Expensive" even if you pay all your bills and have discretionary funds left over. For example, I have no consumer debt but I do have a mortgage. If I came upon an extra thousand dollars, it might be economically wiser for me to make a double mortgage payment rather then buy a doll. Of course that is a judgement call, and again.. relative!
       
    9. I completely agree,

      It is a CHOICE you are making.

      Everything is a choice, some take it too far ( aka addiction ) and sometimes can loose touch with irl stuff. Honestly that happens with every hobby you take to liking. It is with everything so I don't think someone can say its too expensive because even though the product as a whole is expensive, you can save for it but its your choice to buy that CUTE wig vs paying for a gallon of milk.

      I think thoughs who are in any hobby have to be careful. Im saving up for a car, all my pay check goes in to that and only about 150 goes to me. I put 20 away for my doll and the rest in bills and helping dad around the house. So in reality it isn't that expensive for me because I am not putting the money down all at once. Also, I have priorities in line and have worked very hard for them ( and everyone else ). Sometimes its nice to have nice things, and when you work hard for them you appreciate them more. Along with having some reason as to why you want that doll. My reason is for anatomy and to do poses that I can see in 3D and touch and move. I want a doll to excel. Sometimes excelling means you have to put money down for it. So like you said. Its only as expensive as you make it..

      Along with the prices, the prices range so much honestly. I would like to make a small shop of cheaper clothes with the same sorta quality. I like uniqueness and affordability but also you want to get what you deserve as well. But you can always find things for less, and the things you want may not be as expensive as you think.

      Its all about choices, and you choose what you think is right for you.
      If its too expensive, dont buy it. If you think its not too expensive and like it. Then buy it.
       
    10. Like others have said, it's expensive if you want it to be. You could put a cap on it, and make it about as expensive as any other hobby. I live at home while going to school/working and have lots of disposable income, so I could probably afford to buy many nice dolls if I wanted. But I tend to think of where else my money could be going.. savings, tuition, etc. and I couldn't bring myself to spend much more than I already have. I guess it's really dependent on your situation and whether or not you're cheap like myself :P
       
    11. I agree with a lot of others on this: it is an expensive hobby (sometimes too expensive), but we are willing to pay for it. I keep seeing clothes to buy my Kid Delf, but then I see the price, and think, "I could buy an outfit for myself with that money and have some left over for shoes!" But then again, I have too much clothes and Allison doesn't have hardly any, so I'm willing to spend money for her. There are days I want to rip my hair out, but then there are the days (most days) that I love this hobby. :)
       
    12. Yup!

      Today, that's how I feel, maybe tomorrow it will be fine again
       
    13. I'm in agreement with the masses, it's an expensive hobby just due to the prices of the dolls; even the cheapest will put you out a few hundred dollars. It's also as expensive as you make it because you can choose to save money and make clothes and other accessories.
       
    14. I've always seen the hobby as expensive, because I'm one of those people that has to have all the Dollheart clothes and all the little accessories (I'm a miniatures junkie, so I have like 3 tiny laptops, for example). I adore clothes for myself and my dolls. I get as much pleasure getting new things for them as I do for myself. However, I'm in between jobs atm and ready to start a new career (and planning a wedding and expecting a baby) so spending priorities have changed. While I can no longer just drop four hundred bucks on the doll I want right now, saving up is still a possibility. So to me, it's expensive. Does that mean it's a bad hobby? no. Does it mean it's an irresponsible hobby? not necessarily. Does that make it any better or worse or the same as any other hobby? That's irrelevant to me, personally. To me, I don't need to justify it by comparing it to other kinds of hobbies. A hobby is what it is, and I'm being responsible about mine so anyone judging that can just keep it to themselves. :P
       
    15. I honestly don't think this hobby is more expensive than any other hobby that people choose to take part in. I often compare it to collecting sports memorabilia, where there are items that you don't need that can cost quite a bit of money, and most of them essentially sit in a glass case to be admired but not used. And in a lot of cases, this hobby costs as much as you allow it to. Because money is tight for my husband and I and I enjoy sewing, I typically make my dolls' clothes, and the ones I've bought have been from the few brands I can find at Toys R Us or Target that actually fit BJDs. Also because of the cost of accessories, I often have to wait quite a while before I can get shoes, wigs or eyes for my dolls. There are also cheaper doll companies out there when the issue is the initial cost of getting into the hobby. This is by no means a criticism to those who choose to buy from more expensive companies, and I do believe that you should get the doll you really love even if you have to save up for a while to get it. And finally, it all comes down to budgeting- hobbies should come after necessities (i.e. rent, groceries, gas, etc.). Overall, I would say that this hobby is not "too" expensive, but it can be more expensive than some people are comfortable with.
       
    16. I'm always told my hobby is too expensive, and I have to agree. Not only the dolls, their clothes and shoes costs much more than all my clothes combined. ^^;;
       
    17. I'm going to say without hesitation that hell yes, this hobby is insanely expensive even if you're extremely frugal while participating in it! Even if you had just a single doll with a single outfit, a single wig, a single pair of eyes, you're still laying down at least as much as my electric bill is each month.

      Most hobbies are pretty darn expensive and this one is no exception. Is it TOO expensive? Only if it's interfering with your life, credit, ability to pay bills and eat, etc. Sometimes I do secretly wish I hadn't gotten into this because I do enjoy it so immensely but it's also ridiculously expensive. Unless life really forces it though, I don't intend to get out of it despite the expenses. :)
       
    18. At the moment, I'm only 20 years old and I haven't lived on my own yet (beyond a college dorm, which is all the freedom and none of the responsibility and therefore doesn't count), so I've had a lot of time to watch the adults around me and little time to experience real life myself. One thing I've noticed, however, is that everyone has their 'thing.' Some people smoke or drink (and those who smoke a pack a day could easily afford a doll a year!), some buy electronics, some like to blow money going out to dinner, some enter competitions or dog shows, some play WoW, etc. Everyone has different standards about what's important.

      For my (single) mom, it's important to have a costly house that she owns, a new car, a new television, etc. Personally, I would rather live in a cheaper rented place and have that extra money to spend on what I want to spend it on.

      So in that regard... I don't think that ABJDs are too expensive.

      However, I grew up in kind of split worlds. On one hand, I've seen my father struggle with money his entire life. On the other hand, I've seen my mom work moderately hard, get everything she wants, and have a very comfortable life. I've had friends in even better situations and I've seen what two people can do with their lives, education, and well-paying jobs. So while part of me feels like $700 is a lot for a vanity item, part of me also feels that those who can afford it deserve it. There's nothing wrong with spending money if you have that money.

      It becomes "too expensive" when you can't eat or keep your utilities running because of your doll collection.
       
    19. Hahaha, YES it's too expensive. But I don't care >_> *spends money*
       
    20. I do believe it is an expensive hobby, but really, if it makes you happy and you enjoy it, why not?
      :)