"Waste of Money?"

Well I am not english but I said it in finnish as I am a fin ^^
It resulted to that, that now if my friend `X` hears someone ask me "but what do you do with it" She tells them for me "shush! She´ll stare it!"
I love her to pieces for that.

I don´t think it´s weird to buy much at a time. But because I am still underaged I need my mom to make the order for me and she would not accept me using my money that much. I was lucky to even get her permission to get my first one ( he hasn´t arrived yet, the agony *draamaqueen? where?*

The hardest part is when people go and call me weird or say things like "grow up"
It makes me so MAD! What does it concern them what I do?

 

Every luxury item is 'a waste of money'. People spend tons on calling others when they don't have anything to say. Clothing have practical use, unless you have so many that you never wear certain pieces of clothing. If people could see that your very happy with your dolls, they wouldn't complain so much. Not everything has to be physical pleasing, the brain needs some nursing too.

Thank goodness I've never had any one telling me it's a waste of money.
My sister's in the hobby too and my parents understand a hobby isn't a hobby if it isn't expensive. (Also, my mom is into 1:12 and embroidery, so she isn't the one to talk anyway) My friends would never/can't spend so much money on a doll (or anything else for that matter), but think they're pretty and don't care what I do with my money. Some people even ask if my boy has arrived yet. I've only had once that someone was surprised by the cost, but she never said "what a waste of money" or anything along those lines. Maybe people just accept that I'm weird in their standards, or they are capable of staying polite. Well, that, or they just have their own 'weird' hobbies.

 

When someone tell me that I am wasting my money. I tell them that I am not because most of my money I earn, I saved up for college and the money I used to buy the doll is less or equal to 10% of my paycheck. Then I tell them how long it took me and go away ^_^

 

Everything that you don't need to survive is a luxury. I don't care about what people say, my dolls make me happy [even my barbies ^^;;;] and thus they are a necessity to me. I am not so...stable mentally, so anything that makes me happy IS a necessity.

 

As has been said plenty of times so far, anything non essential is a waste of money. But money never spent is even more of a waste, so why not buy what you want?

When I got my Yoko about a month ago now, some of my friends had been organising a ski trip, which I missed out on to buy my doll. Though, 1) I hate the cold, 2) I hate going out in the cold, so I would never have gone anyway.

They all told me my doll was such a waste of money, I should have gone skiing, so I told them skiing was a waste of money, they should have bought dolls.

Most people struggle to grasp the idea that different people value different things.

 

I did agonise about spending on the dolls, but I don't think it's a waste of money, of course.
Things were a lot better when I got my second doll and actually sat them out in the open instead of keeping them inside the bookshelf. I suddenly feel a lot closer to them and actually play with them more often -- my husband feels the same too.
My mother, if she knew, would probably have a mild heart attack over how much they cost, because she can be very frugal, even stingy at times.
My mother-in-law, however, thinks that since these are collectable items, they are fairly valuable and can be passed on to my daughter in the future, so she doesn't think it's a waste of money. She also appreciates the dolls because she's interested in teddy bear making and etc.
My husband thinks it's an awful lot of money, but he doesn't think it's a waste either.
I saw someone commenting in this thread that holidays cost a lot too, and I agree wholeheartedly. Since getting married, I've never gone on overseas vacations, and believe me, one of those would have cost enough money to buy three dolls.
And my brother just went to Japan twice this year, with his entire family. Goodness knows how much he spent? Would have been enough to buy more than ten dolls...

 

I'm not sure if I've ever had someone tell me it was a 'waste', per se... But they do go a bit, "You spent what on a doll?!" haha.
Mostly they're like, "But I could've bought -insert whatever- for that money!"

 

I dont think its a waste of money unless you wont care for it.
My mom told me it was a waste of money, as well. she ended up taking away $100 from me.....I died a little on the inside.

 

When I was contemplating getting the doll a friend told me that you only live once so if you can afford it and you like it then it's worth getting. The way I see it is if the doll brings you happiness then it is not a waste of money at all. It'd be pretty boring in this day and age to live with nothing but the essentials required in life, having a hobby can be a healthy thing and one like bjds can bring out a person's creative side too.

 

I couldn't agree more ^^

 

They say that kind of thing because it's true. These dolls *are* a huge waste of money from a practical, utilitarian point of view... A pretty and enjoyable waste, sure, but still a waste.

That's true of most hobbies, though, so we might as well be honest about it.

 

I always hesitate to say how much I spent on a doll. It makes me feel guilty somehow. But they give me a great deal of pleasure in this often bleak world of ours.

I look at people who spend hundreds on the latest electronic gadgets the same way they look at me and my dolls. You spent what?!

 

There are already several threads about people's reactions to our buying these lovely and pricey artworks, and about the amount of money involved. Since we can hardly cover any new ground in this new thread, here are some of the old ones if answers are needed:
http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58312
http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=240748
http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=327495
http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=331434
http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=94858&highlight=reactions
http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=186308
http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71651

Many of these are recent (within the last year or two) and I think that what's been said in them should just about cover the topic. I realize every now and then that we need to re-cover old topics, but I think some of these threads are recent enough to reflect the community's relatively current stance on the subject of dolls, spending, and the ever immortal "what other people think".

 

I've yet to get my doll, but I've had one of my friends here at college freak out about how much of "a waste of money" it was. I wasn't really that concerned with her opinion though because she spends her money on going clubbing and parties and such. To me, "wasting money" is spending money on trivial things when you can't afford it. If bills are paid, you have food, and utilities, then it isn't a waste of money.

 

Exactly how I feel. I meet my needs first, make sure I have a little padding, then spend. You can't take it with you when you die, so why horde tons and tons and always pass on things that might bring you a little joy when you're alive.

----

My mom...she is totally supportive of it all. She knows each person has hobbies they sink money into. Heck, she bought me my first for Christmas! Littlefee Ante. But sometimes when she hears the prices she gets that "that's ridiculous" look.
Conversation when placing the order for my Christmas doll-
Mom: "Did you pick out what you wanted?"
Me: "Yeah I'm getting the "pouty" one, the Ante."
Mom: "You aren't getting any clothes or anything?"
Me: "No, it's already really expensive. And I don't really like any of the stuff the company has. I'll get it somewhere else later."
Mom: "How much?"
Me: "Like $300."
Mom: *That's ridiculous look* "Which one is that? The tiny one?"
Me: "No it's the 10inch one, not the puki. I'm not even getting its makeup done. I'll do it myself."
Mom: "But it's going to come BALD and NAKED."
Me: "It'll have eyes. It's too expensive already. I'll get her stuff before she gets here anyway."
Mom: "Hrmm."
Me: *jokingly* "Don't worry mom, I'll buy you a Pukifee for your Birthday."
Mom: "Haha."

She's all for the hobby since its something *I* enjoy. Sometimes she does seem a little hesitant because of the pricetag. On the other hand, I HAVE heard her defend my interest in it all before. "All hobbies are expensive."

My boyfriend on the other hand...he's entirely against it. He thinks it's a waste in that it's a "toy" that sits around.. But really.... it's just because he thinks the whole doll thing is creepy and weird. (Think Child's Play) ...He'll get over it when she's here.

I think about it this way. My hobbies are:
Art: Brushes cost $3-15, Paint sometimes as much as $20 a tube, Canvas $40-100
Photography: New lenses $500-3000, Flashes $500-800
Videogames: $15 a month, $40-60 per Console Game, $300+ per Console,
The connection between them all: $2000-5000 Computer and Parts/ Tablet
So spending $200-400 on a Doll every now and then doesn't look so terrible. Think of the hours and hours of enjoyment you get out of every dollar. It's so exponentially more.

It's ALL expensive but it's money spent to do enjoyable things with. We all budget and such. Next time someone says something, start listing all the things they spend their extra money on and tell them, "you only live once".

 

It's hurtful when something you are so excited about and that means so much and makes you so happy gets ridiculed or judged by the ones you love, I feel. As a reflection onto ourselves as well.
Not much you can do about their stance alas Just, maybe swallow, realize you have a right to this happiness as you aren't harming anyone, and be happy here or in silence And with people who DO understand, and don't judge

PS: I think probably parents come hardwired with the notion that they need to err on the side of caution in teaching their kids to save every penny instead of spending it on anything.
So, some smiles of understanding on BOTH sides would be nice. Ideally.
~hurries off the philosophy chair to go knit another coat for MeiMei~

 

Simple, I just say it's my money to waste. I don't personally view it as a waste of money - it's a hobby, just like a lot of things I collect. Hell, if they knew how much I've spent on anime/manga stuff they'd probably go spare!

I've only just recently "got into" the hobby though - mostly thanks to my boyfriend. He absolutely -adores- BJDs and we've spoken about them a little too. At first it was just so I would have something to share with them but now I really, really like them. Not only are they all adorable and such but I can see constructive purposes for them too - like photoshoots, artistic models ... that sort of thing! So, I guess I'd just spin it as such - I work hard to earn the money for them, and so if I choose to "waste it" on another hobby of mine then I will.

 

I say "no they're not, they're art!" however it doesn't bother me if people say that. They bring so much joy to me and that's all that really matters, I'm lucky my loved ones dont see them as a "waste of money" though because they know how much I enjoy them!

 

If we only purchased what was 'essential', there would be no art, music, literature... no culture. These dolls and the accessories that go with them are generally not mass produced and you are supporting an artist/craftsperson who deserves to earn a decent living as much as anyone.

 

My mom and dad says that it would be a waste of money and such. The thing is, it's not a waste of money if you love it. No matter what others say, as long as you don't regret it, then it's not a waste. I get made fun of a lot for buying really useless items like bouncy balls, clothes that I never wear...but I never once thought I wasted money on it because for some odd reason I cherish what I bought. It's what I liked at the time and I still enjoy having it around. Maybe I just got use to being made fun of and getting lectured on buying things that never seem to be good enough for my parents...but oh well, I like it and thats it.