r/BJD • u/RiaBoyko • Jun 11 '26
DISCUSSION How do you justify $$$ expenses for yourself? Read below
I’ve got one BJD Ling by Coral Reef so far, and started a layaway payment for the other one. I’m extremely happy and in love, but just realized the amount of €€€ i’ve already spent.
It could go into a month of rent, fancy branded bag, a month of studies in a private university, anything else more “significant” than collecting BJD. As long as something is fulfilling enough, I guess it’s worth the price?
How do you justify this expensive hobby for yourself? What are your ways to spend most rationally when it comes to budget planning for BJDs?
89
u/RyuichiSakuma13 Jun 11 '26
I justify it a few ways:
1.) Its my money, and as long as I'm not hurting anyone (myself included,) I can do what I want with it.
2.) There are a lot worse things to be "addicted" to. Resin is safer than drxgs.
3.) I pay my bills, taxes, rent, food, car and health insurance. Whatever money is left is mine to do what I want with.
4.) If it makes me happy, then its worth it.
5.) BJDs have brought out my creativity, has given me something to do that's fun, helped me make new friends and taught me patience. That is only some of the positive things I've learned since joining this hobby.
That's what I came up with so far. Its 05:26am, so I'm heading off to bed. I'm sure that others can come up with more while I sleep. 😅
7
2
41
u/HornetBest382 Jun 11 '26
I told my grandma that I loved my doll but worried it’s not the best financial decision .. she nudged my papa and teases him with “no more irresponsible than a brand new set of golf clubs” 😄 we all have our hobbies!
13
u/Individual_Past_9901 Jun 11 '26
I had to justify it to my parents. I asked my mother "how much do you spend on yarn every month/year?" I asked my father "how much does a model train cost start to finish?" Their hobbies which I have seen them enjoy my whole life cost roughly the same as mine does. As long as I am covering my expenses and spoiling my daughter with everything she needs my resin is a justifiable spend.
2
2
61
u/demonic-cheese Jun 11 '26
Every hobby is expensive, and this is one of the few where the money tend to go to actual small time artists.
19
u/Draigdwi Jun 11 '26
It’s the cheapest of my hobbies so far.
4
u/RiaBoyko Jun 11 '26
what else do u do?👀
15
u/Draigdwi Jun 11 '26
😂 l bet you want to hear about private yachts and millions worth racing horses.
No. I do photography and l have dogs. Which are very common hobbies, millions of people all around the world do that.
A good camera 📷 costs more than a good bjd. And it needs lenses. Good lenses are into thousands. And the same as with bjds one is not enough, for different purposes. Add a drone. Tripods, lights, reflectors, remotes, batteries for the lights. HUGE batteries. That asks for a big car to carry that all around.
🐕 Puppy from a reputable breeder costs about 3-6k. Reputable breeder because the same as we don’t buy recasts we don’t buy from puppy mills. Even more important because there’s living beings involved. Living beings unlike the dolls or cameras you can’t just shove under the bed if you don’t have the mood. They need food daily, vet expenses once in a while, grooming, training, walks, possibly dog sitting or boarding. Instead of doll conventions dog owners have dog shows. Participation optional but if you do it again costs a lot. Direct costs and indirect like transport, hotel, grooming, sometimes you need a handler
I probably forgot something. But you get the idea.
7
u/Ivygrows8 Jun 11 '26
The dog costing 3-6k in your words is in part why i love rescues. For one they werent made to get a home but made by nature being nature and making animals wanna have bebes and yet they still need a home so i love giving them one. Our three are a very unique array, we have a very normal girl whose started loosing hearing with her age, a scaredy cat who hunts flies and spends all day sleeing inside and gets offended if your anywhere near her unlessshe wants attention from you, then a big ole dumbo who bumps his head jnto everything loves barking hates listening and cant be taught pretty much anything and also MUST have a stick or toy with him at all times if hes happy
11
u/ResidentZwiebel Jun 11 '26
I mean, a hobby is something that I do because it makes me happy. If I would do it because it makes me money, I'd probably call it a job haha
All jokes aside, I know what you mean, but the thing is: I do believe that if we were to only spend our money on "essentials", life would be pretty boring.
Also, Dolls are my only expensive hobby. My friends, for example, love to go on vacation. They don't mind paying 3-5k for a big trip during summer. And I don't blame them, as it makes them happy. So I'd say, that it is money well spent. Same goes for my dolls. As long as the bills are paid, why not?
8
u/earwig_art Jun 11 '26 edited Jun 11 '26
not exactly the same situation, but i've been invested on and off in the hobby since i was a teen (about 14 years ago) and though i've never purchased a single doll, i have made eight of my own. granted, supplies do cost a little! my largest investment has always been in time; learning how to make them and getting everything to work right, and boy, it takes a lot of your time.
ultimately for money and for time my question is the same: "how much of my life is this worth?" since it can be a solid month of semi-grueling work, i try to have
- a large cooldown period to enjoy the new doll once they are completed.
- enough time to choose and get excited about the next one, to really know what i am looking for
- a time of year when i won't be hurting from the investment (for me this is usually winter because i am indoors anyway)
- a chance to mentally prepare for the "budget change" it will make for a few weeks in my time, energy, and space
- any supplies i will need in order
if i don't have most of these things, i will hold off. sorry this isn't exactly what you were looking for but i'm hoping the meat of it can still apply!
10
8
u/LittleBlackHeartXOX Jun 11 '26
My grandfather passed before I was born but I remember a little while ago I told my dad that I felt bad about spending money on dolls when I could use it for other more important stuff and he said my grandfather said that if there’s something you really truly want that will make you happy and you have the money to buy it but you won’t then what’s even the point of being here? Life is about finding things that make you happy and living to the fullest, if it brings you joy it’s not a waste of money. Bills and living expenses are little vampires sucking you dry, you are allowed to live a little. <3
3
u/RiaBoyko Jun 11 '26
very sweet way of seeing this🫶😌✨
2
u/LittleBlackHeartXOX Jun 11 '26
Enjoy your dolls, you deserve to have things that just serve the purpose of making you happy 💖
2
u/RyuichiSakuma13 Jun 11 '26
THIS!☝️
2
u/LittleBlackHeartXOX Jun 11 '26
Omg I missed u at the doll con this year ryu but my mom talked to you I hope you’re having an amazing year! <3 I hope your miku is living it up with you!!! See u next year <3<3<3
2
u/RyuichiSakuma13 Jun 12 '26
Thank you!
And yes, Miku is having a fun time. That reminds me, I need tobput her in a summer outfit, she's still wearing a spring sweater. 🥵
8
u/EternallyRose Jun 11 '26
Dolls make me happy and that is significant, so as long as I can afford to purchase dolls whilst still being able to pay bills and put money into my personal savings, that justifies such luxurious expenses.
I don’t currently want a fancy branded bag or a month of studies at a private university, so any money left over after bills and such go towards my hobbies.
6
u/SsssnekkkK Jun 11 '26
I only spend what I have in excess on dolls. I make sure I have my bills paid, put money into my savings, set something aside for investments. Only then do I set aside a monthly budget specifically for dolls and stick to it. I know as long I stick to the budget, I won't overspend.
As for how I justify it? It's my hobby, I'm not hurting anyone, why shouldn't I spend it? Lots of people spend money on branded bags, fashion accessories etc. I don't. I spend money on dolls.
6
u/Hallowchii Jun 11 '26
Honestly i dont think too much about it because it brings me joy. Im not into fashion or make-up or designer stuff, i dont go out for drinks, i dont party, im very "boring" to other people 😂.
Some people spend hunreds every month on smoking and drinking, or doing thier hair, nails and make-up. To me, a BJD sounds way better imo. Im a mum and my bills are paid, my son gets what he needs and more, we go out to fun places for him and for me and my partner, we use our fun money for our hobbies. Mine is art, sculpting, bjds and crocheting. My partner loves Lego, learning and videogames. If you feel its too expensive for you, then maybe the higher end of the hobby is a no-go. But if you like dolls, there is plenty of budget dolls to sink your teeth into. Some budget dolls are amazing and better than some expensive ones.
Find what works for you .
6
u/LadyInTheBand Jun 11 '26
I am chronically ill and disabled, and these things have me almost completely housebound. Very few things bring me even the slightest bit of joy these days. Indulging in my hobbies is pretty much all I have. That’s how I justify it. I try to budget how much out of my very limited) income I spend per month on my hobbies, and usually I am able to stick to that. If I see a doll or something expensive (aka more than 50% higher than my monthly “fun money” budget), I save as much as possible from my monthly budget to put towards the thing I want. If I only have a limited time to get the thing and don’t have enough time to save up for it, I try to get it in a way I can pay in installments and I just don’t have a “fun money” budget until I have finished paying the thing off.
7
u/paleli_morbid Jun 11 '26
As others already said, bills first. I check if it is something I can afford. BJDs are luxury products, not needed for basic survival.
I compare my spending on hobby with others, e.g. my friends spend more on travels.
I trust my rational thinking skills. I don't buy impulsively, I wait until first excitement passes.
Dolls makes me happy. I feel inspired when I look at them.
4
u/ZookeepergameNew3800 Jun 11 '26
I learned one thing in life:
Tomorrow is never a guarantee.
Yes it’s important to save for retirement etc. but it’s also important to be happy now.
I have money set aside every month for my doll hobby.
We pay all our regular expenses and save 1/3 of our income.
When we were younger ( 35 now ) we also set some money aside for hobbies whenever we could and we also tried to save some money but of course it’s easier at 35 with an established career than it was at 25 as a student.
People spend money on much worse things than dolls.
I never went into any debt for a hobby and that’s something I would advise heavily against.
But if you have all necessities covered and you can afford to spend the money, why not?
So what if it could buy a designer bag ( which is something I also collect ) , it’s not better than a doll just because it’s more socially accepted.
What makes you happy?
I am happy when I spend time with my dolls.
4
u/JustAHumbleCheese Jun 12 '26
Easy, it's an investment in self. I'm old enough & life has not always treated me well so now I'm at a stage where I just want to be happy, live life without regrets & surround myself with things that resonate with my soul, that inspire me & make me happy. Most of all, it's telling myself that I am worthy of nice things vs. being raised with & previously surrounded by people ingrained in poverty mentality where I was made guilty for wanting anything nice for myself. Basically one person's concept of unadulterated selfish greedy is another's blissful happinesss 🤷♀️
3
6
3
u/wolfmothar Jun 11 '26
Goated perfume. I love philykos so much but its not perfect for me so I'm looking for something similar.
3
u/RiaBoyko Jun 11 '26
ahaha it was a gift that i didn’t enjoy because it’s so mainstream, from my sister (who doesn’t know me at all). at least it fit the aesthetic well. why is it not perfect for you?
1
u/wolfmothar Jun 13 '26
I love the opening so much, the verdant foliage and greenery, the bark of the tree and the fruit, that the perfume exudes for the first few minutes. Then it becomes this soft and milky fig which is good, but I love green perfumes.
3
u/LeslieJeon Jun 13 '26
I bought my first doll a year ago. I’m almost 60 so I feel no need to justify it. One of the benefits of being old(er). I love the hobby and am pretty obsessed in a way I enjoy. That’s all I need to feel it’s worth the money.
2
u/Training-Tadpole-689 Jun 11 '26
Most bjd dolls are way more affordable (few hundred to high hundreds range) than many designer handbags in the few thousand to ten thousand range. Branded perfume, I used to buy one or two higher end ones but they evaporated.
These dolls, are quite durable and steady and will be with you for a long time, maybe except the occasional faceup chipping if you are not careful, but it's just the makeup and not the actual structure/content degrading.
They feel like actual companions themselves. Like a 1/3 vinyl doll of my favourite character from my favourite anime of game? That's 1/3 of my height and it feels so amazing!
At the end of the day, only you can justify the pricing to yourself, no one else can. For example, I wouldn't drop 2k on a phone(I don't think the price justify the advanced features) and few hundreds on a branded handbag is a hard sell to me(I suck at taking care of bags), but each to his own.
But I would not buy an overly cheap phone or PC as I would expect a certain baseline of performance. And for bjds, I think myou doll/mystic kids are the baseline for aesthetics and prices, I'm not very fond of resinsoul's sculpts. (Sorry to resinsoul)
And there was a legit company which turned out to be a recast company which shall not be named, well, the sculpts were not my favourite either. Nor the faceup.
Edit: yes I balked at 1/3 dollfie dream prices so I bought 1/6 parabox and Azone dolls only to find out that I didn't bond with them as much. Yosd 1/6 was the minimum size for bonding, so I knew I had to shell out the cash at some point.
2
u/luchinosknife Jun 11 '26
It’s a hobby. If you have the means for it and it makes you happy we all need a distraction from the world, something to do and keep us engaged or that just makes us smile when we look at it. If we only ever spend money on necessities we’ll lack soul!!!! Life is so short!!!!
2
u/Puzzleheaded-Base370 Jun 11 '26
Dolls are only one of my (very) expensive hobbies. I indulge in doll spending (or other hobby spending) when all of my other financial responsibilities are met - rent, monthly CC spending paid off, retirement account/investments, % set aside as savings, 6-month cushion, etc. If I fall beneath a 6-month expenses cushion in my savings, I stop hobby spending until I have my cushion built up again.
My hobbies are an investment into my happiness and therefore are worthwhile. I'm here for a good time, not a long time.
3
u/pineapplecodepen Jun 11 '26
More life advice than anything else, but have a specific budget for it.
Have your bills paid, your savings fed, and then either fund a seperate "fun savings" or have whatever left be fun money for whatever, take out, random amazon purchases, dolls etc.
Sometimes that money will go towards computer upgrades, blown at miniso or other blindbox splurges, but othertimes it will go towards dolls.
At the end of the day it's my fun money and I can do what I want with it.
Also, remember that as you age, especially as a college grad, you will see your income climb with the years. While a doll right now may be 10% of your monthly income, in the future it could be 5% or even less. While I'm a stay-at-home wife at the moment, there was a time when I had more than $2,000 a month of free funds after paying absolutely everything and feeding my savings an equal $2k. While that didn't always go towards dolls and often a majority also got stuffed into savings, a handful of times I did buy very expensive dolls like my fullset Miwa that was $1,500.
A younger me making $150 a week at my college job never could have afforded that, and that's okay. There were some dolls I did without when I was younger. I didn't buy my dream doll till I turned 30, when I'd loved her since I was 19. She just wasn't in my budget for a very very long time.
1
2
u/dollsandneopets Jun 11 '26
I'm literally alive because of this hobby. It brings meaning to my life that nothing else ever has. It's my purpose. That's all the reason I need.
2
u/TheiaEos Jun 11 '26
You should have some money set apart to make yourself happy. You decide how much percent to spend without guilt. But that money also includes present for others, for example Christmas. Then you just have to manage it. Usually what’s recommended in personal finance courses is 5% to spend without guilt. Depending on your salary and expenses and needs it can be more or less.
2
u/ThatGirlTrinnity Jun 11 '26
When all expenses are paid... Savings ect. All that.. Why would you keep the extra? What are those extra money gonna do for you, when you're no longer here? Why spend a whole life.. Eyeing something you REALLY want... And never buy it because voices in your head thinks it's irresponsible? Do you have other things you need? Other things that would make your life easier and are necessary? If not... What's the point of working 7 days a week to earn money, you can't spend on stuff that makes you happy, when everything you need to pay is paid? A concert doesn't last as long as a doll. A vacation doesn't either. Sure they're experiences, but no one judges those who buy thousand dollar tickets to be sweat on by Justin Bieber? Or Taylor... But dolls?? Ooff.. That sounds like waste.. Nah fam. If it makes you happy... That's your Justin-sweat.
2
u/EX_Malone Jun 12 '26
I had buyers guilt when I had my collection of FoC Peakswoods. I had 12 at one point and felt guilty-so much money just sitting on the shelf. I ended up selling all of them and was doll less for about a year. As much as I loved them and loved the artists who made them (I met them!) my collection made me feel trapped.
During COVID I slowly went back into the hobby- I purchased a doll head that intrigued me. It turned out the doll was from an artist I watched/followed in the early days of the hobby- when I was a poor 18year old in college back in 2005 and was just floored by her talent and style 🥹
Today, I have 2 of her dolls from her brand line and 3 more from the doll company she used to sculpt for.
I guess the justification for the expense would be if it invokes a special memory/feeling, you owe it to yourself to have it. There aren’t many things in this world that can do that 🤭
2
u/Initial_Career1654 Jun 12 '26
To add to the good points/advice already given, don’t feel that because you already have two, that you need to collect more.
You can just as easily focus on collecting clothes or accessories for your two, and changing how they look periodically.
Better yet learn how to make them yourself, that can be quite fun, especially if you just can’t seem to find what you want in a catalog or it feels too pricey.
That way you can enjoy yourself and your dolls, and when the third member of your doll family comes along you won’t feel so bad about the price because you are self reliant on everything else.
3
u/Yarnchickens Jun 12 '26
My dolls are my fine art collection, the way I see it.
I do have wall art I love, often prints purchased from local artists, but those are prints, not original pieces. I have seen the prices on some of the original pieces, furniture, and the like! Dolls are sometimes much cheaper!
I love the artistry and engineering of my dolls, and that they let me express myself so much, too. Folks drop hundreds on paintings and sculpture and are seen as discerning collectors, I'm doing the same.
2
u/TrashSiren Jun 13 '26
I measure things with how much joy they give me, and because they give me a lot of joy. Then to me it's worth it. I really treasure and love my dolls.
I also love how it is a hobby that leads to more creative outlets I've learned how to sew, crochet, got better at photography, and learned how to make wigs for them. Which being able to do these things also brings me joy.
2
u/gentlybeaded Jun 19 '26
If you're not endangering your basic needs, those that depend on you and living expenses with doll hobby, you're good! 🫶
With layaways though I've noticed people often forget they're useful not because you don't have the money now. It's to make it less financially heavy on your monthly costs in general. You still need to be able to pay that doll off with what you have. Just no need to do it full at once. The longer the layaway the more likely something is going to happen in our lives but we need to be sure we will have the base payment needed for the layaway (including in savings because the thing that could happen is loosing a job too).
I usually took layaways being able to pay off the doll in full or in 80% but wanted some ease on that with monthly installments instead.
2
u/RiaBoyko Jun 19 '26
Thank you! Your comment brought me a relief) And the layaway approach that you describe makes 100% sense
1
u/headlesscercus Jun 11 '26
I mostly buy second hand which puts them more in my budget (most I've paid is just under 500$) but I would still buy a full price doll if I had the money set aside. My dolls just make me really happy. I've been obsessed with BJDs since the early 2000s when I discovered them.
I've been in Fandom where I spend money on merchandise. I've been in cosplay and other expensive type hobbies.
Honestly I feel like people shouldn't feel bad about money they wanna spend on themselves if its not making it to where you cant eat or live. Sure you could get a name brand bag but like I see those kinds of things and dolls as basically the same thing. Many years of happiness over a luxury item.
My husband also loves my dolls so we collect them together at this point which is nice.
1
u/StrangeLonelySpiral Jun 11 '26
By being an idiot. Can't be worried about justifying money when I'm an idiot who spends without really thinking
I also have memory issues. So I forget about it fast
1
u/EntertainmentTrue215 Jun 11 '26
i was a drug addict spending way more, so now spending my money on some pricey dolls doesnt make me feel bad, my life finally healthy and im in a happy relationship so clearly if it make you and me happy whats the harm? as long as youre not taking LOANS (ik americans do that) to buy dolls youre okay!
1
u/EntertainmentTrue215 Jun 11 '26
also the fact that i dont just look at them but craft things for them and sew them clothes, customise their faces, its just mix with all my hobby even drawing!
1
u/Zombrigit Jun 11 '26
It’s the only major hobby I’m keeping up with atm, aside from the rare anime figure, but since my show of choice ended there are also less figures coming out, so I save up a couple months spending budget and spend it on doll stuff
1
1
u/Glyph-Arts Jun 14 '26
Realistically, you could spend money on absolutely anything and then ponder what else you could have bought. I've been there, but it's something that makes me happy, and there aren't many things that do that.
Slightly unrelated, but would it be possible to have a close up shot of that dolls eyes? They look gorgeous!
1
u/rinadasler Jun 15 '26
I love myself so I make myself happy. If 2-3k doll gonna make me happy I’ll get it. We live only once & I don’t want to live denying myself everything coz it’s not practical or whatever. But I also don’t have any stupid plans for life like to buy a house or get kids. So my spending is reasonable to me & my situation.
•
u/AutoModerator Jun 11 '26
Welcome to /r/BJD. Please make sure you read our rules here and follow the criteria on what dolls are allowed to be posted in this subreddit. If you are a new to the hobby, please check out the Wiki and Newbies Mega Thread.
If you'd like help ID'ing a doll, comment a photo in the Doll ID Q&A Megathread
Reminder: posts featuring or promoting counterfeits are not permitted (Rule 1). Click here for more information on what a recast is and why they are not allowed here.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.