Hoping to save to get a BJD ... advice, please?

[MeltedCaramel]

Now, on the saving part: I'm of very little help here considering I shuck money like a stripper shucks her clothes. But I do agree with the layaway option, it becomes more like a bill and less like a big ol' pile of cash tempting you every time you see something you would like.

Bahahaha... that's what my husband says about me. Waaa... I'm not that bad. (yes I am).

LOL, it's true, isn't it? XD Just got paid from some ebay sales and between ebay's ridiculous cut and the stuff I had on pre-order I'm just watching that money fly away~ So yeah, shucking money. *Takes off clothes for good measure*

[Iwa_Hoshi]

The most important part is taking the little bits of money you save here and there and sticking it in an envelope, then never taking money out of that envelope, no matter how tempting it may be. If it helps, print out a picture of the doll you want to buy and tape it on the outside.

This. I have to say this really works when you are really sure when you want that higher end doll and you're very prone to getting side track by smaller(what? Its 1/3 the price) or cheaper dolls. I save up for my current doll. A lighter skin version of an LE doll I wanted, showed up when I had 90% of my savings and can afford said LE but I wasn't satisfied with this particular version and opt not to purchase it but gotten the one I saved up for instead.

In the event that Susan happened on a cheaper doll. You will have extra cash saved up. Its okay to save a beyond your target in the event the reverse happens.

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

If you have monthly prescriptions, see if you can get generics of your medication. They're the same and cheaper.

<----ACK NO NO NO NO!!! Wait. I just need to clear something up first: Ask your doctor before you do anything like this. If you need to read up in detail on why generic vs. brand name can affect you if you're taking medication, please refer to http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/what-you ... eric-drugs (for once Dr. Oz said it best), but no, unless your doctor says its okay, don't do this. As someone who requires many different medications to function daily, I know that my doctor has personally said no to some generic drugs because of the inconsistency factor. Some doctors will just do this without thinking, but if you're on any medication, for YOUR HEALTH make sure you ask if the generic inconsistency of drugs could affect you

The cost is a moot issue in the UK - in England we have a flat fee for prescriptions on the NHS (£7.85 per item I think, unless you have a certificate for cheaper rates, or a condition that means you get them free); and iirc NHS in Scotland have abolished the charges altogether (and I think Wales and Northern Ireland have too).

Unless the drug is still in patent, you'll almost certainly get generics, too. However, in some cases you won't (or shouldn't) as there can be very slight differences between the generic versions that can cause major problems (some epilepsy drugs and some asthma inhalers fall under this category (the ones the yeti has are brand name despite being out of patent, his other prescriptions - and all mine - are generics), and others do apparently (I wasn't paying that much attention ). But you'll be charged (or not charged) the same

[DollyKim]

Scary scary thought about the epilepsy drugs because I was taking some and never knew if they were real or generic...

One thing I do, and I'm having a tough time sticking to ATM is divide my spending money in to the same amount for each week. What I don't spend I can use for a treat to reward myself for not spending it. Right now I want to get an ebook but because of Monsters I've already spent in to next week's money. I've gone as far as to calculate how much per day my money would work out to, each day I don't spend I have $X in my treat fund. Each day I can add to the treat fund becomes a goal in its self and something to feel good about.

The easiest way to reach a goal is one small step at a time.

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

DollyKim - I've found a link that gives a bit of information on the branded/generic thing, but not much. I'm not in contact with the people who originally told me about that, otherwise I'd find out more.

I try and do similar to you with treats. It never works so well for me, either.

[DollyKim]

It took me awhile to get in to saving but making small goals, even daily ones, gets you there. I also bribe myself, I'll buy a treat but I won't allow myself to open it until I reach a goal from vacuuming to painting a wall. Even if I order it and know it's awhile until shipping I feel like I owe myself a major chore or something on my to do list so I feel I've worked for the doll.

[zirconmermaid]

I have no resistance to dolls, so I try to find money when I can and plan for holidays and birthdays. I agree with what others have already said about saving, and the envelope is a great idea. I also suggest considering how much you want to spend. A year is a long time, and you should be able to get a nice doll with what you can reasonably expect to save up. As Dollykim said, decide on size too. Check around in your area, are there any other bjd owners? Can you go to any doll meets and see the dolls in person? I find I like the larger dolls, but generally the 1/4 scale dolls sell best. That would be around 16 or 17 inches or 45cm tall. Clothes and shoes are another cost, as is wig and eyes. It would also be easier to get a horse for her in 1/4 scale.

I think a Susan doll would be wonderful. It should be fairly easy to find the hair too. Or make it. Can you sew? Would you have to purchase clothes or would you make them? Do you have a visual reference that you want to use for her?

[werepuppy]

Okay, first of all I want to say thank you so much, everyone, for all the advice. I'd also like to apologise for taking some time to reply to this post. There's been a few... well, there was a death in the family, and so it's been a bit of a rough time, and meant I haven't had as much time as I would like to reply to things. So, on that note, here we go with replies!

@voodoolie Ah, thank you for the advice! The idea festering is ... pretty much what's been happening with the idea of making a Susan doll. (Stupid Discworld having awesome characters and no one making dolls of them.) A friend who has a few BJDs (who unfortunately does not live near me) has also told me they really are worth their money, but I expect I wouldn't actually understand until I see or hold one in hand.

@Iwa_Hoshi Unfortunately, I am passed the age where family members will happily hand out money for the birthday. The parentals and brother boy will buy me small gifts, but money is not really a thing we do. I don't quite understand why. Also I have two conventions within the space of a month ><. I appreciate the advice about looking at owner photos though - I always find the stock photos are too heavily made up for me to appreciate the sculpt properly.

Trethowan I do not have the skills or the know how to play the stock market ><

@Lamia of the Dark I don't think I've ever heard of anyone in the UK getting a decent amount back on a tax return. I know that personally I've always been short-changed (so to speak) and trying to get answers from the tax office is like trying to get blood from a stone. Thank you for the idea, though!

@DollyKim Ahh, thank you for the size comparison post. I think I would want Susan to be within the 40cm-60cm category, but then I wonder if I have the space for that size of doll. As for resin or Obitsu ... I genuinely don't know. I don't know which would work best, but I feel that Obitsu would take less time to save up for. I'm still looking at sculpts and whatnot, so I suspect when I am sure, I will be able to answer this question better. I also like the idea of breaking the goal down into one small step at a time. It's something I understand greatly.

@Jobee All good advice, though like ShortAndCuddlyAm pointed out, the UK has a flat prescription rate. Also, I live in Scotland and don't pay for medications if the doctor prescribes them. Which is very handy because the amount of medication I'm on would mean I'm out a lot of money every so often. (Though if independence happens... I'd rather not think on that actually). The sticking the money in an envelope is actually a really good idea, and I thank you for it!

@babytarragon Ah! Thank you so much! I may have to take you up on that offer (because I am terrible at finding these things myself. Seriously, my google fu fails until I know more about a topic)

@MC I am thinking layaway is going to be my best option. Mostly because every time I try to save up for something in particular, something breaks and the money is used for repairs.

@zirconmermaid I ... genuinely have no idea if there are other BJD collectors in the area. There is a board, but it doesn't seem to have had many posts for a few years now. Though they do seem to be planning to do something at one of the upcoming conventions in my local area, so I may have an opportunity of meeting up with them. As for visual reference, well, I feel the Hogfather movie got her down perfectly.

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

Sorry to hear about the death in your family.

I've had one genuine tax return, after being on the wrong tax code when I got a new job (I think for a hundred quid or so, too!) and one where something got messed up and they asked for most of it back the following year . Normally, I end up each tax year owing them around £1 - which they say they'll claim back from each year's tax code. If it wasn't for the fact I was vaguely thinking about starting selling jewellery and stuff again (maybe in doll sizes as well as human) I'd ask them yet again to stop sending me self assessments (I closed my last business about 8 years ago now Last time I spoke to them they basically said thank you for calling you still need to do it.

[Sparkligreenjelli]

I'm the type that has to layaway. If I can't pay for it righ away its ok, I'll just get billed for it.
Saving can be daunting.