Is It A Waste Of Money If...

[Vinyl Scratch (Filly)™ 936]

So I have some money. Okay, cool. I want to spend my money, yeah? I want to buy a cosplay, with my money. Nothing wrong with that, is there? No.

 

Let's recap... I want to buy a cosplay, with MY money. No one else's...

 

I am 17 years old, I have responsibility and I know how to handle myself in this world... so does my Mum have the right to deny me buying a cosplay with my own money? She will not let me, and it's really getting on my nerves...

 

It's a Death the Kid cosplay, in case anyone was curious.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,558]

Well, obviously it isn't a waste of money. It is based on something you enjoy, it is something you like and to top that off, it is harmless to you and everyone else. A lot better than spending the money on cigarettes or something similar.

[Vinyl Scratch (Filly)™ 936]

Well, obviously it isn't a waste of money. It is based on something you enjoy, it is something you like and to top that off, it is harmless to you and everyone else. A lot better than spending the money on cigarettes or something similar.

EXACTLY!

 

Also, literally the only thing I have asked for this Christmas was an Angel Beats cosplay... she said no she wont waste her money on that. It's the ONLY thing I have asked for, there is nothing else I want... meanwhile she's bought my sister a 42 inch hd tv and my brother an Xbox One

[Pat.Rio.T. 305]

I have no idea who that character is, sorry. However I do know that I have had the same problem at times. It can be annoying, but just remember that they are your parents, and you should respect their decisions to a certain extent.(in other words don't make a big deal out of it, after all it is only a costume)

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,558]

EXACTLY!

 

Also, literally the only thing I have asked for this Christmas was an Angel Beats cosplay... she said no she wont waste her money on that. It's the ONLY thing I have asked for, there is nothing else I want... meanwhile she's bought my sister a 42 inch hd tv and my brother an Xbox One

Hmm...This is is obviously just a case of her not exactly understanding what you want. She probably finds it weird therefore that means it is a waste of money to her.

 

You could always just ask for the money as a Christmas gift and buy it yourself. That could be a nifty strategy, if all of the other circumstances allow it.

[caramba2654 602]

If it makes you happy, it isn't a waste. If you acquired that money legitimately, it's OK to go and buy it. If your mom considers it a waste of money, tell her that you think the dress she bought last month was a waste. Basically make her walk in your shoes - explain to her why the cosplay is important to you. And if she still says no, go ahead and buy it. If she asks, you can say "No obstacles will stop me from reaching happiness!".

 

At least that what I would do if I were in your situation.

 

( 6 "ifs"... Damn conditionals )

[Vinyl Scratch (Filly)™ 936]

I have no idea who that character is, sorry. However I do know that I have had the same problem at times. It can be annoying, but just remember that they are your parents, and you should respect their decisions to a certain extent.(in other words don't make a big deal out of it, after all it is only a costume)

Lol! Respect for my parents!? I hate them xD They are a huge cause to my depression and suicidal thoughts. I go to a psychologist and everything!

I have no idea who that character is, sorry. 

Oh, also this is Death the Kid. He is from an anime called Soul Eater.

[Treble Bolt 1,122]

Okay, paying taxes is a waste of money.  Doing something you ENJOY, like a hobby or a neat kitknack that will make you happy but you don't already have a million of them *cougholdpeoplehavewaytomanyknickknackscough,* that's a worthwhile way to spend your money. Just make sure you leave enough for friggin taxes. Money is meant to help you enjoy life whilst provided your basic needs (like food and such).  There needs to be a balance obviously, but if you believe this is something worthwhile while also keeping in mind all your other more 'important' in consideration so you don't go into the hole.  Debt is slavery, cuz you'll never enjoy life fully while in debt. Anyways, Death the Kid shouldn't be too hard for cosplay.  I mean going all out like if you did Archer or Rider from Fate/Zero would be big $$$$$....

[crazitaco 596]

Honestly, it kinda depends. How much is it, in comparison to how much money you normally make? Is there something else that might be more important for you to save for? She probably wants you saving money so you can eventually invest for college or a car or something else you need to get started in the direction of adulthood. Even then, i wouldn't call it a waste, cosplays are awesome!

As a responsible adult, you should remember that your needs take more priority over wants.

 

If your mom completely refuses to let you buy it and you still want to cosplay, you might be able to diy. 

The character doesn't look too difficult, and there's probably a ton of online tutorials for that character. It may or may not look as good, depending how skilled you are at crafty things. I recommend thrift store shopping for similar pieces of clothing that could be modified to fit the cosplay. If you get a similar black suit, you can add the white stripes in by either sewing white fabric on (or hot-gluing it if you're lazy like me ) If you buy a black wig, you can probably add the stripes in using temp. white hair spray/white acrylic paint+masking tape and then trim it into the right shape. The little soul eater brooch can be probably be bought separately or you can make it out of clay/foam/paper mache and paint it. With a bit of creative problem solving and a bit of material shopping, i think it can be a great home made cosplay. If you're not so good at crafty things, get a more skilled friend to help you with it I always make my own costumes! Its fun, much cheaper, your costume is completely one-of-a-kind, and its super rewarding (each compliment feels really good since you're the one who made it!)

Edited December 6, 2013 by crazitaco

[Jokuc 8,173]

Of course not! If it's something you like or wanna try then do it anyways hah. Nah but really, you should get what you want to have. My friend cosplays all the time, she's 17 too and buys a lot of those things Though she makes many of them herself, but still.

[Malinter 3,064]

if it makes you happy and you can afford it you should get it. Parents can claim alot of things are wastes of money... dvd's, games, new phones when your old isn't even broke...

[Doc. Volt 2,561]

i spend my money on cooper wires, transistors, chemical compounds and bullets... evryone tells me that it is a waste of money but it is my hobby to go shooting and build Tesla Coils! so it is not a waste as long ad it makes you feel better! yay!

[Vinyl Scratch (Filly)™ 936]

Honestly, it kinda depends. How much is it, in comparison to how much money you normally make? Is there something else that might be more important for you to save for?

She probably wants you saving money so you can eventually invest for college or a car or something else you need to get started in the direction of adulthood. Even then, i wouldn't call it a waste, cosplays are awesome!

As a responsible adult, you should remember that your needs take more priority over wants. For instance, i've been really wanting to buy myself a new computer or laptop (which could actually be useful for me) but i have to save enough money for each semester of college before i buy myself new stuff. When i graduated from high school, my parents offered to buy me a new computer as a gift. I didn't have a car at the time though, and i told them that i needed money for a car instead. Now i have a car, so i can drive to college. If you're already well prepared for life after high school and your mom is still telling you its a waste, then that's not fair. You have the right to spend your money however you see fit.

 

If your mom completely refuses to let you buy it and you still want to cosplay, you might be able to diy. There's probably a ton of online tutorials for that character. It may or may not look as good, depending how skilled you are at crafty things. I recommend thrift store shopping for similar pieces of clothing that could be modified to fit the cosplay. If you get a similar black suit, you can add the white stripes in by either sewing white fabric on (or hot-gluing it if you're lazy like me ) If you buy a black wig, you can probably add the stripes in using temp. white hair spray+masking tape and then trim it into the right shape. The little soul eater symbol can be probably be bought separately or you can make it out of clay and paint it. With a bit of creative problem solving and a bit of material shopping, i think it can be a great home made cosplay. If you're not so good at crafty things, get a more skilled friend to help you with it

The cosplay is only about £90 and I have... well let's just say I've got quite a bit of money (sued a huge company), but I can't touch the money till I'm a bit older. So 90 pounds isn't going to change my life, except I'll get an awesome cosplay. I would do DIY if I was any good, but I've tried and I am terrible T^T

[Frith is Magick 1,471]

You should maximize your utility. I would recommend searching for a less expensive alternative. Cosplaying is not (usually) an every day event, which mean you get very little utility for what you spend. If you can find a way to assemble the costume from cheaper components, I am sure your mother will be less hesitant to allow you to spend that money. This also leaves you with more cash for other things.

[crazitaco 596]

The cosplay is only about £90 and I have... well let's just say I've got quite a bit of money (sued a huge company), but I can't touch the money till I'm a bit older. So 90 pounds isn't going to change my life, except I'll get an awesome cosplay. I would do DIY if I was any good, but I've tried and I am terrible T^T

I don't get what your mom's problem is if you're all set as far as money goes :okiedokielokie: (i'm broke as hell and still buy stuff to build my own cosplays) Its not a waste! Then again, i usually wear my costumes for halloween too, and i realize not all countries celebrate halloween.

Man, i wish i was there so i could help you make the costume.

Edited December 6, 2013 by crazitaco

[Princess Lona 382]

The cosplay is only about £90 and I have... well let's just say I've got quite a bit of money (sued a huge company), but I can't touch the money till I'm a bit older. So 90 pounds isn't going to change my life, except I'll get an awesome cosplay. I would do DIY if I was any good, but I've tried and I am terrible T^T

It sounds like it's your money but it's in a trust, in which case, legally your mother has the right to deny you until you came of age. I don't believe in trust funds personally. If it's your money that you made yourself or won in a lawsuit, you should have power over how it's used. But for the time being, it seems like you're out of luck.

 

It also sounds like your mom has something against cosplay specifically. Maybe you should talk to her about it. Ask her what she has against cosplay. I don't know your mother so I can't really judge where she's coming from, but I know there are a few purchases I made when I was younger that I regret now because I'm not into those things anymore and I think if I had saved that money I would be able to spend it now on things I think are more important. Perhaps that is how your mom feels. However, those purchases I made when I was young shaped who I am today and in an alternate universe where I didn't make them, I may have just ended up regretting that I DIDN'T do it. If you really want these costumes, you should try to get them.

 

It could also be that your mom just doesn't like the actual act of cosplay or the characters you want to play and she doesn't want to encourage it because she thinks it will make you weird. Again, I don't know her personally so I can't really say. Once you find out why she thinks it's a waste of money, then you can effectively show her why it's not. If she thinks the show is weird, show her a few episodes and talk to her about why you think it's cool. Pick an episode that you think will best agree with her tastes (that's how I got my boyfriend to like ponies). If she just thinks you'll regret the purchase when you're older, and is denying you because she thinks you'll thank her for it later, explain to her that you are responsible for your own actions and you should be free to make your own mistakes. Remind her (without being nasty about it) that her lack of respect for your decision making skills is causing you to lose respect for her.

 

If none of that works and she still won't listen to reason, throw diplomacy out the window because this means war. Your autonomy is at stake. Ask for something expensive for Christmas that she won't have a problem with (if she got your brother an Xbox that shouldn't be too hard) then sell it and use the money to buy the cosplays. Or if you have some money that you can access, use it to buy the cosplays yourself. You may want to keep them hidden or leave them at a friend's house who you trust, just in case your mom tries to take them away.

[crazitaco 596]

If none of that works and she still won't listen to reason, throw diplomacy out the window because this means war. Your autonomy is at stake. Ask for something expensive for Christmas that she won't have a problem with (if she got your brother an Xbox that shouldn't be too hard) then sell it and use the money to buy the cosplays. Or if you have some money that you can access, use it to buy the cosplays yourself. You may want to keep them hidden or leave them at a friend's house who you trust, just in case your mom tries to take them away.

 I was gonna recommend this sort of action as well, but decided its really not the best idea...for now. If he/she already has issues with their parents, i can see this ending really poorly. Like, getting kicked out onto the street poorly. No one wants that.

As much as it sucks, i would say you should just deal with her BS until you're old enough to leave. Or you could try convincing her that there is nothing wrong with cosplay. If you do decide to purchase it without her knowing, keep it as secret as possible. Maybe purchase it yourself, but have it shipped/stored at a friend's house until you decide to use it.

Edited December 6, 2013 by crazitaco

[Fluttershyfan94 5,742]

Spending your money on something you enjoy is not a waste of money. I guess you'll just have to tell them that it's something you enjoy if they don't know already, it's your own money so it's up to you.

[Vinyl Scratch (Filly)™ 936]

It sounds like it's your money but it's in a trust, in which case, legally your mother has the right to deny you until you came of age. I don't believe in trust funds personally. If it's your money that you made yourself or won in a lawsuit, you should have power over how it's used. But for the time being, it seems like you're out of luck.

 

It also sounds like your mom has something against cosplay specifically. Maybe you should talk to her about it. Ask her what she has against cosplay. I don't know your mother so I can't really judge where she's coming from, but I know there are a few purchases I made when I was younger that I regret now because I'm not into those things anymore and I think if I had saved that money I would be able to spend it now on things I think are more important. Perhaps that is how your mom feels. However, those purchases I made when I was young shaped who I am today and in an alternate universe where I didn't make them, I may have just ended up regretting that I DIDN'T do it. If you really want these costumes, you should try to get them.

 

It could also be that your mom just doesn't like the actual act of cosplay or the characters you want to play and she doesn't want to encourage it because she thinks it will make you weird. Again, I don't know her personally so I can't really say. Once you find out why she thinks it's a waste of money, then you can effectively show her why it's not. If she thinks the show is weird, show her a few episodes and talk to her about why you think it's cool. Pick an episode that you think will best agree with her tastes (that's how I got my boyfriend to like ponies). If she just thinks you'll regret the purchase when you're older, and is denying you because she thinks you'll thank her for it later, explain to her that you are responsible for your own actions and you should be free to make your own mistakes. Remind her (without being nasty about it) that her lack of respect for your decision making skills is causing you to lose respect for her.

 

If none of that works and she still won't listen to reason, throw diplomacy out the window because this means war. Your autonomy is at stake. Ask for something expensive for Christmas that she won't have a problem with (if she got your brother an Xbox that shouldn't be too hard) then sell it and use the money to buy the cosplays. Or if you have some money that you can access, use it to buy the cosplays yourself. You may want to keep them hidden or leave them at a friend's house who you trust, just in case your mom tries to take them away.

It's not even money from the bank I want to spend on the cosplay, it's literally money I have right now T^T Money I earned after months of saving for this particular thing! I have a strong hatred towards my parents, honestly this is adding to it. I think she just doesn't like the fact I'm different from my other 'normal' siblings... 

[Noodles 109]

The one thing I would have to ask about the costume is if its a bit um revealing. a lot of anime costumes are. that would explain why your mother just says its a waste of money. unless she is the mother that would say no you cant get that it makes you look like a tramp.

[Vinyl Scratch (Filly)™ 936]

The one thing I would have to ask about the costume is if its a bit um revealing. a lot of anime costumes are. that would explain why your mother just says its a waste of money. unless she is the mother that would say no you cant get that it makes you look like a tramp.

No, it's not revealing, here's the character.

[Princess Lona 382]

It's not even money from the bank I want to spend on the cosplay, it's literally money I have right now T^T Money I earned after months of saving for this particular thing! I have a strong hatred towards my parents, honestly this is adding to it. I think she just doesn't like the fact I'm different from my other 'normal' siblings...

 

Is there no way you can open up a dialogue with her and try to get her to see things your way? Crazitaco is right in saying that you should be careful about going against her wishes because it could end poorly. I still think if you want to buy it, just buy it, but definitely do everything you can to avoid having to buy it behind her back. There's a deeper problem here if she thinks that your other siblings are normal and that there is something wrong with you if you are different from them. Like I said, I don't know her so I can't make an informed judgement, but if she actually thinks that way, she might need a lesson in open-mindedness. Try to meet her unfair judgement with tolerance, but continue to be yourself. You may just have to try to make the costume yourself even if it does turn out badly. Show her that despite her best efforts to force you to be something you are not, you are always going to be true to yourself. And show her that that person who you are is a good person, and having a taste for anime and cosplay does not factor into one's goodness or badness.

[Noodles 109]

It dose sound like she just thinks cosplay is a waste of money or she has some morale issue with it.

[*Rarity 123]

People probably already said this but: If you live at home your parents are in charge. When you move from home you can do whatever you want, but be prepared to face the punch of the police if you break the law. No mother can tell you what to do and what not to do, when you've moved from home, until then, you will have to listen to her.

Money is evil. I admit my greed and try to fight against it, but unfortunately there is a human thing to desire more, so it is unavoidable for me. Doesn't matter if the money I gain will be used to give to charity, I still demand that control and need of the money pile which is completley useless. I'm not a supporter of cosplays, they look nice, surely, but I'm no a person who would advise to buy one or buy one myself, for various reasons, but if I was your parent I wouldn't forbid it, I would let you have the fun. But as I said before, your mother in in charge... Not much you can do about that. Revolting will only cause more trouble

[Vinyl Scratch (Filly)™ 936]

People probably already said this but: If you live at home your parents are in charge. When you move from home you can do whatever you want, but be prepared to face the punch of the police if you break the law. No mother can tell you what to do and what not to do, when you've moved from home, until then, you will have to listen to her.

 

Money is evil. I admit my greed and try to fight against it, but unfortunately there is a human thing to desire more, so it is unavoidable for me. Doesn't matter if the money I gain will be used to give to charity, I still demand that control and need of the money pile which is completley useless. I'm not a supporter of cosplays, they look nice, surely, but I'm no a person who would advise to buy one or buy one myself, for various reasons, but if I was your parent I wouldn't forbid it, I would let you have the fun. But as I said before, your mother in in charge... Not much you can do about that. Revolting will only cause more trouble

Parents may be in charge but they have no right at all to control what is mine. I earned the money, who says my parents have the right to control what I buy with it?