I get shamed for my ‘childish’ hobby – it costs me £4.8k so far but helps me bond with my husband
A WOMAN who spent nearly £5,000 on stuffed animals in a year says it’s how she bonds with her husband.
Damali Araceli Gutierrez, 21, and her partner, Cuitlahuac Cervantes, 22, are both obsessed with stuffed animals that come in all shapes and sizes, known as plushies.
They share their house with 650 Squishmallows – a special type of toy by Kelly Toys – and connect by going shopping for them together.
She says people call her hobby “childish” but it has given her a sense of “community”.
The couple currently keep the toys in the bedroom but are in the process of moving and intend to create a special room for them.
“It’s always been a way [for] me and my husband [to] bond,” explained Damali, from California, US.
“We go shopping – or ‘squish hunting’ – together, and look forward to new releases.
“I collect them because I think they’re cute and I’ve found a sense of community.
“I get criticised a lot because people think it’s childish but I’m an adult with adult money and I can buy whatever I want.”
Damali and her husband have been collecting the plushies for around a year.
She shares their impressive haul on Instagram (@moremallows4mee) with one of her recent videos gaining 49,000 likes and 1.1m views.
The content creator said: “I’ve gotten most of them from my husband, family and friends but I’d say I’ve spent roughly £4,790.
“My family thinks it’s impressive that I’ve managed to collect so many in just a year.”
The soft toy enthusiast says she only buys plushies she really likes, but does have a secret favourite called Amelie.
Damali said: “Every time I see that [toy] I want to get it again and again and again.
“It’s a strawberry milk and I just think it’s so cute.”
Despite eagerly sharing her passion for the toys, many social media users disagree with the unconventional hobby.
Things to look out for when buying toys online
Recent research from the British Toy and Hobby Association (BTHA) found that 60% of toys being sold via third-party sellers on online marketplaces had serious safety failures when they tested them. Shockingly, 86% were illegal to sell in the UK.
- Seller authenticity: Check sellers ranking and what other buyers have to say.
- Fake reviews: It’s easy to fake positive reviews so check for negative ones across different websites; to check if the toy is safe and worth the retail price.
- Avoid deals that look too good to be true: If a deal seems too much of a bargain, it could be poor quality or counterfeit. If looking for a deal, go for retailers you know
- Check for errors in the listing: Is everything spelt correctly, including the name? Are age warnings visible when legally required? If the toy is from a known brand or is one of this year’s best sellers, do the logo, name and toy match the advertisements that you have seen elsewhere?
- Is the item safe: Unsecured connected toys can be a hacking risk, and battery powered toys without a screw back present a risk of children swallowing batteries which can be fatal.
- Make sure the trader has a UK address: Any retailer or trader’s identity and address must be displayed on its website. By checking this, you know they can be traceable and accountable for any issues.
- Check the returns policy. Although you have extra protections when shopping online, it isn’t always the case when buying specific products or from a private individual – so it’s always best to check.
- Report potentially unsafe toys: If you suspect a toy you have bought on an online marketplace is unsafe or illegal, please contact the relevant authority in your country, the platform you bought the toy from, the importer and the seller. You can warn other online shoppers by writing a review.
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“Grow up little girl,” said one person.
“This is literally hoarding,” aded someone else.
Another user chimed in: “Spiders, dust, fire hazard – what more could you want.”
But Damali doesn’t let this phase her.
She added: “No matter what you do someone will having something negative to say.
“I really enjoy what sharing my collection has brought me.
“It has done a lot of inner healing for me that I didn’t know I needed.
“I have inspired others to post their own collections and not to be ashamed of what people may think.
“So be yourself and do what makes you happy.”