1st Toy purchase memory

[Mongoose1983]

I don't know, but for some reason today I happened to "recover" what must be my first attempt at buying a toy with my own money. It is not a happy memory, though. It happened when I was 5 years old. We lived in the city back then, and I remember going out everyday with the maid three blocks east to buy bread and a bottle of Pepsi. Beside the grocery store I remember there was a toystore. One day the lady decided to go inside and ask for something. Myself, I was immediately struck by the sight of a pirate Playmobil figure. I knew I had coins enough to buy it. I talked to the woman there and told her, "Gimme that one there (pointing it out with my finger), and I'll go my place and bring my money to pay". The woman from the store made fun of me aloud, and made me see she did not believe I'd be returning with the money, as if I was really trying to take the toy from the store with a lie. I could have returned the next day but I never did.

Now, I don't know what made me remember that today, but when I did I still felt a bit of that feeling. That old lady making fun of me. I guess she didn't know what I would feel. And it wasn't nice.

But, two blocks west (and some months after) I did my first purchase. It was a plastic toy like a chopper. I paid 99 pesos for that one, about $2.30 USD from the day (1981). Unfortunately the toy did not last too long in my possession as it was stolen in my classroom. I remember that put me in tears that day. I still believe someone in my classroom must have taken it!

So how about you? I presume the memories of your "first toy purchase" might be nicer than mine. Any stories you might want to share?

[Mikey]

wow, you had a maid ?

[Mongoose1983]

Yes, we did. For five days a week back in the day. Now we can't even afford one for not even a day a month. Still, don't think that means we were an upper class family here. You got to remember, mine is a Latin American country.

[Sideshow Spock]

I think I was about 28 when I first bought a toy with my own money.

[Werewolf]

I honestly don't remember. I do remember when I was little saving up change and buying these cute little eraser animals at Kaybee. I think they were like a quarter or something. I was obsessed with them for a while. I know they had Disney and Looney Tunes eraser figures too. Because I remember I had Thumper. I never erased with them. I just liked collecting and playing with them.

[Hector]

wow, you had a maid ?

Like he said, it's very different in Latin America...many middle class families have maids over there...at least when I lived there back in the day...times are tougher now of course.

[Hector]

My first toy purchases from my own money were not action figures...I was heavily into model making...so I'd say model cars and planes. I was also into Estes rockets, and later on, RC cars.

I didn't get into buying action figures until I became a collector in my 20s.

[HardyGirl]

I dunno...when I was a kid, I lived 2 blocks from a toy store called Stationery's. My mom used to send me to buy birthday presents for my friends, w/ strict instructions to "bring back her change". I bought dolls, games and Colorforms for them. I bought a baton for my baton club at school, but my mom paid for that. I know I bought some Mickey Mouse ears and Finger Pops w/ my own money, but I don't think those were "the first". All that toy buying for other people all sorta ran together, and I can't remember what was first for just me.

[Gorn Captain]

Fighting Furies Peg Leg.
My Dad was angry because I had bought a "doll", and threatened to cut off my allowance.
It took many many years for him to understand the concept of "action figure for boys"...

[Marvelmania]

If a bike counts as a toy then that was my first toy purchase with my own money. I saved and saved for a long time. All my change going into little plastic piggy banks that a local bank gave out to kids. As soon as I got up $20 off to K-Mart I went and bought a brand new orange bike. I did even know how to ride a bike. We had a hill in our backyard that I would push it up then jump on and coast down the hill into the side of the house. That was how I stopped, lol. Finally I did learn to ride that thing. Good times.

[HapSlash]

The first toy purchase had to be back in '87. After receiving money for my birthday, my brother and two of our friends walked a mile and a half, across two major highways, to get to our local ShopKo. It had just opened up, so it was THE new store in town. I just turned 10, so I remember it all pretty clearly.

It was an interesting mix of sensations. Early March, and the snow was melting away... that carbon odor of the dirt and oil along the streets that built up in the gutters over winter shifting to that sweet smell of everything new and wonderful as you walked inside the fresh department store. Everyone split up and went in separate directions. I headed straight for the toy isle, and can remember exactly where it was at the time, even how it was set up.

My parents never gave us allowances, so getting the chance to buy something for ourselves was rare. There was always getting to keep spare change after running errands to the gas station down the street. But that almost always went to candy/bubblegum cards/soda. As a result, even to this day I have a difficult time buying anything for myself. I always have to debate endlessly on whether or not I'll regret having spent the money now, instead of saving it for later. Although, in this case... there was no hesitation.

I recall moving down the isle until hitting this wall of purple carded figures making up The Real Ghostbusters toy line. I quickly grabbed up all four of the Ghostbusters, and then spied the display box containing the cans of the Ecto-Plazm. One of the canisters had been broken open, and there was purple slime all over the display pouring out over the shelf and on to the floor. There were traces of the purple mess left behind in that spot for at least a year. I had seen ads for the slime from the Masters of the Universe line years earlier, but our parents would never buy us any... so, it was far too tempting to not finally get. I can remember hitting the candy isle next for a couple sweets, and going through the checkout lane. After winding up with it all in a huge tan plastic bag, and regrouping with our friends by the entrance, it was time to head home.


If that part wasn't memorable enough, there was more... Hopped up on candy, the short shopping spree, and the thrill of going to the store without our parents, we were a bit wild heading back. We ran down the end of the block and crossed at the light... walking alongside the busy highway until were almost half way home. Eager to get back, we planned to take a more direct route. This required us to make a beeline through the remaining section of town. But first, we had to cross the highway. We waited a bit, but after seeing absolutely no break in the traffic, we spastically ran through dodging cars and waving our arms like mental patients, laughing all the way, UNTIL...



Unbeknownst to us at the time, while we were out, my parents decided to take care of an errand themselves. Just as we made our mad dash across the highway, they were driving down it. As we reached the other side, they drove up and stopped the car about 20 feet ahead of us in the parking lot we intended to cut through. They were furious. Screaming what if this, and what if that... But at that moment, all I can seem to remember thinking of, was how much of a blast it had all been... and that it might have been worth it, if it meant getting pasted by an 18-wheeler.

[EmergencyIan]

I cannot remember my first toy purchase, but I do remember telling my grandfather that I would pay the cents if he would pay the dollars. And, that is, generally, what we did.


- Ian

[cjefferys]

Hmmm, I don't remember the first toy I bought with my own money. But I did get a Mego Joker and Mxy right when they first came out in 1974 for learning how to tie my shoes. At any rate, I did "earn" them, so that's the best I can come up with. By the way, I still have that very same Joker (a bit worse for wear at this point) and Mxy's head (he fell apart when I was a kid and the rest of him was lost years ago)

[Spawn67]

Don't remember my first toy but I did buy movie and sports cards. I remember one of my first purchases with my allowance money was AC/DC-Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap album I bought at BEST. Still have it. I think Im going to put it on now!

[galaxyexplorer42]

I can remember being at AyrWay, (a store like Target in Louisville, KY), when I was VERY young and getting a Scuba Diver G.I.Joe, and a white Major Matt Mason. However, I don't think either of those memories was me purchasing with my own money. The first toy I got with my own money was probably trading cards. Planet of the Apes trading cards most likely. We had a small grocery store in Louisville across the street from my folks' house, and I can remember going there to get Planet of the Apes, & Star Wars cards with my own money. I can remember getting some grass mowing money, and spending it on cards. I also remember my route to the grocery vividly! I'd run through the wooded area (my shortcut), and around through the back of the gas station, I'd look both ways before I crossed the street to get to the grocery, and then B-line to the register area to get the cards! The cards were at the bottom of the candy rack. Also, back then, cards were 10 - 12 cents a pack... and had bubble gum in the packs. I still have the Planet of the Apes cards, but I sold off the Star Wars cards in the late 80's....