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AIBU?

DS(16) spends £70 a week on renting movies. AIBU to ban him from the Sky store?

73 replies

Aggys · 15/10/2018 21:11

Hello,

Our son is 16 and has a part-time job in McDonald's (the idea is to help him save for day to day stuff). He earns £100 a week. He usually (on average as obviously at weekends more and a busy day none) 2 movies a day. They're from the sky store.

He knows he can get them for free on his laptop but he says he wants them on the TV and just shrugs when we say it's costing him a fortune. I'm sure he's almost seen every one but then they add more!

I feel awful that he's wasting so much on this and really think I should put a ban on it? AIBU?

OP posts:

Report

MrsStrowman · 15/10/2018 21:12

Tell him to buy a Google Chromecast (£30), get them for free on his laptop or phone and cast to the TV, he gets the big screen he wants without spending a fortune.

ThyroidQ · 15/10/2018 21:13

What @MrsStrowman said. And tell him not to be so bloody stupid.

Purplejay · 15/10/2018 21:14

There must be a cheaper way he can watch them on TV?

Aggys · 15/10/2018 21:15

Oh thanks not heard of that. We suggested the Apple TV to him to mirror from his phone and he said but then he can't text his mates at the same time if he can do it from his laptop, he might give that a go.

Honestly I've tried telling him to not be so idiotic, he just shrugs and told me to leave him alone

OP posts:

YippeeKayakOtherBuckets · 15/10/2018 21:16

It’s just the same as spending your money on CDs and DVDs though. I mean, yes he’s spending a lot but I used to spend around that on the cinema a few times a week as a teen and you don’t get to keep that.

There are much worse things for a teenage boy to be spending time and money on than films.

titchy · 15/10/2018 21:17

Charge him rent... (save it and give it to him when he needs a deposit).

LaGruffaloGrumble · 15/10/2018 21:17

Definitely the Chromecast. But also block the Sky Store ordering functionality / change the pin / whatever you need to do to put a stop to it.

PandaPolarBear · 15/10/2018 21:17

HDMI cable to connect laptop to tv. Cheap and easy.

Also tell him to stop being stupid.

MongerTruffle · 15/10/2018 21:17

He could simply use an HDMI cable to plug the laptop into the TV.

Reccy2018 · 15/10/2018 21:17

He can use the Chromecast from his phone and text at the same time anyway.

70£ is bloody ridiculousness.

Aggys · 15/10/2018 21:19

So all this time he could have just bought a cable?

Titchy, not sure I can really charge a child rent

OP posts:

pacempercutiens · 15/10/2018 21:20

Charge him rent... (save it and give it to him when he needs a deposit).

I second this. At some point he will want something that he needs money for be that driving lessons/a car/insurance for that car/uni money and he will appreciate it.

LostInShoebiz · 15/10/2018 21:20

If he can get them for free on a laptop is it legal?

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 15/10/2018 21:20

I think that as it's his own money he should be able to spend it how he wishes.

However, you should absolutely not be topping him up if he runs short.

Oldraver · 15/10/2018 21:24

Yes my first thought was ...has he not heard of a HDMI cable

MacosieAsunter · 15/10/2018 21:29

Quite seriously - what is wrong with you people, suggesting charging a school child 'rent' ?

Cheeseplantandpickle · 15/10/2018 21:31

Tell him to get Plex.

Bimgy85 · 15/10/2018 21:32

How silly.

Get Netflix for a tenner a month.
Or for more up to date movies you can rent them for as little as €2 on YouTube now.

brokenanddesperate · 15/10/2018 21:36

Why doesn't he buy a cinema membership (cineworld is like £20 a month) and then go to the cinema whenever he wants, and from that if he really enjoys a film he could buy the dvd?

Summerbabygirl · 15/10/2018 21:37

Does he not have Netflix or Amazon Prime?

User123640872 · 15/10/2018 21:38

I use chromecasts and if he get's one, he can cast from his phone and still use it! He can get one for around £30 and then just get himself a subscription to NowTV (£9 a month for Sky Movies) and Netflix (£7) and he's cut his £280 a month habit down to £16! If he refuses the £30 PM me - I've got a spare one I was selling on Facebook for £10 because I've moved and the one in the spare room is no longer in use

HDMI Cables are a slight faff but can also be bought for £1, if he arms himself with both he'll be laughing!

RedDwarves · 15/10/2018 21:38

I don't think you should be policing how he spends the money he has earnt. He's only 16, he's working part-time, while presumably also being in school. He's hardly going to be considering saving for a house deposit at this age, and telling him he should be is going to fall on deaf ears. If this is what he enjoys in his downtime, so be it. He'll eventually realise that there are wiser ways to spend money.

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TheFaerieQueene · 15/10/2018 21:39

Put a pin code on your sky box.

Villainelle · 15/10/2018 21:41

Can you cast from iPhone?

waterrat · 15/10/2018 21:42

It is a tragic waste of money and as a parent I would have to step in. For those saying he is old enough to decide I would be ashamed if my 16 year old was wasting money like that.

I sorry for this kid as he hasn't been taught any value or respect for money.

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