To not let DD use her savings on a gaming computer?

[edole]

DD has saved over the years from birthdays and christmases and also from grandparent money when she goes and sees them. She enjoys THREE just 3 computer games and she now wants a gaming computer. The one she wants is 2 grand she has about £1500 in the bank and as her birthday is 2 weeks before Christmas she will get around £500 for them both combined (in total from everyone). So she wants it then.

I have so far said absolutely not, it's far far too much and it's better to save it for maybe a car when she's old enough to learn to drive. AIBU

I spent a similar amount of money - around £2k at the end of my build - on a gaming pc when I was 17.
7 years on and I have updated it twice at low cost to myself and it is still holding a surprising amount of it's value, and I have had literally thousands of hours of enjoyment from it. I would however encourage her to look into BUILDING her own, it's surprisingly easy to do and will teach her quite a lot of useful things - and if the computer she wants is £1500, she could probably build herself exactly what she wants for £1000 if she self builds.

Anyway, YABU, it's her money and you have NO right to dictate how she spends it.

Post a link to the one she wants and we can take a look or offer options that may e cheaper.

Does she know that a true gaming laptop will have a rubbish battery? I have a gaming laptop that I no longer use, I work in IT and they are much better for virtualisation. The battery lasts just over an hour. It is a bit of a beast with a 17inch screen.

Finally, what games does she play? She may not need a top spec one?

Have you looked on the Dell outlet website for alienware offers. Some have a scratch but others are just open box and cheaper.

Also try over lockers. That's where I got my MSI gaming laptop. I think it was £1200 but they had it on offer for £850.

It’s not like she’s spending it on crack cocaine.

Given how much time DS2 spends on his, I’m not so sure about that.

Ah just seen its not necessarily for a laptop but the I go still stands for both websites for gaming pcs as well.

Opps misread and see she fancies one at £2k, even more reason to look into building one herself!

What games is it she plays OP - is she running one of the games she plays at very low quality to allow for a bad computer set up?

Nope. No gaming in our house it’s a colossal waste of time.

I’d say keep saving and in 3 years she could buy a car.

Once she’s an adult she can do what she likes.

Her money, her choice. I'm impressed she managed to save that much, I couldn't do that at 14. Can't even do that now and I'm double her age.

OP - I know, I know, I know - DS is a 'gamer' and whilst I don't get it, I also get it; just as my Mum 'got' my Punk. And her Mum got hers.

DS got an inheritance the same age and whilst I stashed away as much as I could, a 'gaming pc' was needed. I did shop around though for max spec and less £ and managed to reduce the price quite a bit. Over 2 years later it's going in for upgrades, so penny-wise it made sense.

Also, 'gaming' is a pretty solid 'industry' not all Fortnite, death and destruction - so whilst I'm not a 'player' at all, I support DS's interest.

DDs are really under-represented and as we already know from every other Industry - the DDs always bring more to the table.

My son built his own and has built for his friends.
£1200 or there about will give a very decent machine.

No gaming in our house it’s a colossal waste of time.

God forbid a 14 year old do anything with their time that's even slightly unproductive.

Yabu

The correct response would be "sounds good do you need me to look into it for you?"

My DD is a gamer. I would never of dreamed of putting conditions on her hard saved money.

I just saw the post about her wanting to go to Dundee to study computer games. Definitely encourage that. Abertay is the best in Europe for gaming. She will learn tons there.

Gaming isn't a waste of time, if you're interested like her in the actual designing of them. It's a multi billion dollar/pound industry. You've no idea the amount of money developers can make from coding, or graphic designers can make. It's a growing industry and one that she can take skills from and use in other industries if she wants out of it.

Seriously don't discourage this.

Actually gaming can equip kids with lots of skills.

An excellent computer is a fantastic use of her money. She can use it for for lots of things other than gaming - homework, creative projects etc.

She sounds like she’s got her head screwed on.

Plus, as everyone else has said, it’s her money.

It is HER money. She wants to buy this item. If she blows it in one item and regrets it, that may teach her something for the future, but you can't reasonably stop her spending her savings on something she wants.

Agree let her, not that I approve at all of gaming but I do think it's her money her choice. Kudos to her for saving so hard and not wasting it on fast food and make-up! She's trading in ones she already has that she has presumably got as gifts so that's her money too - I give my kids the money from old toys of theirs that I sell. (sometimes). ((if they find out))

I wouldn't let her. That is a horrific waste of money. All well and good saying it is her money her choice, but as parents aren't you there to help stop your children making stupid decisions.

Sorry don't know where I got the idea about the trade-in! Her birthday money she can obviously use as she wishes - just amazed she gets so much cash for one birthday tbh

DD1 pooled all her savings and birthday money for a high spec gaming pc. She used it for GSCE and A level work and it's just gone to university with her where she's studying Digital Game Art and Design.

She's already had several pieces of work commissioned and the initial cost of the pc has already been covered.

Computer game design is an industry in which the UK is extremely strong, and is showing no sign of slowing down.

It's a lot better than frittering it all away on disposable fashion from Primark!

If you want to control what she spends money on in future you'd be wiser to start an Isa or savings account for her and add sums to that at birthdays etc.

She's 14, not 8. Old enough to make the decision herself.

Gaming computers seem to have decent resale value too, so it's not like she's flushing 2k down the drain.

Can she build one? DH did, he's not very techy, I have to sort out any software or systems issues, by it's very easy to build a good spec gaming PC. There are specialist forums where there are very helpful people who will suggest the appropriate components to suit your needs and budget and he built his from YouTube videos. It cost about £1000 but same spec bought would've been nearer £2300-£2500. It's a good project for her too. A gaming PC can also be used for any other PC use so it's not like a console in that respect.

If a 14 year old is getting enough money to save £2K then I don’t think it’s fair to now tell her she can’t spend it on what she wants.

To save for a car when she won’t be able to learn to drive for another three years is pretty tough at 14 - even a year feels like forever at that age. I think if you want her money used for that you should ask family to give some of it direct to you to put in a savings account without telling her and then surprise her with it when she turns 17.

@TatianaLarina

Wrong.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Have you actually done any research into the games that are currently available?

There are games that explore philosophy, existentialism, and ethics.

There are games that strengthen and develop problem solving skills, logic, and mathematics and physics.

There are games that require teamwork, talking and building friendships with people from other countries.

Not every game is "Shoot everything with a gun until it dies" any more than every single film is The Exorcist.

This before we even mention the possibilities of your child becoming more adept and interested in technology in an increasingly technological world.

Educate yourself about something before you reject it out of hand for your children.

Also if she builds herself, when it needs an upgrade in a few years she can just upgrade certain components herself. I'd imagine it would look fairly good on her application to abertay too.