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

Eh... ok.

not some mickey mouse gaming degree at a pollywolly

You obviously don't know much about Abertay. There is not much Mickey Mouse or pollywolly about that place.

YABU!
Her money, let her do it ffs.

buscaution dream on

I see Fruits is back 🙄

Go shave your hands.

YABU
She's 14, what if she doesn't want a car or to learn how to drive?

Its her money, you've got no right to tell her what she should and shouldn't spend it on. Just because she's got 3 games doesn't mean she shouldn't get the gaming computer. This might be what she's interested in or passionate about and you shouldn't stop that.

I saved a lot of money as a child and my parents wouldn't let me spend it on what I wanted and got me to spend it on driving lessons. That was over 10 years ago and I never passed, never enjoyed the lessons and don't drive!

While I agree that a Computer Science might be more general use than the Games Development degree, there's nothing 'Micky Mouse' about the degree. I'm guessing in your ignorance you think its a bunch of teenagers playing games, when its actually a very challenging software development and games applications course including modules on C++ and computer architecture. Even such esteemed establishments as Imperial College London offer a Games Development degree.
There's also nothing shit about the ex 'pollywolly' (really showing your own ignorance here) it has strong links with the technology industry in Scotland and as a new university it is climbing the ratings in leaps and bounds every year.
The gaming industry is worth £80 Billion world wide. Rockstar ( a company created by two Scottish guys) made £2.1 billion from GTA V alone.
Many of the people involved in technology and games development started out by playing games and got into modding and coding and made a career out of it.
Minecraft is a game developed by one guy and he sold it to Microsoft for $2.5b.

Less of the uninformed sneering please.

Abertay can't be an expollywolly as polytechnics didn't exist in Scotland. So much ignorance shown...

It's considered THE university to go to if you want a career in the game development industry.

Fruit has obviously failed at setting the gaming work alight with a shite app and is bitter.

My dd saved when she was 9, 10, 11 for a iPad. Saved all money from Birthday Christmas spent the whole lot on an iPad. I was so proud of her for committing to saving for such a long time. She still has that iPad now and she is 18.
It is HER money. She should be able to spend it on what she wants!
If she had had presents for each birthday or Christmas then it would be just be a non issue.
Don't punish her for saving. It is her money to do as she wishes with it. Be proud of her and let her have to computer she wants.

Yes. My experience of gaming is evil too.

Help her find one though, you don’t need to spend £2k to get a decent gaming computer- despite the notion that more expensive is better. If you know anyone who knows much about computers maybe ask them to help.

Yes. My experience of gaming is evil too

Oh please, do tell. I could do with a laugh

Let her buy the gaming computer. She could have ‘wasted’ all her birthday and Christmas money over the years on useless tat, but she’s saved for something specific and worthwhile. At 14 she understands the concept of saving for something she wants; many people twice her age struggle with that!

I think you should let them get one. It’s a great investment and can be used for so many ther things. I do photo and image editing on mine and it handles it great, my old laptop couldn’t handle it at all. If she wants to go in to anything tech based it will be so helpful for her. Like others have said, would you have objected if she had spent small amounts weekly on tat?

Frustratingly I will have 2 gaming pcs for sale (just need hard drives) both built for playing call of duty etc just no longer needed.

They cost in the region of £1500 to build but I know I won't get more than £350-£500 second hand.

Computers have a habit of depreciating in value very quickly as technology has a high turnover. Does she realise she will need to keep on top of updates and keeping it "clean" also potentially having to upgrade parts in the future which can cost a fair amount especially if it's a new graphics card to run the latest games.

DS2 did this a couple of years ago - he built a beast of a gaming pc with bits from various sites for about £700 and it's still going strong. He uses it for school stuff too, he's got Sibalius on there so he can compose with it. It's her money and this is something she's obviously well into - 3 games are plenty if they're huge ones like Civ - l'd say get behind her, she's got her head screwed on. If she wants to drive she can save for that in 3 years when she's old enough. DS2 spends all his spare cash on guitars - it makes me wince but it's his money ...

My son built his own gaming pc last Christmas

It cost about £500 all in, but the spec is that of a pc that’s at least £2k

Ds researched it all from YouTube, got tee spec checked by it guy at work and followed the steps and it works!!! He was 12 last year and found it immensely satisfying to do! Your dd could easily do the same!

I'm also in the PC brigade.

I'm a gamer with a 2k PC - It's immensely satisfying to know I worked my arse off to buy this object that provides me with such happiness. Why on earth would you not allow you daughter develop this understanding that hard work = money = personal luxuries?
Fucking selfish to try and dictate what her enjoyments should be.

My VR PC cost about £1400 to build, plus £700 for the VR gear to go with it. These days you can build something just as good for ~£1000 and £400 respectively. £2000 seems a bit high.

You would be very unreasonable, yes. It's her money.

It’s a lot of money to spend, and not on something I’d deem worthwhile. But the thing is, it’s her money and she should be able to spend it if she wants to. If it turns out in 6 months she wishes she’d not bought it, then better to learn a lesson about wasting savings now than when she’s older and wasting money as an adult has bigger consequences.

My 13 year old insisted he wanted to blow all his savings 8 months ago on a PlayStation VR. He’s used it about a dozen times, has buyers remorse but of course will be lucky to get a small fraction of the purchase price to sell. Still it’s a life lesson for him but I think he’s going to need a few more along the same lines 😬

I sort of share your dismay, but if you don’t let her buy what she really wants, you risk putting her off saving in the future.

We have to stand back sometimes and watch our DCs spend their hard earned money on crap, if it is a mistake then they will learn a much more valuable lesson than if they have spent our money on crap!

(I don’t want to imply that games consoles are crap btw, I’m thinking more of the Yu Gi Oh card dispenser thing my DS had permanently fixed to his arm for about six months a few years back)

If she wants to get into gaming/game design then the PC is essential. Especially since you said she wants to go to uni for it.

People forget it's not just for games. It will be powerful enough to run power hungry programs and act as a media hub as well.