To think spends on Minecraft are a waste of money?

[LillyBugg]

My son is 7, nearly 8. I feel like this is the first of many battles. I let him spend £5 of his pocket money on an add on thing, and within an hour he was asking for something else. This was about three weeks ago and I've been refusing ever since because I feel like it's a waste of money. But it's all he wants to spend his pocket money on (he gets £1 a week). I'm finding it hard to show him a boundary of when he can next buy something. How do I do this?!

So YANBU - Minecraft is pointless shit you shouldn't spend money on it

Or YABU - let him spend his pocket money until it's gone and then tough luck he has to save it up again.

Of course it is a waste of money but then so are sweets, so are magazines.. there are plenty of things I, as an adult, waste my money on too but thats the point, it's my money.
I have a 7yr old and I have set up a roblox premium account as his pocket money. That's what he wanted so that's what he got. But thats it. Once it has gone it's gone. I believe this begins to teach him how to budget etc.

What would you prefer him to spend his money on? £1 a week would take quite a long time to save up for anything meaningful, practical or useful. It is probably a good lesson for him to learn that he can blow his money on immediate rewards but then can't buy other things.

YABU. Minecraft is one of the better child games and is great for learning skills, knowledge, etc. My DS was absolutely obsessed with it, and created some brilliant Worlds, programmed some amazing games within it. He really developed artistic, design and resilience. As long as your son isn't just lazily killing pigs for fun and is actually doing "useful" things, then leave him be and let him spend his money. Just keep control of what he spends and don't let him go on a rampage with your credit card by accident (i.e. keep your card details secure and don't let him know your security code or password).

However I think it's important to keep the pocket money at £1, don't give him advances or extra money for Minecraft stuff as that defeats the point of learning to budget

No different to ‘wasting’ it on sweets or magazines etc

YABU, it's better than if he spends it on sweets!

My DD used to spend her pocket money on things for her house in Roblox. At first I thought it was a waste because she had nothing physical to show for it, but came to realise that her generation are less concerned with 'stuff' than ours.

It's better from an environmental perspective too!

So long as he is having lots of experiences outside of Minecraft, I wouldn't worry about it.

I’m in my 40s and I still spend money on stuff for games. As long as he knows once it’s gone it’s gone, let him spend it as he likes. Worse things he could be buying!

I won't lie I really struggled with the idea that it wasn't a waste and that they can spend their money on what they like, but they get more pleasure and use from it than most things that you or I would approve of.

If you think of it was spending on an activity (e.g. cinema) or a hobby then I think it’s perfectly reasonable to spend some money on it as long as he’s not going mad.

My two are allowed to spend a proportion of their pocket money on anything they want, usually Minecraft/Roblox, they save a proportion and have some set aside for something they want in the short term. They can earn extra money for computer based spends by doing chores over and above their usual jobs.

I think giving free rein isn’t great but more is completely denying them. We talk a lot about how the games are designed to draw you in and make you want to spend money which is why they need limits.

Thanks everyone. He's just handed over his last fiver to craft trains. And he's made up. I'll deal with the inevitable 'I've run out of money' later

I'm sure this will be the first of many 'shit my child is older I don't know what I'm doing' moments. Thanks for all being so helpful.

Mine used to buy cheap magazines I think Minecraft is far better!!

As I was replying I thought your boy would be made up.

I love Mn for things like this, being able to clarify thoughts by talking to others that have been through it is great, it's the nearest we get now to 'it takes a village to raise a child'

I know dealing with the running out of money will be annoying later but it is also such a great life lesson for him when he learns that money runs out.

@Ducksurprise it's so true. I have the oldest child amongst my friendship group so I've always found it hard navigating new territory. Mumsnet has been incredibly helpful since I became a parent, if sometimes a bit brutal 🤣

I am very happy we can hopefully stop being so miserable over it all every time I say no. AND he's asked for some chores to earn some more money 👍🏻

There's some really good pre made worlds and things. I wouldn't worry about it.

DS was given £100 recently and spent it all on pokemon cards 🙈 My first thought was that its a waste, but he's delighted and can happily spend hours looking at and sorting through his collections so I've learnt to let it go. Realistically there's very little I'm going to approve of that a ten year old will find exciting!

My DD is allowed to buy a £10 Roblox card per month. But she will spend hours working out which outfit she wants. What will go better etc.

If she's done particularly well at something or just because I can I sometimes grab her an extra card as a treat. It's not expected and she genuinely loves getting it.

I figure it's my old equivalent of magazines. And I still play games now and occasionally buy stuff if I need it to advance.

I just see it as the modern equivalent of toys. A 'skin' is basically an action figure.

Just don't let them spend more on it than you would have on 'things'.

Pretty much everything they buy at that age is a waste of money if you look at it that way. Pokemon cards, football stickers, yet another Hot Wheels car to add to the 76 he's already got, another LOL mini doll or packet of stupid loom bands, cheap necklace from Claire's Accessories, magazine that gets read then thrown in the bin. It's all the same.

Unless they're investing for their first house or car it's all stuff they'll enjoy for a short time then it will end up in the bin, attic or charity shop. Virtual online things are no different. At least they don't clutter up your house.

I make my 10 yr old hand me over the cold hard cash before I'll add anything to his account. I hope that makes it seem a bit more real to him that he's parting with actual money. No idea if that works or not.

1 pound a week
???
With that kinda allowance the kid will never be able to buy him ANYTHING decent. So yeah let him spend it on mine craft

YABU. It’s his money. He shouldn’t have to spend it only on things you consider worthy.

It might be a waste of money to you but it’s not to him and that’s the important thing.

You likely waste money on alcohol. Literally pissing your money away 🤷‍♀️ Now that’s a waste.

@Marvellousmadness I'm not a Scrooge, he's never asked for more to be honest! And he's not really willing to do chores for pocket money so I don't see why I should just cough up extra for nothing?!

How much does your seven year old get every week? I also have a five year old to pay!

And also he absolutely has saved it all up before and bought himself a decent Lego set. He can go months not buying anything. I guess we are fortunate and he doesn't really go lusting after much 🤷🏻‍♀️ except Minecraft crap now 😂