Ashamed of how much I've spent on a stupid mobile game

[CareHomeWorries]

Been having a really rough time so far this year (my mum died, my dad was moved into a care home, my car was written off by a drunk driver crashing into it and I've been suffering with very severe anxiety)

I've been playing a stupid game called Gecko Out. It's a puzzle game and has been a good distraction from everything. I've just looked properly at my bank and I've spent £100+ on buying coins and power ups.

I feel so ashamed and bloody stupid for doing it. I can afford it but it's such a waste of money. Just didn't realize how often I was spending money on it, especially when it was just a couple of quid at a time. I've deleted it now and won't do it again but I feel awful over wasting the money.

I spend a lot of time on this game. I can see how people spend a lot of money on it because it can take a lot of resources to maintain a streak and even more to get one back.

Over what period of time have you spent this? I don't think it's as bad as you think to be honest.

Don't worry about it OP. It is noting to be ashamed of. There are worse things to spend money on!

Over the years, I spent far too much on mobile games. £100s. They are designed in a way to be addictive, and all those micro-transactions add up. One game I am playing right now... I have ran out of lives. It is tempting to pay a couple of pounds to buy gems to refill my lives... or I could wait a few hours and they will be refilled anyway.

It was a coping mechanism.

Not ideal but far more expensive and dangerous choices available so it in the grand scheme of things it's relatively minor with no huge expense or lasting damage.

It's only an issue if you want to reinstall it or which to another unhealthy way of dealing with things.

If you are fully over it, then consider it a done and move on and don't be so hard on yourself.

If it helped you get through a difficult time, then it was probably worth it. Think how much therapy might have cost!

But not something to make a habit of, ideally.

You aren't alone as I think you are now realising. I dread to think what I've spent over time across various games. UTTER waste of money, but a good distraction at the time.

Put it down to experience, you won't do it again 💐

A man wouldn't think twice paying £85 for a FIFA game 🤷🏼 Don't worry about it unless it's out of hand or you feel unhappy about it.

I’m not trying to be smug but I’m so pleased I have never linked my credit card to Play Store. If I ever download a free game (I only play free games) and they ask me to ‘Complete set up’, I just skip that so I can’t get sucked in.

What I have done though is signed up (for while) to Post Code Lottery, Euromillions, and some other lotteries. OK, some of the money could be considered charitable donations but it’s still just gambling and not even fun.

Gecko Out looks fun and even £200 isn’t a fortune but the main thing is you’ve caught up with yourself before you’ve been really daft. Give yourself a pat on the head rather than a kick up the bum. 🤗

No shame needed.

But it is a good opportunity to look at what you really need to help you deal with all the emotions you have after such a difficult time

People spend that on alcohol or a meal. You sometimes have to do what gets you through difficult times.

In the league table of dreadful coping mechanisms it’s not very near the top - hardly like sinking a bottle of gin every day. You have had a lot on your plate - I think you can forgive yourself

It’s not a waste of money if you enjoyed it or it was a good distraction, especially if you can afford it. Definitely don’t beat yourself up! My other half still spends a few quid on Candy Crush every month. It doesn’t break the bank, and there’s far worse things to spend money on.

It was a hard time.

They are designed to be addictive and for purchases are frictionless.
Dont dwell on it but do stop and do put things in place to make it a lot harder to keep doing it / easier to stop doing it.

Today....
Unlink cards from apple account
log out of game
delete it from your phone.

Be kind and chalk it up to it being an aberration.

I like games like wordle, strands connections and quordle and octordle
All free... 😉

Don't beat yourself OP for a decision that was right for you at the time. We have ALL spent or lost money on things and regretted it!

I spent nearly £200 entering a competition for my hobby recently, not including fuel to get there and I didn't do any good at all 😅 this was just one day of my hobby!

I've been reading about the poor sods on the Holiday Park Action Group FB Page who have spent 10s of thousands of pounds on static caravans. Some upwards of 100k of life savings that they NEVER get back when they want to sell them, these things only depreciate.

Think how much money people waste on cigarettes and vapes and those things actually make you ill! £100 a month easy! At least your spend won't have affected your health. So don't let the stress affect you..you needed the game at the time, be kind to yourself and move on.. 💐

Hey OP, you’ve used the gaming as a way of self regulating, like therapy. I expect people who have been through what you have, have spent more on alcohol (which is likely to do more damage).

How is it a waste of money if you enjoyed it?

I know people who spend that on takeout coffees every month.

Unless you haven’t paid your rent or your child is going hungry, then there’s absolutely no reason to feel guilty or ashamed.

I’m guessing you have a job and have worked for that money and so you deserve to spend it on whatever you want.

If you can afford it and enjoy the game I can’t see the issue , it’s no different to spending money on any other hobby .

Oh I did this with the Sims on Facebook. You could charge the amount to your phone bill at the time (2010s?) So wasn't really money in my eyes

I was sickened when I saw the bill and cleared but did it again and again and again.

I had an addiction which sounds so stupid but that's what it was.

I ended up having to get a phone under my husband's bill cos I couldn't afford the ones I was racking up and they cut me off. He paid the bill, and had to monitor me and I slowly weaned off the game.

You have my sympathy its not easy

I play a few games on my phone but I make it an absolute rule never to spend any money at all on them . That’s an easier boundary than spending a bit I think.

On the one hand £200 is a lot of money, but I had a day out in London recently with a friend and train fare, entry to attraction, coffee and cake in the cafe and then a meal before travelling back home and finally the taxi fare from station to home came to just over £200.

I had a nice day and don't begrudge it.

You had a bit of retail therapy to help you over a difficult patch. Don't begrudge that.

If you had turned to pizza instead, then Dominoes would racked up a similar amount over a few months.

Don't beat yourself up, be nice to yourself.

Don’t give yourself such a hard time. Sometimes we just need a bit of escapism.

i hope things improve for you.

You could have spent that on alcohol or cigarettes to help you through a tough time, both of which are unhealthier than a game,

It got you through a difficult time so please don’t beat yourself up. You said you can afford it so no harm done. It could have been alcohol or online shopping. Whatever gets you through the night sometimes is worth it.

I’d say the lesson was cheap at the price.

Reframe it as you’ve spent money on a leisure activity. Accept the money has been spent, and give yourself permission. To move on.