Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

Add post form topAdd Post
Tooltip close

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

Kid Asks Mom To Buy $250 Video Game Skin, She Thinks It’s A Waste Of Money, Dad Is Furious

Kid Asks Mom To Buy $250 Video Game Skin, She Thinks It’s A Waste Of Money, Dad Is Furious

Interview With Expert
ADVERTISEMENT

It’s never too soon to start learning about money, and parents should teach their kids how to save and spend wisely. Good financial knowledge early on in life is so important, as it can come in handy in many different situations. The only problem is if the parents themselves can’t agree on how to handle their money. 

This is what a couple faced after their son asked for an expensive video game item as a Christmas gift. The mom put her foot down, but her husband sided with their kid and started an argument over it.

More info: Reddit

RELATED:

    Saying no to buying something your child really wants can be difficult, but it can help teach them an important lesson about money

    Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)

    The poster explained that her 10-year-old son liked playing League of Legends, and one day he asked if she would buy him an item from within the game world

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: Mikhail Nilov / Pexels (not the actual photo)

    Since Christmas was coming up, the poster felt that it would be okay to buy the video game item, but she was shocked when the boy asked for a game “skin” costing nearly $300

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: Riot Games / Riot Games (not the actual photo)

    She refused to buy the video game cosmetic because she felt it was too much money to spend on something that’s “essentially useless”

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: RDNE Stock project / Pexels (not the actual photo)

    Surprisingly, the poster’s husband got very angry with her for refusing to get the $250 item for their son

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: Fortiche / Riot Games (not the actual photo)

    The man called his wife “selfish and unreasonable” for not getting their son the League of Legends skin as a Christmas gift, even though the kid didn’t seem so let down by the refusal

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: Alexander Mils / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

    The woman later decided to let her son pick between the video game skin or physical gifts

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: Few-Needleworker7044

    The author’s son opted to get the actual gifts and said that he realized the game skin was way too expensive

    The OP mentioned that she knew how much her son liked playing League of Legends, but that she was never okay with buying him something within the game. Since Christmas was coming up, she decided to make an exception until he mentioned how costly the item actually was. It seems like he didn’t realize the full financial implications of what he was asking for.

    To understand how parents should handle money discussions with their kids, Bored Panda reached out to Sarah. She is a qualified EYFS primary school teacher, parenting blogger, and mum of three. 

    She manages ‘Arthurwears,’ a child development and family lifestyle blog, where she shares tried and tested ‘Learning Through Play’ activities, thoughts, and advice on parent and child wellbeing, and lifestyle recommendations for busy families. 

    Sarah said that “parents can help their children understand the value of money by involving them in conversations about spending and saving from a young age. Explain to children how some purchases offer long-term value (e.g., toys, clothes) while others, like virtual items in games or consumables, offer short-term enjoyment but no physical or lasting benefit.”

    ADVERTISEMENT

    “Bring out some real-life examples of toys, games, or equipment from the home that the child has received in the past and still uses and enjoys. Compare this to a consumable item they can no longer touch or feel (such as a chocolate bar or sweets they were once given) and explain how one still brings value even now,” she added.

    The poster’s son didn’t seem to be put off by her refusal and accepted her decision point-blank. On the other hand, her husband got extremely angry that she wasn’t okay with the $250 online purchase. He called his wife “selfish and unreasonable” for not getting the video game skin since it was almost Christmas time.

    Just like this situation, sometimes couples can have differing views on how to spend and save money. Sarah mentioned that “if one parent views spending as a way to enhance a child’s happiness while the other values teaching restraint and responsibility, this can lead to frequent conflicts over purchases and confusion for children over which values they should be most respectful of.”

    ADVERTISEMENT

    “If one parent is more lenient and often agrees to expensive purchases, it can undermine the other parent’s efforts to teach financial responsibility. This can lead to children learning inconsistent messages about money management. It can also cause tension and create an imbalance in parenting roles and authority within the family,” she added.

    Image credits: The Yuri Arcurs Collection / Freepik (not the actual photo)

    One of the best things to come out of the entire situation was that the woman’s son later agreed that his request was very expensive. He had wanted the video game skin in order to look cool, but he ultimately realized that he didn’t want it that much and that it might even make him the target of bullying.

    Sarah mentioned that “if children still request costly items, it can be helpful to set clear boundaries: Parents should make it clear exactly what they are willing or not willing to spend money on. For example, you might decide that only gifts for special occasions like birthdays or Christmas could include gaming items, but at a capped price.” 

    ADVERTISEMENT

    “You may agree to pay to download or buy certain games, but agree in advance that upgrades or extras such as ‘skins’ are not allowed. Encourage compromise by suggesting that your child contribute some of their own money or ask for the item as part of a collective gift from family members instead,” she added.

    Despite how well things worked out with her son, the woman and her husband had a big conflict over money. He wanted her to spend the $250 and she felt that it was a very frivolous purchase. Ultimately, they couldn’t come to an agreement on the issue.

    Sarah explained that “parents should discuss and align their values around money, what they consider essential versus non-essential spending. In this scenario, the disagreement between the parent and the spouse seems to stem from different perspectives on what constitutes a ‘reasonable’ expenditure.”

    “Parents should also discuss how they want to introduce financial concepts to their children, including the importance of budgeting, saving, and distinguishing between needs and wants. Once these points have been discussed, it is really important that parents agree to stick to these rules, particularly in front of the children, to create a united front and a strong set of values,” she added.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    It’s not always easy to say no to one’s kids, especially around the holidays, but it can help them make better financial decisions later on. The only important thing is that both parents should be on the same page about money matters, or else it will lead to a lot of conflicts.

    People sided with the poster and said that her husband was the one being unreasonable by making such a big fuss out of things

    ADVERTISEMENT
    Share on Facebook
    Beverly Noronha

    Beverly Noronha

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    You can call me Bev! I'm a world-class reader, a quirky writer, and a gardener who paints. If you’re looking for information about tattoos, Bulbasaur, and books, then I'm the NPC you must approach.

    Read less »
    Beverly Noronha

    Beverly Noronha

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    You can call me Bev! I'm a world-class reader, a quirky writer, and a gardener who paints. If you’re looking for information about tattoos, Bulbasaur, and books, then I'm the NPC you must approach.

    Denis Krotovas

    Denis Krotovas

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    I am a Visual Editor at Bored Panda. While studying at Vilnius Tech University, I learned how to use Photoshop and decided to continue mastering it at Bored Panda. I am interested in learning UI/UX design and creating unique designs for apps, games and websites. On my spare time, I enjoy playing video and board games, watching TV shows and movies and reading funny posts on the internet.

    Read less »

    Denis Krotovas

    Denis Krotovas

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    I am a Visual Editor at Bored Panda. While studying at Vilnius Tech University, I learned how to use Photoshop and decided to continue mastering it at Bored Panda. I am interested in learning UI/UX design and creating unique designs for apps, games and websites. On my spare time, I enjoy playing video and board games, watching TV shows and movies and reading funny posts on the internet.

    What do you think ?
    Add photo comments
    POST
    g90814
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The son sounds MUCH more mature than the husband. go figure.

    hungryghost
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wtf in game skins now cost $250? I'm not even touching the 14.99 but to spend 250 on a skin? Man the greed of the game companies nowadays

    Apatheist Account2
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ridiculous price! I hate playing people in games who've bought their way to better equipment rather than earned it.

    xkwwy5mq94
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Even worse, it’s just a skin. Literally just cosmetic, no advantage in game. It’s just something for whales to splurge on.

    Load More Replies...
    Austzn
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've watched nearly this exact scenario playout between two parents in person before. The parent who was insisting that the unreasonable purchase happen seemed to make it their personal mission to please the child and any resistance was taken as an attack on their position as a parent. It's pure narcissism in my opinion.

    Hmmm hmmmm
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Buying a whole videogame with real money isn't unreasonable ,never a DLC. But this much! On a skin !

    Jason Melvil
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't think 300 on a skin is a good idea - but the same is said on any shoes or clothes or whatever

    Robert T
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm in the wrong business. $250 for some pixels and some metadata. Total and utter waste of money. And if you buy this one, it won't end there, it will another one the next week and the next. Have always believed in giving the kids the freedom to choose what they spend their money on. You can have $300 for Christmas. You can spend it on what you like, but when it's gone, it's gone, and you'll have to wait till your birthday for some more, or earn it by doing chores.

    Beak Hookage
    Community Member
    3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    $250 for a friggin' video game skin?! That's absolutely preposterous.

    Ozymandias
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is it the new Jinx skin from the Netflix series, or is it the older one from before?

    Alex Schneider
    Community Member
    23 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    easy solution...a christmas gift about 150 at your choice and 150 dollar extra, so he can save for anything more expensive,till he got enough for a expensive skin..or he buys cheaper additions and save the rest. Saving money to reach a goal or even earn it ,being responsible,is a better way to.learn about values than being told

    Bookworm
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 days ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This would be a different deal if it was, genuinely, what the kid wanted for Christmas (since OP said they can afford it financially.) I sometimes asked for an expensive Christmas gift as a kid (laptop, etc) with the understanding that I wouldn't be getting a lot of smaller gifts at the same time. But the husband seems way more invested in this than the kid.

    somnomania (she/her, queer)
    Community Member
    3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    the problem here isn't the people, it's the fact that the game felt it was reasonable to charge that much money for some fancy pixels. i've spent money on fancy pixels in games before, but not that much!

    g90814
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The son sounds MUCH more mature than the husband. go figure.

    hungryghost
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wtf in game skins now cost $250? I'm not even touching the 14.99 but to spend 250 on a skin? Man the greed of the game companies nowadays

    Apatheist Account2
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ridiculous price! I hate playing people in games who've bought their way to better equipment rather than earned it.

    xkwwy5mq94
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Even worse, it’s just a skin. Literally just cosmetic, no advantage in game. It’s just something for whales to splurge on.

    Load More Replies...
    Austzn
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've watched nearly this exact scenario playout between two parents in person before. The parent who was insisting that the unreasonable purchase happen seemed to make it their personal mission to please the child and any resistance was taken as an attack on their position as a parent. It's pure narcissism in my opinion.

    Hmmm hmmmm
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Buying a whole videogame with real money isn't unreasonable ,never a DLC. But this much! On a skin !

    Jason Melvil
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't think 300 on a skin is a good idea - but the same is said on any shoes or clothes or whatever

    Robert T
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm in the wrong business. $250 for some pixels and some metadata. Total and utter waste of money. And if you buy this one, it won't end there, it will another one the next week and the next. Have always believed in giving the kids the freedom to choose what they spend their money on. You can have $300 for Christmas. You can spend it on what you like, but when it's gone, it's gone, and you'll have to wait till your birthday for some more, or earn it by doing chores.

    Beak Hookage
    Community Member
    3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    $250 for a friggin' video game skin?! That's absolutely preposterous.

    Ozymandias
    Community Member
    4 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is it the new Jinx skin from the Netflix series, or is it the older one from before?

    Alex Schneider
    Community Member
    23 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    easy solution...a christmas gift about 150 at your choice and 150 dollar extra, so he can save for anything more expensive,till he got enough for a expensive skin..or he buys cheaper additions and save the rest. Saving money to reach a goal or even earn it ,being responsible,is a better way to.learn about values than being told

    Bookworm
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 days ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This would be a different deal if it was, genuinely, what the kid wanted for Christmas (since OP said they can afford it financially.) I sometimes asked for an expensive Christmas gift as a kid (laptop, etc) with the understanding that I wouldn't be getting a lot of smaller gifts at the same time. But the husband seems way more invested in this than the kid.

    somnomania (she/her, queer)
    Community Member
    3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    the problem here isn't the people, it's the fact that the game felt it was reasonable to charge that much money for some fancy pixels. i've spent money on fancy pixels in games before, but not that much!

    You May Like
    Related on Bored Panda
    Related on Bored Panda
    Trending on Bored Panda
    Also on Bored Panda