Mom forbids 18-year-old from spending $30 of the $400 he earned from winning a competition: 'My mom said that since she paid for my travel expenses, it's not my money.'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Jan 29, 2026 8:00 AM EST

He earned that money, and he should get to do with it what he pleases. 

Parents don't like sitting idly by while their kids make stupid financial decisions. If your 16-year-old son spends his first-ever paycheck from working night shifts at the Dairy Queen on fast food for him and his buddies, you're likely to have this instinct to shake him and yell, "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?" But when your kid is making their own money, you can't always control how they spend it. You can do your best to instill good financial habits in your children by not bailing them out every time they spend all of their money on something stupid. You can ground them for going against the rules of the household if you instill a rule like, "You must save at least 10% of every paycheck." Heck, before they're 18, you, as their parent, can technically use their money however you please. I wouldn't advise doing the third option, but it might be necessary if your kid is actually financially out of control. 

While some parents feel they should intervene in their kids' financial lives because they're not mature enough to take care of themselves, other parents just want to control their kids, even when they've proven themselves financially stable. As far as I see it, as long as a kid isn't being dangerously irresponsible with money, their parents should let them learn from their mistakes and make their own choices. They should be in charge of their own money, especially if they're 18 and earned it themselves. 

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  • 01
    Young creative man sitting on creativity workplace
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • The teen in this story was thrilled to win $400 in a contest. He wanted to spend just $30 of the prize money on an upgraded computer mouse, but his mom wasn't having it. She thought that such an expensive mouse would be a waste of money.

  • 02

    Am I wrong for wanting to get something for myself?

    So Im 18M, won a competiton and got like 400$, I wanted to get something good for myself and my current office mouse is crapping out on me, so I decide to get like a 30$ gaming mouse using the prize money, and my mom immediately said no and argued with me saying that's it's a luxury, and that she paid for my travel expenses (I'm willing to pay it back since the prize is more than that) so it's not my money, and i can't buy it(ain't something we can't afford she just hates expensive stuff.) AITA
    via u/NumerousTouch6495
  • 03
    I earned the prize money so I just wanted to get something nice. This competition was probably one of the hardest things I've done in my life too.
    via u/NumerousTouch6495
  • 04
    Edit: My mom doesn't take my money or anything, she's just very controlling and doesn't want me to buy anything expensive, so she wants me to get a 4$ mouse.
    via u/NumerousTouch6495
  • 05
    Close-up professional programmer hand using wireless mouse working computer desktop in office with technology concept
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 06
    Also I do have my own bank account.
    via u/NumerousTouch6495
  • 07
    Blue and white bank signage
    via Jonathan Cooper

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 08
    blacbird INFO. Is this something that happens a lot? That your mom/ parents take your stuff (especially money) if you ever get it? I mean, NTA either way, but I'm wondering if you want to check out r/raisedbynarcissists
    via u/blacbird
  • 09
    Numerous Touch6495 Original Poster's Reply Nah lol, she just hates expensive stuff, she doesn't take my money or anything
    via u/NumerousTouch6495
  • 10
    DeuceXTrouble1015 You are 18. You are an adult. Its your money do what you want with it.
    via u/DeuceXTrouble1015
  • 11
    llama_some_drama NTA. You are a legal adult, it's YOUR money. and the idea that 30 bucks is a luxury spend is stupid, especially when you're literally replacing a tech item that needs replaced.
    via u/llama_some_drama
  • 12
    Bitter-Payment-1460 Baby you're NTA your mother is. Just from this post I can sadly say she sounds like mine :/ treat yourself kid. And congrats on your achievement!!! Edit for grammar
    via u/Bitter-Payment-1460
  • 13
    Undersea_Serenity That's wild considering you are 18. Definitely NTA, I mean $30 is cheap for a mouse. My office mouse was about 4x that (MX Master 4). Based only on this interaction, I'd strongly suggest opening a new bank account on your own since I assume your mother has access to your existing one. You can stash a bit there under the radar until you stop living at home (since she's likely to go nuclear if you moved it all where she can't see).
    via u/Undersea_Serenity
  • 14
    StregaHOEna NTA, it sounds like she's just jealous of you winning. Her asking you to cover travel expenses after the fact is proof of that. Would she have asked the same if you hadn't won? It's your money, you're an adult, and you were the one that participated in the competition. That money is rightfully yours to spend as you please.
    via u/StregaHOEna
  • 15
    Waste_Fisherman1611 NTA. You're 18. She doesn't get to tell you how to spend your money. It's nice that you're paying back expenses, but do you know what nice, non-asshole parents expect? Nothing! Unless your mom is in real financial distress, giving her nothing more than what she spent and your thanks is fine.
    via u/Waste_Fisherman1611
  • 16
    Physical-Rabbit-3809 Yeah my mum did similar shit to me but cried and wailed when I moved out because of it. It's your money, buddy. Do what the fuck you want with it.
    via u/Physical-Rabbit-3809
  • 17
    Excellent-Stress2596 Was your mother going to make you pay her back for travel expenses if you didn't win? Sounds like she's just being resentful. NTA
    via u/Excellent-Stress2596
  • 18
    Hawk833 NTA pay her back, buy your mouse BUT keep your mouse under lock and key until you move out. Your mother sounds like she might be the type to try and take it for punishment regardless of whether it belongs to you.
    via u/Hawk833

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competition spending saving money parenting mom money son mouse
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