Wife spends $100/month on mobile games despite being out of work for 2 years, husband is fed up: 'I am working between 60-70 hours a week to cover all the bills and we are still on the edge'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Feb 6, 2026 10:00 AM EST

Have you ever made an in-app purchase? Was it worth it?

If you have, you're not alone. They find a way to get us; it's what they're best at. Maybe you downloaded Candy Crush once upon a time and got addicted to crushing that candy with the swipe of a finger. It's what it was designed to do. You swipe so much that you start seeing it in your sleep. You wake up thinking about it, and you go to sleep playing it. Then all of a sudden, they have you. They have your attention, and they know what they're going to do with it. They're going to make you part with your hard-earned cash. It might seem like negligible amounts in the short term, but it adds up. Then, before you know it, you're out a hundred dollars a month and all you have to show for it is unlocked levels on your silly mobile game. 

We're all allowed to spend money on frivolous stuff. If I weren't allowed to buy my expensive coffees, I would riot. I know that it's not the smartest financial decision when I can just make coffee at home, but it's one of my one true sources of joy in this life. I like the ritual of going to the shop, and it just tastes better when someone else is making it. But I am allowed to do this, because it's my money and it doesn't financially ruin me. But what if it wasn't my money, and it did? 

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  • An excited young woman plays mobile games on her phone
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • That's the situation this couple was in when one of them, who happened to be relying on the other financially, started spending a lot of money on mobile gaming. This money was probably better used on literally anything else. It didn't help that they weren't exactly flush with cash. When you're having trouble making ends meet, online gaming is one pastime you should probably consider giving up. But her husband wasn't sure how to go about confronting her, and didn't want to ruffle any feathers. Read on to see what happened in this story and see what commenters told him about how he should proceed.

  • Am I wrong for being mad at wife for spending $100 a month on in app purchases for a free game?

    I recently found out my wife has been spending hundreds of dollars on in game purchases on her iPhone, $2.99 -$7.99. I was doing her taxes and needed her email, but I saw an Apple receipt for the month of January and decided to take a look. 120$ on a game called tasty travels merge.
    via u/802Trip
  • She's out of work due to an injury on the job and is not getting paid, so I'm footing all the bills. So for me to find out for all this time she's been out of work and not contributing to bills or anything, that she's spending hundreds on a freemium game has me enraged. AITA?!
    via u/802Trip
  • Update: I guess I wasn't clear on our situation. She's been out of work for a little over 2 months now, she and her work partners neglected to pay the insurance for the company so she does not get workers compensation, I am working between 60-70 hours a week to cover all the bills and we are still on the edge. We are
    via u/802Trip
  • struggling. Her hobby's include reading, playing her switch and the ps5 which she has dozens of games she hasn't even started yet, she reads and we have an entire bookshelf of books she has yet to read yet. She is submersed in her hobby's. These in app purchases are not hobby's, they are predatory impulsivities.
    via u/802Trip

  • Commenters gave him ideas on how to tackle this.

    QueenOfPleasure0 NTA. You're covering everything while she's not working and she's quietly dropping money on a mobile game. That's not a small slip, that's a pattern. This is about trust and shared priorities, not the game itself. You're right to be upset.
    via u/QueenOfPleasure0
  • eattillithurts NTA if you talked to her. YWBTA if you talked as enraged as you are right now. If she always did it, while working, maybe she didn't realize how much it was as a whole. Just talk to her, you're adults. (But I totally get your frustration. Its a stupid way to burn resources)
    via u/eattillithurts
  • A couple has an argument while sitting on their bed, husband confronts his wife.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • Willsagain2 NTA. I play free games and never spend amy money at all. Ever. It just requires patience to wait for the extras, the new lives, etc or just let them run their stupid ads. No spend required at all.
    via u/Willsagain2
  • analogascension NTA. But that depends on how you handle what comes next. It's understandable to be mad that she's wasting money like this when finances are tight. If you lose it and go ballistic, YTA. If you have a sensible
    via u/analogascension
  • discussion with her outlining why thats a terrible idea and that from now on any mobile purchases go on her card and not the shared account, then you'd remain NTA.
    via u/analogascension
  • CJsopinion Depends on your reaction. Being upset is reasonable. Yelling is not. I hope you had a mature conversation with her.
    via u/CJsopinion
  • JellyfishSolid2216 NTA. You are working 60 hours a week and she's wasting money you worked hard for on a worthless game.
    via u/JellyfishSolid2216
  • TalkingStrangers Stupid spending like that on a game while out of a job is a AH move.
    via u/TalkingStrangers
  • According-Relatio... absolutely not the asshole. those games are scams. play something else. watch tv. read a book. there is plenty of entretainment in the world that is free/costs much less.
    via u/According-Relation-4
  • Amaze-balls-trip... NTA. I would calm down first and then have a conversation based in curiosity. The amount to me doesnt seem weird, but the fact it. was bought while your struggling is weird.
    via u/Amaze-balls-trippen
  • I spend roughly 100-150 on my hobbies every month. My fiance spends roughly the same on Pokémon (his hobby). When I was injured (albeit I had 66% of my pay) I actually spent a little more, and the house was always clean. (Was waiting for a surgery).
    via u/Amaze-balls-trippen
  • kindamadden That's why my wife's phone is set up to autopay on her card not mine. Grandkids tablets have to be checked every few months because they keep defaulting to one. touch purchase for apps.
    via u/kindamadden
  • Tyfereth IDK, depends on how much you make and how much she spends on other things.
    via u/Tyfereth
  • False_Snow7754 NTA. She kept it from you while not having a budget for her own spending, I guess? Do calm down and talk with her about it, how 100USD is a lot when you're the sole breadwinner and maybe help her find games that aren't blatant whale- hunters.
    via u/False_Snow7754
  • She kept this from you which makes her the AH. If you fly off the handle at her instead of being curious about her spending then you're the AH. Have an adult conversation, like an adult.
    via u/False_Snow7754
  • nothanksyouidiot What do you mean she doesnt get paid? Injured at work should get paid sick leave? Employer insurance. payout? I understand being mad though regardless. My husband and I both like to game and we decided on a budget for each month that we are "allowed" to spend. It should be a conversation. NTA
    via u/nothanksyouidiot
  • FlippingPossum NAH. Yet. Talk to her. It sounds like this is new behavior. Could she be depressed? Ask to sit down and work on the household budget together. Decide together how much fun money each of you get per month. Then, let it go.
    via u/FlippingPossum
  • today-tomorrow-... NTA but if this is the only "treat" she gives herself, and money is ok, id set a budget and let it go. Coffee in Aus is like $5-7 depending on size/what you order. I used to buy 2-3 of these a week. It adds up quickly. If coffee wouldn't upset you then that matters.
    via u/today-tomorrow-etc
  • dj_underboob NAH. If she was doing this at an arcade would you be upset? If she went out for one nice meal a month by herself that was the same price, would you be upset?
    via u/dj_underboob
  • $100 doesn't seem like that much, unless you're living paycheck to paycheck. Then it's a question of whether you're upset about the money or the activity. If you can't afford the money no matter the activity, then it's worth a conversation. If it's a drop in the bucket and brings her joy, then leave it alone and agree on a set budget for the game.
    via u/dj_underboob
  • LogResident6185 Wtf absolutely NTA. She mine as well be wiping her ass with that money. She doesn't seem to respect you or your time.
    via u/LogResident6185
  • ParticularAd1735 NTA. That's a lot of money to spend on a mobile game. I played Candy Crush Saga for years and never spent any money on in-game purchases.
    via u/ParticularAd1735
  • Not-That_Girl I've done that. It was merge harbour. I was spend 50 quid at least every month. I tired to really cut done but I felt tied to it. You get in the mind set if we'll im having fun, or you block out just how much you are spending.
    via u/Not-That_Girl
  • Bit the bullet and uninstalled it. Now ive got a couple of cute games, one I paid the remove adds. The only mobile game I play consistently is zen koi 2, free or cheap, relaxing, been around 8 years.
    via u/Not-That_Girl

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