I didn't like that my son was spending his allowance on gaming purchases. Turns out, he was learning financial responsibility. Courtesy of the author At first, in-game purchases felt like such a waste of money to me. Letting my son spend his money was an effective and safe way to help him make financial decisions. Open conversation, rather than control, is helping us encourage his independence. When we first stepped into the world of kid-oriented apps and online gaming , my husband and I saw in-game purchases as nothing more than buying nothing . Our 11-year-old son has always been careful with his money, perhaps to a fault. As he grew increasingly willing to spend more and more of his allowance on Robux , V-bucks, and Minecoins, we were alarmed. The whole thing irks me. I really struggle with virtual "cosmetic" purchases. Buying Skins, special emotes (expressions and dance moves, I think?), and expensive Nikes for your avatar? I can't wrap my frugal mind around it.…