How to Stop Spending Money on Mobile Games (Roblox, Gacha and In-App Purchases)

Updated 7 November 2026 · about 4 min read

Mobile games make money by getting players to spend a little, often, and many players spend far more than they realize. Gacha pulls, Robux, battle passes, loot boxes and "limited" bundles are designed so that each purchase feels small and urgent. The fix is to see your real total, make paying harder, and know that you can often get a refund for purchases you didn't mean to make.

Why games are so easy to spend on

It's not just phone games. Console games use the same tricks: GTA Online's "Shark Cards" made billions, and GTA 6 (out 19 November 2026) is expected to follow. See should I pre-order GTA 6.

  • Virtual currency (gems, Robux, V-Bucks) hides the real price.
  • Random rewards. Gacha pulls and loot boxes work like slot machines: you're paying for a chance, not an item.
  • Limited-time offers create urgency.
  • Pity systems and near-misses make it feel like the next pull will be the one.
  • One-tap payments with Face ID mean you barely notice.

Step 1: find your real number

On iPhone, go to Settings → your name → Media & Purchases → View Account → Purchase History. On Android, open the Google Play Store → profile → Payments & subscriptions → Budget & history. Add up the last few months. Most people are surprised.

Step 2: make paying harder

  • iPhone: Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions → iTunes & App Store Purchases → In-app Purchases: Don't Allow, or require a password for every purchase.
  • Android: In the Play Store settings, turn on Require authentication for purchases for every purchase.
  • Remove saved cards, or use gift cards with a set budget.
  • Set a monthly budget and stop when it's gone.

Step 3: ask for a refund

On iPhone, you can request a refund for purchases at reportaproblem.apple.com. Google Play also has a refund request process. Refunds aren't guaranteed, but accidental or unwanted purchases, especially by children, are often refunded.

If it's your child

Use Apple's Ask to Buy through Family Sharing, or Google's parental controls, so every purchase needs your approval. Roblox also has its own spending limits in parental controls.

Put the money toward something real

Cake, an iOS app in development, is built for the impulse moment: put something you'd actually want on a cake sized by its price, $5 a slice. Every pull or bundle you skip fills slices while the money adds up in a virtual jar.

Common questions

How do I stop in-app purchases on my iPhone?

Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions → iTunes & App Store Purchases → In-app Purchases: Don't Allow.

Can I get a refund for in-app purchases?

Often, yes. Request one at reportaproblem.apple.com for iPhone, or through Google Play for Android. It's not guaranteed.

Why is gacha so addictive?

It uses random rewards, the same mechanism as slot machines, plus limited-time offers and near-misses that make the next pull feel like it could be the one.