How to Save Up Money to Buy Something Without Parents Knowing

Author Info

Last Updated: March 2, 2026

There's something that you want to get, but your parents won't approve of it for a variety of reasons, and you don't have enough money, but you want it anyway. This article will show you how you can get it anyway (and the risks involved).

Steps

Download Article

1
Consider the risks of what you are buying. There is probably a reason your parents won't let you get what you want here, and it is probably a good one. Are you trying to buy an M-Rated game or an R-Rated movie? If you are young, understandably, they might not want you to have one of those. Consider the risks of what you want and if it is worth the trouble.
- No matter the case, don't buy drugs or alcohol if you aren't old enough to purchase them. Supplying alcohol to a minor is a misdemeanor and can become a felony if things go south; getting caught by your parents and getting grounded would be the least of your concerns.
2
Decide how you are gonna save up money. Are you planning on asking your parents to give you an allowance for doing chores? Or are you thinking of doing work (Like tutoring younger kids, babysitting, selling stuff, etc.)? Are you old enough to get a real job? All of these things will help you earn money and also show your parents your responsibility.

Advertisement
3
Do your work to earn the money. If you start to feel demotivated, remember that you have a goal at the end of the line and use this to motivate you to keep going, whether you get a job or just do some chores.
4
Plan how you will obtain the item. Getting the money is only the first half of the battle. Now you need to obtain the thing you want. Make sure your parents are not able to access your bank statements if you use a card, or won't notice if there is some cash missing from your wallet. Purchasing in a store is probably safer, but online shopping is possible with some liberties taken.
- If you choose to purchase online, use a gift card for the specific store if possible, as it is harder to track back to you personally.
5
Go with a friend. If you choose to purchase your item in a store instead of online, it may pay to take a friend with you. If things go south, they can take the item from you or say it was a gift, and your parents may feel more comfortable letting you go to a store with a friend than on your own.
- Make sure your friend won't tell anyone who might tell your parents, such as their parents.
- Purchase something your parents will approve of at the store, so it doesn't look like you came home with nothing from your parents' perspective.
6
Have an online order delivered somewhere else if possible. If you have a friend who will let you order to their house, do it. It is safer than going to your house. If you have access to a P.O Box or an Amazon Locker, you could use those as well. If you have to get it delivered to your house, track the item like a hawk, and try to get to it as soon as possible.
- Check the mail regularly before and after ordering the item so it doesn't look like you randomly checked the mail for no reason. You can also tell your parents you are gonna get mail for them.
- You may be able to use a fake name in case your parents see the package so they don't figure out you ordered it.
- Some parcels may require a signature from an adult (especially high-value and age-restricted items); please ensure you carefully read the postage details before ordering.
7
Only use your item when it is safe to do so. The perfect saving plan, then acquisition, can be ruined if your parents see you using your item. Avoid using it in front of them (or anyone likely to snitch) and find a good hiding place. You don't want it to be in an obvious location (like under your bed); instead, choose a less obvious location, preferably somewhere your parents don't have access to.
8
Use your common sense. This sounds obvious, but it needs to be said: keep secret phones on silent and out of sight, dispose all physical evidence (receipts, etc.), delete all digital evidence (emails, etc.), and obviously don't use it in front of your parents.
- Furthermore, don't use the steps in this article straight after your parents said "no" to what you want.
9
Take care of your item. Secret clothes need to be washed, phones need to be charged, toys need to be out of the way, the list goes on. Have a plan to address these issues in a way that won't get you caught straight away. Will you be able to charge your phone overnight or at a friend's house? Will you be able to "sneak" your secret clothes into the laundry, or will you have to do it yourself?
10
Keep your item secret. Make sure it is in its hiding place when it isn't safe to use, and make sure that your parents won't see you using it or taking it in or out of its hiding spot. Keep your item on a need-to-know basis; if someone doesn't need to know about it, they don't get to know about it. The more people who know about the item, the more likely the word is to spread to your parents! Especially if it is someone like your sibling, or family member.
- Remember that not everyone is as trustworthy as they seem. If in doubt about their trustworthiness, you shouldn't tell them.
- Treat it as something transient/clandestine; if someone sees it, it disappears.
11
Have a contingency plan. There is always a chance that things will go south. Whether this means getting caught or not being able to hide it where you thought you would, have a backup plan ready, so if it does happen, it isn't a major problem. If you get caught, say that a friend gifted it to you or another similar excuse (make sure the friend knows that this might happen, in case your parents ask their parents).
- Remember that getting caught lying, however, can severely damage trust with your parents, and at minimum, you will probably have your item taken away.
- The same excuse probably won't work a second time, so be selective with your choices.

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

When you get to the store, bring extra money with you to buy extra items so your parents don't get suspicious or go to the store when they aren't home.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Try to talk to them about the item; they may be willing to get you the item as a reward.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Delete this page from your history in case your parents look at it.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

There is never a fully 100% guarantee you won't get caught. Even if you follow every step and are extra careful, your cover could still get blown.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Don't tell anyone who doesn't need to know about your item. You never know who they might proceed to tell, who might subsequently snitch to your parents.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Trust is the biggest thing on the line here. Buying something when your parents said you shouldn't is directly going against their word, and they will use this against you next time you ask for something. This isn't a good habit to get into often and should be a last resort.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0