School lunch can get expensive sometimes, and parents need to set reasonable budgets for how much their kids can spend.

What would you do if your father gave you $20 per week for school lunch, but when you called in sick sometimes, he got upset if you then used the ‘extra’ money for treats?

That is what happened to the student in this story, and he feels like he is well within his rights to splurge when he is able to save money from calling in sick, since there is rarely enough food in the house.

While he shouldn’t be calling in sick to try to save money, it also isn’t fair that he doesn’t get enough food. Read through the full story and see what you think.

AITA for spending school lunch money on other food?

I’m a senior in high school and I struggle a lot with my attendance.

Is $20 really enough for a week’s worth of lunches at school?

My dad expects me to use $20 a week on school lunches.

Last week I went out with my friends after eating very little all day (because there was very little food in the house) and bought some pizza with money I had leftover from missing school for a day.

He really shouldn’t be missing school as a way to save money.

My dad is mad now, saying that I should only be using the money he gives me for lunches and nothing else, and he won’t give me any more than $20.

If I miss school/skip lunch to save up for something nice every now and then, he’ll expect the $20 to last longer.

Why is there so little food available?

So essentially, if I try to save by skipping meals I still don’t even get to use it for something nice.

We never have nice food at our house. It’s all junk and food that is reserved for dinner so I can’t eat it.

Maybe this wasn’t the smartest use of money, though.

For those curious, I saved $3 to buy a latte last week and now I’m in trouble for it because it’s not school lunch.

AITA?

Missing school because you want to save money is not a good idea at all, of course. But his parents should make sure he has enough to eat, too.

Check out what the people in the comments have to say about this situation and what they think he should do.

This person thinks he is slightly out of line.

Here is someone who recommends getting a part-time job.

Raising kids is expensive, that’s for sure.

If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about a sister who refuses to give up her own holiday traditions to spend the day with her family at her brother’s cabin.

Lunch money is not intended for a latte.

This person points out that it is not his money.

It wasn’t his money to decide what to do with. If he needed money for extra things, he should get a part-time job, or ask his father for an allowance.

In addition, he really needs to stop calling in sick to school so often.