10 parents share the things they regret spending money on

Not everything is worth the money, according to some parents. Flickr / Andrew Knight

  • There is pressure for spending money on your kids.
  • Redditors share what they wish they hadn’t spent money on.
  • It includes tutoring, Halloween costumes, and toys.

One of the hardest parts of being a parent is the pressure you feel to “keep up with the Joneses.” Whether it’s the fancy stroller, the exclusive private preschool, or the $800 prom dress, there are some expenses parents realized simply weren’t worth the cost. These Redditors share some of the things they regret spending money on for their kids.

As always, these are just for fun as INSIDER can’t independently authenticate the stories.

Some parents regret spending so much money on newborn outfits.

“They grow quickly.” Dash_med/ iStock

“[I regret buying] too much newborn clothing. They grow quickly. Fortunately, we bought most of our newborn clothing used, so we didn’t spend a fortune. But at one month old now, he’s already outgrown several outfits. A few of them were only worn once.” – Redditor wrightmf

Paying for early childhood tutoring is a regret some parents have.

“His little sister had nothing, and learned it all in Kindergarten.” Nadezhda1906/ iStock

“My stepson had preschool [tutoring] and knew how to read, write and his numbers a bit before entering Kindergarten.

“His little sister had nothing, and learned it all in Kindergarten. She’s now at the top of her class. Most kids entering school level out together after around six months where those with no prior education have caught up.” – Redditor joyb27

Some parents said that baby toys are a waste of money.

“You don’t need to spend hundreds on a 1- to 3-year-old in terms of toys and games.” Shutterstock

“I would say a lot of baby toys [are a waste of money.] You spend hundreds on certain flashy, expensive gifts that just sit unused in the corner, and then they play with that trinket you picked up from the pound shop all the time. I know it’s a bit cliché, but my experience so far is that kids often just want to play with the cardboard box, so to speak. You don’t need to spend hundreds on a 1- to 3-year-old in terms of toys and games.” – Redditormrbasilthebrush

An NYC tutor said they meet a lot of parents who regret spending money on private schools.

“Admissions officers at highly competitive colleges compare students from the same school and region directly to each other.” Getty Images/Christopher Furlong

“Keep in mind that if you have aspirations of sending your child to an Ivy or equivalent college, it can sometimes backfire to have kids who are middle of the pack (or worse) at elite high schools. Admissions officers at highly competitive colleges compare students from the same school and region directly to each other, and always have lots of applications from the top high schools.

“I’m a tutor in NYC and talk to a lot of parents who regret spending tons of money on private school thinking they were a gateway to the Ivy Leagues, only to have a kid who looks mediocre in comparison to his closest peers and only gets into his safety schools. ” – Redditor supcaci