20 Things That Kids Do That Costs Their Parents Money

Parenting is one of the most amazing and rewarding experiences, but it can also be frustrating since children are extremely expensive. Children sometimes do the silliest and most random things, often costing their parents money to undo their mistakes. Here are sixteen things every little kid does that cost their parents money.

1. Flushing Things Down the Toilet

There's just something about the toilet that catches the attention of little ones. Kids love flushing things down the toilet: toys, keys, trinkets, anything they can get their little hands on. But this typically leads to serious plumbing issues that can be expensive. Secure your toilets with child safety locks.

2. Losing Jewelry

Children love dressing up with their parents' jewelry and accessories. However, since small children don't yet understand the value of fine jewelry, they commonly become careless and forgetful. Keep all valuable jewelry away from where children can reach.

3. Wasting Food

If you have a small child, you've probably prepared a meal they've refused for one reason or another. Children are notoriously picky and often refuse meals, causing their parents to prepare something else. Simple things like this can really add to the grocery bill over time. Encourage children to try new foods and expand their pallets.

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4. Leaving Lights On

Children will often go from one room to the next, forgetting to shut off the lights when they no longer need them. Lights staying on and unused all day can significantly increase their parent's electricity bill. Remind children to turn off the lights that aren't in use.

5. Playing With Makeup

If you have a makeup collection and a small child in the same household, you're almost guaranteed to need to replace your makeup at some point. Kids love to play and experiment with makeup, and unfortunately for their parents, this can be a costly game. Secure your makeup and ensure kids have their own art supplies.

6. Eating All Snacks in One Sitting

Never hand your small child any snacks unless you want them to eat them all. Children don't regulate themselves the same way adults do. They commonly eat all their snacks in one sitting if they aren't being monitored.

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7. Spills On Electronics

You should never give a child a drink near electronics you aren't prepared to lose. Spills are commonplace with young children, but if this happens on or near your electronics, these can cause damage that's costly to replace or repair.

8. Drawing On Walls

Kids love drawing and painting on books, papers, and even walls. It’s how many of them express their creativity. While parents often admire their children's artwork, it leads to repainting expenses when it's on the walls. Always monitor your children whenever they have art or drawing supplies.

9. Playing With Toilet Paper

There's something intriguing about toilet paper to little children. They'll often undo the entire roll and flush most of it down the toilet. While this might be a fun game for kids, it can lead to clogged pipes and plumbing issues. Always keep an eye out for what your little ones are doing in the bathroom.

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10. Breaking Home Decor Items

Vases, picture frames, and other small trinkets aren't safe in the presence of little ones. While playing and running about, it's common for children to knock over home decor items, accidentally breaking them. Keep any breakable home decor pieces away from little ones.

11. Using Too Much Shampoo or Conditioner

Every child gets to an age where they believe they can do things independently and will take the initiative to wash their hair while in the bath. But children will typically use too much shampoo and conditioner, literally washing money down the drain. Secure your shampoo and conditioner away from where small children can reach.

12. Losing School Supplies

Even school-aged kids have a tendency to be careless. Children often misplace their pencil cases, stationery, books, and more, resulting in their parents having to buy replacements time and time again. Teach children the importance of taking care of their school supplies.

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13. Making Accidental Online Purchases

Shopping online has become so much easier in recent years; some sites even have the option to buy with one button. So many parents have come into the issue of their young children making online purchases without them knowing until the package arrives on their doorstep. Always monitor little ones when they're using your devices.

14. Washing Electronics

While older kids tend to shy away from chores, many little ones are happy to help their parents around the house, though sometimes this could have disastrous results. Regardless of how sweet their intentions may have been, washing electronics, especially those that aren't waterproof, will lead to expensive repairs and replacements. Explain to your kids the importance of respecting other people's belongings.

15. DIY Haircuts

Children are such curious people. They won't think twice about attempting to cut their hair themselves, resulting in the need for a trip to the hairstylist. It's so important to keep scissors away from small children.

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16. Broken Windows

Accidentally broken windows are expensive to replace, but they're very common with young children. Playing ball inside the house can lead to broken windows. Always ensure children have a designated play area and access to play outside.

17. Misplacing Socks

Kids love to misplace a lot of things – toys, school supplies, homework, and even clothes. Kids tend to leave their socks everywhere to the point they don’t know where they put them. When kids misplace their socks, parents have to go buy more for their kids.

18. Wasting Water

Kids sometimes leave water running for no reason, and this can cause the utility bill to skyrocket. Educating your kids to turn off the water when they no longer use it will help them into a routine. No one wants water to be running forever.

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19. Broken Glasses

Kids are not responsible, so when they have glasses, you know it’s either getting lost or broken. While they are not responsible yet, you can teach them a few things about taking care of their glasses because glasses are not cheap.

20. Missing Keys

Kids love to play with a lot of things in the house. Have you gone to work late because your keys decided to go on an adventure with your kid? Finding your keys can be difficult when you don’t even know where to start. However, replacing a new one is more costly.

Cindy

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She started her blog, The Money Dreamer, when she realized the 9-5 job was not the lifestyle she wanted anymore. After designing for a while, she wanted a more meaningful life, which was freedom, so she decided to venture out. She took action so that she can live her dream life and decided to help people to live theirs by helping them how to save, budget, and invest.