We poured thousands into cheerleading instead of my daughter's college fund. I don't regret that choice.

The author (right) has invested heavily in her daughter's extracurricular activities over the last decade and has no regrets. Courtesy of Katie Barton. I spent thousands on my daughter's activities instead of putting that money in a college fund. Cheer and gymnastics taught her discipline, hard work, and commitment to long-term goals. She may have to take on student debt, but I don't regret investing in her confidence and growth. My oldest daughter is entering her senior year of high school , and instead of adding savings to a college fund to send her off to school, I've invested heavily in her extracurricular activities over the past decade. This choice hasn't always been easy and required careful deliberation, but now that she's in the final stretch of her high school career, I can safely say I don't regret my decision.