Children's Shoes

[cattledog]

I just can't get over the price of kids' shoes. Not the cheapo plastic ones, but the high-quality leather shoes. This past spring, I bought my DD one pair of neutral leather sandals. This was her only pair of shoes this summer. She wore them every day and they are worn out. Before buying these, I bought a cheap pair of sandals from Target. She wore them about a week or two, but the synthetic materials used for the shoes produced such bad foot odor, that I went out and bought the expensive neutral pair. I'm happy with the shoes, but I'm not happy about the price. I’m not sure the cheap shoes are really that cheap. They still cost $20+. The nicer shoes (i.e. not *designer*, but sturdy well-stitched leather shoes) seem to run around $50-60+. That’s a lot of a pair of kid’s shoes. The nicer shoes cost seem to have a lower cost per wear though. For the fall, I'm leaning towards buying just one pair of high-quality shoes that she can wear with everything. Her feet seem to grow slowly, so I think they will last until the spring.


I do have to buy snow boots every year. I bought this year’s pair last year on clearance. I bought them a size bigger than I thought she would be, but she is already that size now, so I hope they still fit. It might have just been a waste of money though.

How do you handle your child's shoe purchases? Do you just buy the cheapest pair since they only last a season? Do you buy multiple pairs (rain boots, snow boots, casual, dress, etc.)? Do you purchase clearance shoes for use next year?

[domestic goddess]

For my grandchildren, we usually by moderately priced shoes, and watch for sales, which are plentiful at this time of year. They have to have gym shoes (left at school), so we also buy a pair for home use, and usually a pair of "dressier" shoes for church, etc. I agree, kids' shoes are expensive, especially considering that they usually outgrow them before they wear them out.
Oh, I forgot, we do buy snow boots, which last year were barely used. But we will do it again this year, because if we have a usual amount of snow, they will need them to walk to the bus stop, etc. And they love to play outside in the snow! So I don't really see a way out fo this expense. I don't usually buy shoes a year ahead because their foot growth isn't that regular.

[Mrs-M]

I gave up on buying cheaply-made shoes for my kids (a long time ago). I don't have an unlimited budget for shoes (or anything else for that matter), but some things are just better purchased "quality", and then at least, fit, comfort, and last-ability, is included.

Speaking of clearance sales, me and clearance sales are best of friends! LOL! But seriously, I have (on many occasions) been rewarded with "two pairs for one" during such sales, and that has allowed me to buy for two kids rather just one.

One thing I do to help ease the pain Re: replacement things, i.e., clothes, footwear, etc, is I practice a school/dress wardrobe, and a play wardrobe. When the kids get home from school in their good clothes, before they are allowed out to play, school-wear has to be taken off and hung-up, and play-clothes pulled-out. This way, things like runners and stuff, get used strictly for play, and their good-stuff is reserved for dress only. It really helps.

Additionally, with such a large family, we always seem to have a pair or two of boots or shoes around that someone or another grew out of, thus, I am able to pass down.

Also, Cattledog, keep an eye on sales through the likes of Sears, and other large retail stores. With Sears, they always seem to have sales on footwear, and at the end of day any/all savings I reap add-up!

[cattledog]

I should check out Sears. Honestly, I haven't been there in ages. She already has a pair of athletic shoes and I'm going to just buy one pair of dressier shoes. I hope that will get her though the fall and winter. There doesn't seem to be a cheap option though. I checked out the thrift shops and they didn't have much in the way of kids' shoes. I suppose kids aren't exactly gentle on them.

[artist]

I always bought my son high quality shoes. After all, his feet were still growing and developing, as where his legs and it was important to have the proper support for his feet. I also never purchase shoes for him to grow into as you never know how their feet will change over time. I bought him one pair of everyday casual shoes, one pair of sneakers and one pair of boots in winter.


I just can't get over the price of kids' shoes. Not the cheapo plastic ones, but the high-quality leather shoes. This past spring, I bought my DD one pair of neutral leather sandals. This was her only pair of shoes this summer. She wore them every day and they are worn out. Before buying these, I bought a cheap pair of sandals from Target. She wore them about a week or two, but the synthetic materials used for the shoes produced such bad foot odor, that I went out and bought the expensive neutral pair. I'm happy with the shoes, but I'm not happy about the price. I’m not sure the cheap shoes are really that cheap. They still cost $20+. The nicer shoes (i.e. not *designer*, but sturdy well-stitched leather shoes) seem to run around $50-60+. That’s a lot of a pair of kid’s shoes. The nicer shoes cost seem to have a lower cost per wear though. For the fall, I'm leaning towards buying just one pair of high-quality shoes that she can wear with everything. Her feet seem to grow slowly, so I think they will last until the spring.


I do have to buy snow boots every year. I bought this year’s pair last year on clearance. I bought them a size bigger than I thought she would be, but she is already that size now, so I hope they still fit. It might have just been a waste of money though.

How do you handle your child's shoe purchases? Do you just buy the cheapest pair since they only last a season? Do you buy multiple pairs (rain boots, snow boots, casual, dress, etc.)? Do you purchase clearance shoes for use next year?

[fidgiegirl]

It'd be sweet if you could hook up with a set of families, or maybe even one other family with a DD older than yours and one younger than yours, at least to pass along things like the boots, which would easily last more than one season if they were quality boots, but just are no good to you if they no longer fit your DD. I'm also thinking for things like Mary Janes or other little-worn shoes. Even those gym shoes left at school - if they are mostly used inside and only on (in most schools) some school days, they would likely remain in good shape at the end of the year. Just an idea! Maybe it's easier said than done to actually make a good connection with another family. But it seems that it only takes one.

[Tammy]

Sometimes, my kids' gym shoes became their summer shoes when school got out for the year.

[mara61]

What timing for this post! We just did shoe shopping this weekend. I buy the boys gym shoes at Target ( the inexpensive ones, these with a coupon were $16 each, they stay at school). I bought new snow boots last year from Lands End, like most others on here, hardly used. I hope they fit, but I can resell them and get back almost what I payed on sale (Lands End boots have always resold very well for me. I payed $18 for each pair). We bought everyday sneakers for both boys, baring a crazy growth spurt they will make it till April. They need to wear dress shoes to school and church, I usually look at Target and JCPenney for those (still c. $20), my oldest needed new soccer cleats this year and is going to be running track so shoes for that. I have two pairs of shoes left to buy, one pair of brown dress and another pair of running shoes. The everyday sneakers get the most wear so I am great full when they make it to the spring. It's a lot of miles on those shoes. The cheapest nicer sneakers we saw were $40+. My husband now ges why it costs so much for shoes a the end of summer. At the end of school their sneakers become their summer knock around/camping shoes.

[cattledog]

I just purchased my DD's fall shoes. Oof- they were expensive. She has hard to fit feet (very narrow), so there were only a couple of shoes that really fit her feet properly. Oh well, a sunk cost. I'll make sure she takes good care of these and I'll just have to cut the grocery budget a little bit these next couple of weeks.

It would be nice if I knew someone who could pass shoes down to her. Although it does seem like kids really do wear their shoes out by the time their feet outgrow them.

[maribeth]

I am kind of embarrassed to admit that DD has spent most of the summer in a pair of dollar-store flip flops (hey, we live near the beach!). That ought to offset the cost of school shoes, playing-in-the-mud shoes, ballet and tap shoes for the fall.

[awakenedsoul]

Have you tried T.J.Maxx? I get excellent quality shoes for myself there, on clearance. I've found Merrill hiking boots for $25.00. They retail for $100.00. I just re sole them. I'm going to look for a pair of sandals there this week. If I check regularly, I can find the shoes I need, and they last me for years. (I'm an adult, though. So my feet have stopped growing.)

[Rosemary]

For kids' shoes, snow boots, and clothing, I am on the Lands End email list. About 4-5 times/year they have everything 30% off - and this includes their sale/clearance stuff, which is a screaming deal at an extra 30% off. I can usually get shirts for $5, pants for $8, snow boots for about $15. We pass everything on to friends but have never had friends with a daughter older than ours to receive hand-me-downs from. They don't have sneakers, though. I often buy those at Kohl's when I they are on sale and I have a 30% off coupon there.

I buy stuff for DD when I find it on clearance racks and stash it in a bin on the top shelf of her closet. When she is outgrowing her current clothing, we get the bin down and see what is available in the next size.

[Tussiemussies]

The only thing about having only one pair of shoes to wear ever day is that they usually do start to smell. Maybe two pair and a pair of sneakers...?

[Tussiemussies]

Great idea Rosemary!

[cattledog]

For kids' shoes, snow boots, and clothing, I am on the Lands End email list. About 4-5 times/year they have everything 30% off - and this includes their sale/clearance stuff, which is a screaming deal at an extra 30% off. I can usually get shirts for $5, pants for $8, snow boots for about $15. We pass everything on to friends but have never had friends with a daughter older than ours to receive hand-me-downs from. They don't have sneakers, though. I often buy those at Kohl's when I they are on sale and I have a 30% off coupon there.

I buy stuff for DD when I find it on clearance racks and stash it in a bin on the top shelf of her closet. When she is outgrowing her current clothing, we get the bin down and see what is available in the next size.


I agree about their email list. I'm on it too- I got a lot of DD's winterwear for this year that way. It's a great way to buy expensive, warm outerwear rather inexpensively! I have no problem putting DD in a coat that is too big. Plus I may get an extra year out of it. I do the same thing with clothing too. I buy almost all her clothes at garage sales or on clearance and stash them in a big drawer in her dresser until she can wear them. Shoes I have a harder time with since I have no idea what size she will be next summe or next winter. I've just decided to fork over the money for good shoes- at least the ones she wears regularly.