photo by DrStarstruck
Priscilla asks:
We are a family of 8. Our children ages range from almost 15 to 9 months old. So, every penny we can save does add up.
I was wondering where best to find good quality shoes for the lowest price? Do shoes usually go clearance certain times of the year?Our oldest has gone through shoes faster over the past 2 years and it is becoming discouraging to shoe shop.
Since we only have younger children, I can’t speak from experience on how to get larger sizes of children’s shoes for great deals but I will tell you our secret for getting small sizes for great deals–consignment sales!
I don’t know that all areas have great consignment sales, but in our area, there are regularly large consignment sales put on by groups of moms. We have purchased the majority of our girls shoes at these. I can often find name-brand shoes in very good condition for $3 or less.
I also recommend consignment stores, thrift stores, and garage sales for little kid’s shoes. They seem to be plentiful and cheap. Best of all, you can usually get good brands in great shape.
That’s just what has worked for us so far, where do the rest of you snag shoe deals?
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JBF-Just Between Friends Sale-check out this link to see if there is one near you.
http://www.jbfsale.com/home/
I just bought 2 brand new looking pairs of Stride Rites for $6 each. Their sale has saved us sooooo much money with clothing/shoes. I also consign-this fall I made about $400 consigning our last 2 years clothes/toys, and this just for one child. LOVE JBF!!!
Until last year my #1 place to get quality children’s’ shoes was from eBay. My son had an extra wide foot and Stride Rite was the only brand that would fit him. Funny story~I had bought a lot of SR shoes when my son was 18 months old. We loved them and it was a terrific deal. When he was 3, I could not find any shoes anywhere at a good price. My husband suggested that I email the same mom and see if her son had outgrown any of his shoes. By golly if she wasn’t about to list 3 pairs of SR and 2 of them were new! I was able to exchange the new pair at Macy’s because she still had the exchange sticker on it. What a deal!
This past year someone told me to go to Dillard’s when they had their clearance after Christmas. I did and I got SR and Tevas for 80% off! Needless to say, he has shoes for a couple of years now. I know of no other store that marks down that much. Maybe check them out now since it is the change of seasons. I will be going by there soon.
Oh, and I agree with everyone, consignment stores and garage sales area also good places to look. You never know what you’ll find.
Trust this helps ya!
Just after school started I got my 10 1/2 year old’s shoes at the local Goodwill. Goodwill takes in the clearance items from Target and various other stores. I bought her one pair of brand new converse tennis shoes, one pair of brand new puma’s and one pair of brand new adidas all for $4.99 each!! She wears a size 8 1.2 to a 9 1/2 women’s shoe!! Happy shopping!
I used to work at target so I can tell you there Shoes usually go on clearance 2-3 times a year. 1st about october-november before people start buying dress shoes, and about 10-6 weeks before easter. The biggest clearance sale usually comes sometime in early summer because they are preparing for their new back to school sales. My son is Autistic and will only wear shoes with his favorite character on them I stock up on clearance. This year I bought his next 6 sizes for 3.24 a piece brand new!
I buy shoes for my kiddos mostly from the Kids Swap Meet. There are several different ones hosted in my area, and they are generally on Saturday mornings, in school or community center gyms. They are basically one huge garage sale, but all focused on baby and kids items. I love it!
If I can’t find shoes there, then I try thrift stores or regular garage sales. If all else fails, Walmart usually wins out, unless I am able to get to an outlet mall in the States (I’m Canadian- we don’t have good outlet malls!).
I love Target clearance and Walmart. Walmart is almost always cheaper and better for cheap boys shoes. Target has cuter shoes but they are a little more. I watch for clearance and buy a season ahead. I recently got clearance shoes for my 5 yo girl and paid less than $2. Now late cheap is a rarity but usually no more than $6. And of course I pass down what I can but usually all dress shoes.
My kids are 20, 15, 11, & 8. I learned to get them good new pairs of shoes buying those off season a sz ahead. I tape the register receipt inside the box, in case the shoes get damaged or torn- many stores will allow exchange with original box.
Watch for clearance sales at department stores that do sunday paper discount coupons like JC pennys outlet you can grab when things are on sale and stockpile for later. Get in the habit of buying an extra pair a full sz larger when you find a hot deal.
The outlet malls are also the best place to pick up tennis shoes adult sz 13 and up. Our thrift or resales don’t carry sz 14 mens for my older sons. I buy my 8 yr old dd shoes in the womens dept. I just bought her good leather sandals for next summer for less then $10 a pair at the Nordstroms outlet.
Hang in there! IME a 15 yr olds feet are almost done growing. Then they will just wear your shoes -while they are driving your car-
Ebay has shoes sometimes even new ones for less than new prices. They have a way to search by size also. Also if you want to earn cash back for your purchases on Ebay cpoy and paste this link in your toolbar http://www.bigcrumbs.com/crumbs/landing.do?=LooktoJesus&s=6834
Every purchase on Ebay and many other merchants gives you cash back each month if you click through the above site first. Also you can earn money by sending out referals.
I’ve found good quality Stride RIte shoes at the consignment shop and Goodwill. (For less than $4/pair) We also have a Stride Rite outlet near us, so we go there and get the shoes on clearance for $10-$20. Kinda pricey, but they are such high quality shoes, it’s worth paying the $5 over the Target/Walmart prices in my opinion. Usually we go with the used shoes though!
We tend to just let them go barefoot or in flip-flops or slides when they are young (under school age)…Flip-flops fit when they are too big, fit when they fit, and then still fit when they are too small so they get worn for a longer time. I am not a fan of “supportive shoes” for littles. I figure barefoot is healthiest and just use shoes for fashion. 3/4 of mine have narrow feet, like me, so not many styles fit, but we do look to Target first for shoes, they have such lovely styles for very good price, and occasionally we find some that fit.
For school shoes, I buy each daughter one pair of sneakers a year and hope they fit all year.
I find that Target’s clearance prices are great. A couple of times a month I scout their clearance racks for kids clothes and shoes as well as clothes for me. If one of my kids will need dress shoes or tennis shoes ect. in the next 6 months I can predict the size–usually up 1/2 a size– and buy them. I don’t usually spend more than $5 for shoes there. For some reason the standard clearace price seems to be $3.24. I also only look at their 50% or more off racks–30% off is not cheap enough!!
We get shoes for our boys at different places. We get play shoes at garage sales (in larger, nicer areas where they spend good money on their shoes) and if those garage sale shoes are in good shape they may become their good shoes! We also get new shoes at Steve & Berry’s and Meijer. At Steve & Berry’s everythings always below $9. and at Meijer we have got a lot of really nice shoes stocked up for next year already. They mark their shoes down and have them in one area. We have got water shoes (really nice ones), nice leather sandals, and 2 different types of dressy-er tennis shoes (they look very good with dress pants). We have been able to find shoes from these sources so far, and the same sources even have adult shoes too. So, great penny pinching options for the whole family! ,
I have two boys and it seems to me that used boy shoes are hard to find. I think boys tend to wear their shoes down. My best finds have been sales/clearances @ The Children’s Place & Toys R Us. At The Children’s Place I’ve bought shoes as little as $10/never more than $13 and Toys R Us $3.00/never more than $10(not infant either). You are allowed to use coupons on clearance items @ Toys R Us. Also, I would NOT recommend Wal-Mart, Target, etc. for boys. I bought shoes from there for the first two years for my oldest and he would wear them out in 2-3months. I would have to buy the same size 2-3times! I have never bought shoes from there since I found such good quality for little at “name brand” stores.
Consignment stores, 75% off at Target or Kohl’s, and garage sales! I will only choose used shoes that are barely worn.
I don’t know if anyone has a daughter with large feet! That has really been a challenge the last few years for me. She is 14 and is now almost a “Ladies 14″ – she may be a 13 1/2. Yup, when she was 11, she was a “Ladies 11″, then 12, she was a “ladies 12″, then 13, she was a “ladies 13″ and so on. We are hoping it stops at size 14. We have heard that. Anyway, I don’t find much of anything over a size 10 or 11 at thrift stores…. so usually I only find her size at Nordstrom Rack OUtlet. But they are pricey- even on sale. Payless has some that you can order online but have not been pleased with the arches on these shoes. If anyone knows other places to get large size shoes- and at a good price, I would love to hear! Thanks so much,
Nancy
Stride Rite shoes are the only ones that have ever fit my 7-year-old son well, and they are my favorite for my 1-year-old daughter. I have gotten SR for my son from amazon for $15. I also use shoebuy.com and shoes.com. You can usually find great codes, and you can earn points at mypoints or cash back at ebates from your purchases. I also get shoes from Children’s Place and Target if I can find some that fit them.
I agree with the Target posts…i got a pair of pink champion sandles for $1.74 …i buy all of my sons and daughters shoes/clothes on clearance at 75% off for the next season….usually pay anywhere from 98 cents to $3.24….love it!
My kids have wide feet, so I rarely find shoes at consignment or thrift stores. I buy them one good pair of leather shoes for school and church each fall. I get shoes that can be polished to keep them looking good. This is expensive, but the shoes wear very well. I also buy them one pair of inexpensive sneakers and a pair of inexpensive sandals for summer. I never had more than 2 or 3 pairs of shoes as a child and I do the same for my kids.
I found a bunch at Target 75% off so around $3 or less a pair.
Well….if only Children’s Place and Target shoes would fit my DD. Unfortunately, she’s been blessed with super wide feet. We go with Stride Rite for the majority of her shoes, but I do my best to purchase them at the outlet (or ask grandparents!). However, for dress shoes or ‘cute’ shoes for specific outfits, I go with Kmart’s Thom McAn. I have found them to be the cheapest shoe I can find with the most flexible sole. Anything I have tried from Payless or other inexpensive brands have been really hard for her to walk in. They are also a decent leather shoe. They’re on sale this week for 30% off, so I was able to get a pair for about $12. Soooooo much better than paying the $50 it would take at SR.
With 7 kids, I have tried to find people with kids that are older than mine, and without younger siblings coming along. I simply ask them if I can buy any shoes that their child outgrows. So far, they have all said sure, and no one has wanted anything for them. They seem to be glad to have something to do besides throwing them away. We live in a shamefully wasteful time!
I have two boys and have always had a hard time finding boys shoes used. So, for the first two years of my oldest, we always bought from wal-mart, target, etc. He would go through those shoes in 2-3 months! I would buy like 2-4 pairs of shoes in the same size easily b4 he’d move up! When I realized how much I was spending, I checked out Toys R Us. (someone had recommended but I brushed it off) I’ve bought shoes there for as low as $3 and no more than $10. You can use coupons on clearance items there (for some reason I always thought You couldn’t LoL). Also, Children’s place, if on sale, I’ve bought shoes there as low as $10. The key I’ve found is to check often and be on the look out for the next size up and of course coupons & clearances. They do not wear the shoes out at these stores like he did wal-mart,etc.
A few months ago, a website went out of business, so all shoes were $2 or $3. I bought 18 pairs in all different sizes, so she’s set for years! They are great quality & so cute. I also look at Other Mothers if I am looking for something specific, and Target has their knockoff Robeez on sale for $10 sometimes, so I have bought a pair for her there, too. I am a shoe fanatic, so her collection is beginning to look like mine!
Our local Toys R Us will run additional 50% off clearance priced shoes in late December/early January and again in Late July/early August. I have gotten Rebok and Nike tennis shoes for both my sons for roughly $10/pair. I also have found other shoes for under $7. I try to buy ahead (as best I can). Our KMart just had an additional 50% off clearance shoes and they had last year’s winter boots for $3. I keep my eyes open and always scan clearance sections to see what is available. I try not to wait until it is urgent to get new shoes. If I can plan a little bit ahead, I find I save more money.
My 3 year old has extra wide feet (I call him SpongeBob Square Feet!) and I only have success with Stride Rite shoes. They are hideously expensive but I found http://www.Endless.com to be a great source of SR on sale. They have sale shoes at all times (many different brands) and FREE overnight shipping! Yeah baby! I usually get his shoes for $15 to $25 which is an excellent deal for Stride Rite – plus no sales tax and free shipping!
I identify with Nancy G’s comment above. My older son always had shoes the same size as his age! At 14 he had gotten up to a men’s 14W. I was praying that his feet didn’t get any bigger, since anything larger than a 14 is very hard to find, and special order shoes are outrageously priced. Well, he’s 15 now, and his feet haven’t grown for the past year, although he’s gotten several inches taller. He still needs to grow another 4-6 inches to fit into his feet. I think it’s fairly common for the feet to grow first, then the rest of the body catches up. (My 13-year-old son is only in a men’s 12, so we call him little foot.)
I shop at thrift stores, garage sales for my own shoes, but I’ve had very little luck at those places since my boys got into men’s sizes. I usually buy their shoes at outlet stores, with occasional buys at Payless.
I buy shoes at consignment sales. Like Boutique For A Week. They have hugh selection and great prices. They only accept like new, so check them out. http://www.BoutiqueForAWeek.net
I buy my son’s shoes at consignment sales, outlet stores, Amazon, anywhere I can get XWs! (he can only fit Stride Rites usually so I just keep an eye out all the time, and buy bigger sizes when they are on sale or end of the season)
After he grows out of them, I sell them on ebay and usually make three or four times what I paid. If I love the shoes I’ll hold on to them but I figure if I can keep buying cheap and selling for more, I might as well save the storage space by shipping them off!
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