Spending £32.99 on my boys new trainers?

[LiveLoveLaugh87]

So was chatting with my MIL last night, sent her a pic of some trainers I ordered for my little boys. Stupidly the price was on there 32.99 (2 pairs at that price, and a pair for £21 for my youngest) her response was ‘bloody hell love they’re expensive, that’s a bit much to be spending on trainers isn’t it? I’m sure you could’ve found something much cheaper!’

I felt pretty insulted by this and laid in bed last night justifying it to myself, the boys desperately need new trainers as there’s are bordering to small now, and they are the only other shoes they have other than their school shoes, they should hopefully see them through the summer at least. I work hard and earn my own money, we don’t live a luxury lifestyle and aren’t in a position to splash the cash on unnecessary items as she well knows, I see spending a little more as an investment in what will hopefully be a decent pair of trainers that I’m not going to be replacing a month down the line. They were only from Sports Direct, and these days I’d say £30 for a pair of trainers is pretty cheap.

I really wish she would think before opening her opinionated mouth sometimes!! Have I spent too much? Is it excessive? What would other people spend on trainers/shoes? TIA

Yuck, tell her to mind her own! In a polite way. lol.

If it's £32.99 on trainers for a 2 year old, expensive.

If it's £33 for a 12 year old - not too bad

Maybe you wouldn't be quizzed on every little thing you buy if you stopped sending her links to them?? Grow up, you sound like a 10 year old.

You sound a bit dramatic OP! I think YABVU to think anybody actually cares how much you spent on trainers!

@MERLYPUSSEDOFF you need lightweight waterproof hiking shoes (look like trainers) - Salomon are good. If they play a lot on grass the waterproof features help the shoes last longer as even if it isn't soaking wet grass is often damp. Hiking shoes are way stronger than most trainers but the lightweight trainer style ones as requested still good for climbing and football.

Cheap or expensive, dc2 destroyed any shoe in a week tops til we started buying the lightweight hiking shoes, and they last til outgrown (though admittedly they look scruffy if he goes more than 6 months between growth spurts, they don't fall apart).

I've just spent £120 on trainers for dd3 (thats three pairs, two for sport and one for fashion but still)

Are you young? WHY DO YOU CARE PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS LIKE THIS!!

She needs to brace herself for when they are teens - your trainer spend then will be eye watering

I think when she picks at you you should just go with it, big grin, no attempt to justify and and a cheery comment about not liking cheap things

• not sure where "as requested" came from, didn't mean to write that!

I fondly remember the days my dds were happy with trainers from George at Asda.
For the last couple of years they will only get them from the likes of JD. I promised youngest dd, 13, a pair as a reward for being brave during recent painful knee surgery and they cost...£140

Just a word of advice OP, I have made it through three kids and to the ripe old age of 50 something without telling my MIL, my DM and pretty much anyone in RL what anything I've bought for myself, my kids or my house costs.

She only knows how much they cost because you showed her.

Same with your shopping, don't give her the stick to beat you with.

My boys are 7, 5, and 3. When I was ordering them I pointed out to my OH that one day wel be spending better part of 300 on trainers once they’re all old enough to have their own tastes. I’m not snobby but I’m not in a position to keep replacing them every month cause I’ve only got cheap ones which wear through quickly.

I definitely will take from this that discussing these sorts of purchases with her is definitely not the way to go in future. I don’t really think about it while we are talking, she sent me photos of some bits she had bought and I sent her screenshots of the shoes I’d bought. I’m 30, and not a dramatic person at all, I just don’t know how to take her and her opinions sometimes. I don’t feel anyone should have the right to make me question my own decisions even when it’s something as basic as buying my children new trainers.

I went into Clarks yesterday and the shoes all seem to have gone up in price - they wanted nearly £100 for a pair of ladies shoes, and even the ones that were supposedly reduced by 60% were down to 'only' £40-£60!

I didn't look at the kids' shoes, so I'm not sure what they were going for but I'm damn sure they would be more than £30.

Shoes, house prices, cars etc - all these are no-one's business but your own. I have a very dear friend who never fails to tell me about his latest purchase, or the fact he spent x amount on another house purchase/new car etc and I find myself thinking 'So what?' It just comes across as crass to discuss money all the time, and it's no-one's business but his. I get he is allowed to have an opinion on the cost of things but to constantly discuss money and compare prices is boring and gets on my nerves.

Path ha ha. I just bought indoor football boots for DS(8). They were £57 he will wear the twice a week for an hour and at his growth rate be out of them in 6 months. His studs 😱 I wouldn't even put on here what they cost. So no £35 is not a lot.

'Well fortunately for me I work and can afford it'.

I just spent close to that on my 2, I would have loved to have spent less, but spending less is not worth it if they aren't fit for purpose. Both DSs have slightly pronating feet, and they need trainers which are supportive. As it was I think the boys tried on about 8 pairs each before I found ones good enough but not too expensive. Can't do that in ASDA or Primark.

geek while they're growing fast and still in kids sizes things like indoor football boots which nobody wears for many hours are worth looking at on eBay.

I’m not one for really discussing money, we don’t have a lot of money or expensive things to brag about, but every time my MIL sees or hears about something new it becomes a discussion.

I’m dreading the days my boys are in high school and needing football boots etc, costs are going to hike up! Saying that though I suppose wel be fortunate enough that my eldest might not ruin them so they’ll be good for the next one etc. I’m not ashamed of admitting I make the most of handing down what I can between them😂 perhaps if these trainers I’ve ordered aren’t ruined then they might get some extra use!

You need to shit down discussions of money around your MIL.

Just smile brightly and say “we budget carefully, it’s up to us what we spend our money on and we’re happy with our decisions”

Shut down obvs

It's entirely up to you but I personally don't spend that on my boys. I was looking for some Astros for my DS (8) at the weekend and was shocked at the price/low quality and lack of retail outlets on a city high street. Ended up buying a pair he fell in love with in an independent sports shop. Warriors for £15. Now they really do last well (last pair did both boys) so I was more than happy.

you're an adult and you are allowed to budget and spend exactly as you want. Tell her to do one.

I spent a ridiculous amount of money on my twins nursery bedding because I liked it and I wanted to and its noone elses fucking business.

I spent £45 on some Bobux Shoes for my almost 3 year old last year. I think £32.99 is pretty reasonable.

I'm a MIL and nanna and I don't think for one minute that £30+ is expensive you pay for what you get and would you like your child in some cheap man made trainers all day I certainly wouldn't.
I will always contribute towards trainers/school shoes and let the mum decide which my DGCs have.

£50 are not expensive for trainers at all. MIL always bought shoes, boots and sandles for ds when he was small. She would think nothing of spending £30-£70 on each of them. So it's not an age thing at all.
100% more expensive last a lot longer, in our experience. We used to buy 'cheap' trainers to play in- £20ish, we could get through 4-5 pairs a year. Especially playing on the scooter where the soles would wear through in no time.