To not buy new school shoes?

[Soymocha]

DS still fits into his school shoes which he wore before they broke up for summer. Yes, they are a bit scuffed but otherwise in good condition. No holes or tears and still fit with a half cm gap. DH thinks I'm being stingy not buying a new pair for start of school in a couple of weeks. I just don't see the point. I think it makes more sense for him to continue wearing his current pair until they are worn or no longer fit, then we get a new pair. Okay, he isn't going to have shiny new shoes for start of term but he doesn't care, nor do I. His uniform is a combo of new, old and secondhand and we haven't bought anything new as they still fit. So not sure why the same logic doesn't apply to shoes. Who is BU? Growing up, I only had new shoes purchased for me if I needed them as we didn't have much money so I appreciate that I've never grown up with the tradition of new academics year, new shoes, pencil case etc.

YAB totally U as are most people posting - as pp said 1/2cm is not enough - please read this:
www.mykentfamily.co.uk/primary/checking-your-childs-shoe-size-158283/

In this house new shoes are for when they are no longer fit for purpose (don't fit, are broken, not suitable for activity) not some arbitrary date in the calendar
Same goes for uniform, bags etc
We have been conditioned by advertising that we 'need' to buy new every year - people need use some common sense and break free from this nonsense - the shops want to buy new for their profit margins, doesn't mean it's an actual necessity
If they are a bit scuffed - try a bit of shoe polish, I'm surprised how many don't polish shoes any more.... they come up looking much better, even if you only do it once for the start of term

1/2cm gap is fine on existing shoes that article is about buying new shoes which should clearly have room to grow

As long as the OP keeps an eye on the size and replaces when there is no longer any room her child will be fine

If they were in excellent condition then yes but not scuffed. I would keep them as spares.

we replaced school shoes in may, they still fit, so they get worn. he’ll get new ones when the old ones are outgrown!

MIne had new shoes in May, after a growth spurt. He'll be going back in those. They may not last the whole school year, but shops sell shoes all year round!

I didn’t buy either of my kids new shoes. The eldest needed new ones in June just before the end of term, so he can wear those til they fall apart which won’t be long as they were quite cheap and the youngest had Clarks around Feb time and they still fit and are in good condition. They didn’t get new jackets either and if I had my way they wouldn’t have got new bags either but my husband bought them. It’s just a waste if they don’t need them.

What if you buy new ones and he has a growth spurt? They might only last a few weeks. I buy school shoes only when they are needed. YANBU.

I only buy new school shoes when needed. It's not like they only grow in the 6 weeks of the summer holiday

Just give them a good polish so they don't look scruffy on the first day back. Yanbu. Buy when you need them.

I do buy in September but only because they have been outgrown. I think they spend the summer term or at least the last half of the summer term in shoes that are too small but have stretched enough to keep wearing. This year we went for trainers the first week of the holidays and got measured and they were a definite full size up from their school shoes last summer. I have bought cheap supermarket/shoe zone type shoes in the summer term if they’ve got really bad but I’ve always found cheaper shoes don’t last long anyway - even patent leather it starts to peel.

I should also add I do the same with their uniform. I buy new in september and it’s usually looking short/tight by Easter so I buy gingham dresses for the summer terms. So come September they get new winter uniform but have gone back in the summer dresses if the weather is nice. This year though my eldest has outgrown her summer dresses very quickly so will definitely be gong back in winter uniform - well, skirts and socks.

Weirdest post. Buy shoes when You need them. What's this arbitrary buying of shoes for a new academic year. They will be scuffed in a week and no longer be new anyway. Seriously??? People do this???? No one I know does. Do people buy new shoes for a new job or when they join a new club or hobby group too? Weird.

If they still fit no point buying new ones and that goes for the rest of the uniform. Also if you buy Clark’s they usually have a sale around December time so if you’re able to wait until then you’ll be able to get them cheaper.

Eh?
What a weird idea?
Why on earth would you buy new school shoes before the current pair are either outgrown or worn out?

Dd is starting her 4th year of secondary and still has the same school shoes as the first day of secondary. They still fit and are in good condition so she doesn't want or need new ones. She'd prefer to spend money on non school shoes.

YANBU

I took DD to Clark’s to have her feet measured for new shoes but when they measured her feet they hadn’t grown since I bought her last pair at Easter. ‘Excellent, that’s saved me a few quid, thank you’ I said. The woman looked at me like I was crazy but why on earth would I buy her a new pair if she doesn’t need them?

School shoes get polished regularly here so get replaced as and when. It's much more civilised shopping for school shoes outside of "back to school" time. My kids' last school would set up a shoe shine station at the front entrance from time to time and kids arriving with scuffed/dirty shoes would be sent to clean them. We are not in the UK btw so no parents moaning about their kids' human rights being violated 😂