How do you budget for kids shoes?

[whatnow40]

I didn't see this coming and needed to get new school shoes, trainers, plimsoles, and 2 x football boots this month. I only have 1 DS, how do other people manage?

I buy bigger sizes on sale in advance or use a catalogue so I can pay it off afterwards

If you are really struggling then speak to school. In my school the family worker can help and give out shoe vouchers for school shoes.

Football boots are always really good on ebay second hand - so many boys grow out of them so quickly you can get some really good ones unused.
Trainers the same.

Trainers come from Sports Direct at around 25. Plimsols from Asda under a fiver. School shoes M&S around 30.

Why two pairs of football boots?

I suppose the best way is to squirrel a set amount away for shoes per month (5er,10er). Alternatively, order through a catalogue and spread the monthly repayments?

Has he outgrown the lot in one go?

I buy next size up in the sale. Start rite always have really good sales and I buy next size up school shoes and put them away. Same with winter boots, trainers, sandals etc. Buy out of season as good much to pay all in one go full price.

He outgrew then all within the space of 2 weeks. DS has strange feet and goes through stages of being very narrow to in the wide side, so I can't buy shoes in advance/online. I have to get them fitted each time.

I got school shoes and trainers from sports direct for £20 each. Pumps from ASDA for £5 and football boots from eBay for £6 and £10 plus postage. £68 in total I hadn't budgeted for this month.

He needs Astro turf sole boots and studs as his team play twice a week. At the moment it's indoors in the evening but outdoor at the weekend. In the summer I should be able to get away without Astro turf boots, or at least delay replacing them.

It just got me down and I wondered how others manage.

But you can buy a Clark's foot measurement thing from their website and measure your child's feet at home. That I what I have always done and works fine for ordering online

Go to places like street. Outlet stores

I brought 3 pairs of achool shoes for £70.

Shoezone, especially big retail ones are great for bargains, especially plimsolls. I get my eldest, who's feet have settled somewhat, hush puppies and walking boots for scouts there too at a discount. Youngest gets decent quality Clarks at a third off shop prices. They do half sizes and definitely think about going a size up if they have broad feet. Modern shoe sizing is very random.

@whatnow40 you don’t need two separate pairs of boots for footie. Just get plastic studs (blades) and you can use them on Astro too.
Look on pro direct for boots do much cheaper

I got everyday trainers for my youngest there (Shoezone) for 4.99 and they're absolutely fine. Look smart, wearing ok. No idea on football boots but I think you've got the right idea on eBay or local Facebook groups as they grow out of them so fast.

www.prodirectsoccer.com/p/adidas-kids-predator-194-fg-silver-metallic-core-black-red-firm-ground-junior-boots-204511/

These perfect for Astro and grass

Decathlon do very reasonable trainers, but I empathise my son has odd shaped feet, so every time requires a fair number of try ons before we find something that fits!

You can often get second hand football boots etc from the actual club he plays at, our local club sells loads for £5 a pair. There is real snobbery about using second hand shoes but I always did for my
DS & he got to county level at his chosen sport. I have never bought Clark's or similar, the marketing for children's shoes is so clever that everyone assumes they have to buy Clark's - you really don't need to.

I stock up on Astro boots and footy studs in sales/fb sales/charity shops. The girls in DD’s team swap boots a lot, but DD has the biggest feet!

@Ragwort, marketing is the only thing Clark’s are actually any good at!

Thanks for all the tips.

We need Astro boots as well as he plays indoors in a sports hall, as well as indoor Astro in the winter, plus outdoor grass pitches if it's not deemed too cold by the league. I think I've done it as cheap as I could have done, just wish I could have staggered it over 2 months that's all. I haven't even thought about wellies or sandals yet, it's just gonna have to wait.

Amazon sometimes have half price

Sainsburys are good when 25% off but quality is iffy

Otherwise, ebay is your friend.

I sympathise OP, with regards to budgeting I put children's shoes in my budget and allow for 4 pairs per year per child, 2 school and 2 trainers, I have five children and this is an essential part of my budget, I also budget for clothes too

Personally don't t go for half sizes. One size up at a time is enough

It's not an unknown cost so start budgeting for it monthly. 20 per month, 15 whatever you pay over a year divided by 12.

Eventually you will have a pot if money sat there but at first you may still need to add money from other places, if he grows quickly.

You should do this for all so called unexpected spends as actually they are not unexpected. Kids grow, yearly bills like mot and insurance happen yearly, xmas and birthdays are yearly, etc.

Another handy tip is that you can use Quidco money and get 10% extra in Clark's vouchers. Good for a skint month!

I only pay £17.99 in the deisch (whatever it’s called) shoe shop. No need for leather, he’s not going to work or anywhere fancy. That or as others do, buy larger sizes in the sale.

My DD doesnt like school shoes and she wears all black Nike trainers to school, £20 from Sports Direct.

Plimsolls are 2 pairs for £5 in Shoezone, that fit her narrow feet.

Tu, M&S & Tesco were all to wide and I wasted 2 hours of my life shopping for them

I buy the next size up in the Sale usually for the Nikes.

I buy my kids' shoes second hand on eBay. I know, I know, many would not countenance this, but the world seems full of 'worn twice' quality school shoes which end up costing £2.67 + postage and show absolutely no sign of wear. Now oldest DD takes adult size 3, loads of hardly worn Clarks, Sketchers, Kickers and Hush Puppies etc which will pass for school shoes but are loads nicer also go for a song.

Also eBay often has shoes that are barely worn, it‘s not just used shoes .