[mitty82]

How much do you spend on your kids school shoes?

Do you go for the cheap ones from big w/kmart/target?

Do you go to a shoe shop and get them professionally fitted and spend a decent amount on shoes?


I just wonder this after an FB question and a few comments of parents saying they have given up and are just buying cheap shoes instead of spending a decent amount.

I used too, but found they either didnt last or my daughter found them uncomfortable. This year I had to buy 3 pairs, 2 pairs for my daughter(black dress shoes, and joggers) and 1 pair for my son(joggers). I spent $180.00 all up on the 3 with a 20% discount (so would of cost me over $200 without a discount). We went and got them fitted as I have done for the last 6 years.

If you dont get decent shoes why not?

I know that I cant wear cheap shoes asthey hurt my feet and they throb at the end of the day....so I dont buy myself cheap shoes and my childrens feet are growing so want the best fitting shoes for them.

[~sydblue~]

I buy the cheaper black dress shoes, only because they only wear them on special assembly days which is maybe once a month.
I spend more money on their runners, because they wear them almost every day and then DD13 also uses hers for fitness work outside school.

[Chookin]

I have bought cheap and I have bought expensive and either way we have gone through at least 3 pairs. Until last year and I bought a pair of lynx black joggers about $70 for ds and what do you know they lasted all year. Am getting them again. Dd got an expensive pair of t-bar type and they lasted not even 2 terms before sole cracked in half. Not even thinking about getting school stuff yet though!

This post has been edited by Chookin: 02/01/2013, 08:18 AM

[~Mo+Moosh~]

Last year (FYOS) I spent $100 on a pair of leather Clark's for DS. Honestly for the cost the quality wasn't that great.

This year I'll still spend decent money and get them professionally fitted but we're going to look for a more runner style in the hope they last a bit better.

[Semantics]

I had to buy 3 pairs this year - all were $120 with 20% off. My eldest went through 3 pairs of shoes last year - so rough on them . Regardless I do not buy cheap shoes as their feet are still developing and it is crucial for them to have well fitting, supportive shoes.

[mitty82]

I have bought cheap and I have bought expensive and either way we have gone through at lest 3 pairs. Until last year and I bought a pair of lynx black joggers about $70 for ds and what do you know they lasted all year. Am getting them again. Dd got an expensive pair of t-bar type and they lasted not even 2 terms before sole cracked in half. Not even thinking about testing school stuff yet!

We buy the lynx because i know they can last a year unless they outgrow them. THe dress shoes we a significantly dearer $99 not discounted. Im not even talking about expensive just the middle ones I guess. We need them for band and two days a week when my daughter wears the formal uniform.

[soontobegran]

It's been 8 years since I bought school shoes but I always spent a lot of money having them fitted and getting good quality ones. I have no idea whether the quality is still the same.

IME they lasted all year. I ensured that good leather shoes were cleaned and polished regularly as this helped preserve the leather. If you treat them well, they last longer....scuffs can get a coat of nugget over them

For me it was worth the $80-$100 (as it was back then) than paying $30 and having to replace them every couple of months.

[mitty82]

I guess I seen the big w and kmart catalogues with $10.00 school shoes in them and wonder does anyone ever buy them?

Yes that reminds me have to buy protector stuff for the shoes helps with the wet weather which is what i found that wrecks shoes faster.

Even the amount I spent for 3 shoes isnt that bad really....but some people bawked at it saying you spent that much.

[Bella_a1]

For DDs FYOS of school we got her the Clarks black joggers, they lasted the full year and DS wore them all last year to Kindy. They are still going strong and if it wasn't for DS dragging his toes when riding bikes they would be perfect. For Year One for DD I bought her Clarks velcro dress shoes, they as well are still going strong and now DS will be wearing them this year as they still have plenty of life left and DD has grown out of them. The dress shoes cost about $89 and I reckon I have had my moneys worth out of them, I will definitely be getting her Clarks again.

[Nanaimo Girl]

DD's school has never required "school shoes as such", they've always been happy for the kids to wear runners.

DD has very hard to fit feet so I have to get her fitted at Athletes Foot. Not only are her feet constantly growing, but she plays ALOT of sport so we go through a pair of runners a term. It's not unusual for me to be shelling out around $900 a year just on runners for her.

If not for her foot problem, I'd have no dramas about buying Kmart sneakers for her. I buy them for myself and they're fine.