Many women (and now men) have a decent shoe collection in their closet. As parents, we know that after spending lots of money on clothes for our kids, shoes can come in a close second for the family budget. Between growth spurts, general wear and tear, and special events, kids can change shoes faster than Vin Diesel drives in Fast 6! One of the smart money move habits we can all get into this year is thinking about using different strategies to reduce our shoe costs. Here are five of my tips on how to keep light on your feet while keeping your cash in the wallet.
1) Buy Out Of Season– With most items we buy in life, buying during the peak season is primarily when you will pay the highest dollar amount for anything especially shoes. Most parents will begin the process of stocking up on school supplies and running their children over to the shoe store to pick up a new pair of kicks in the beginning of August. However, if you can hold off on having all of the latest and greatest for the first day of school, you’ll find a slew of deals about a month after school starts with significant discounts. This is also true for the adults as well as kids, and the key for us is that it’s likely our shoe size isn’t going to change!
2) Use Discount Websites– Especially for kids, you’ll probably want them to try a shoe on so you know it has the fit that they like as well as the style. However, if your child (or you) isn’t too picky, there are many fantastic websites that offer shoe discounts. Websites like www.zappos.com, www.6pm.com, and www.shoebuy.com are all good quality discount shoe sites. There are some sites that cater to buying higher-end shoes and some that focus on lower end shoes. It’s best to check a few of these sites to compare pricing before you make a final purchase.
3) Two For One Shoes– Since many business environments have moved to a more ‘business casual’ setting, one strategy that I have used is to look for shoes that can serve a two-for-one purpose. When it comes to dress shoes, the real consideration is whether these shoes will look professional enough for the work environment but also be dressy (or fun) enough for going out on the town. In some cases, spending a little bit more money on a pair of shoes with this strategy can actually save you money in the long run.
4) Military Surplus or Consignment Stores– If you’re looking for boots, Military Surplus stores can be an incredible option if you have a store in your city or neighborhood. Whether it’s work boots, magnum boots, or rubber boots, you’ll usually find a really good selection at a reasonable price. Consignment stores continue to have a larger selection of shoes if you aren’t too grossed out by wearing shoes that have been on the feet of someone else. In some of those stores, the shoes may have only been worn once or twice particularly for an event like a wedding and don’t have much wear and tear on them.
5) Check The Clearance Rack First– Whenever you go to a brand name department or outlet store, make sure to go the clearance rack first before you start shopping in the store. Although there will generally be a limited selection in specific sizes, there may be a pair of shoes that jump out at you with a big discount attached to them. Many of us will shop for neutral color shoes, but in the clearance rack you may find an off-color set of shoes that can mix and match with other clothes that you have in your closet.
These are some of my tips for how to save money on shoes. What is your number one way to buy shoes on a ‘shoestring’ budget?
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