The end is near and�school is almost upon us!
However, before we get to the finish line, there is still�a few weeks�to go. If your children’s shoes are starting to wear thin then it is a good idea to take the break to buy a new pair. Buying new shoes shouldn’t be something you have to do every school term (unless your child is growing at the rate of a super hero) but it is a good idea to purchase a pair of shoes designed to go the distance and last your kids throughout the term, the summer and into the next school year.
Ensuring the Right Fit�
As I was happy to discover at most�shoe stores, it costs nothing to have feet fitted for the right shoe, and it only takes only a few minutes.
There are a lot of tricks when it comes to selecting the right shoe for your feet, as I learned during my shoe fitting. If you can push your whole finger down to the sole in front of the foot, it’s too big. If your child is in between sizes (current is too small, next size up is too big), look at going up a size and putting in shoe inserts or using thick socks.�One other point to remember is that different brands of shoes will fit differently, so it depends on your child’s foot as to finding the best fit. Some brands are better for wider feet; some are good for high archers. A good fitting shoe will last longer than an ill fitting shoe.
Taking Care of Your Shoes and Making Them Last
The average shoe will withstand 1,000kms of walking in its lifetime which is around six to twelve months.�When you are spending $50 to $200 on a pair of shoes, you want to keep them looking great. So, here are some tips from SAHMs:
- Keep the shoes out of the weather (ie not at the bottom of the trampoline or out in the rain)
- Try and encourage your child to undo their laces before taking off their shoes – this stops too much wear and tear on the eyelets.
- Get a good shoe lube or polish. Give the shoes a good going over regularly – especially the toe area where it tends to get scuffed.
- If your wardrobe is damp, use a few chalk sticks or dehumidifiers to keep out the mould and mildew.
- Believe it or not, but shoes like to be worn. Regular use of the same shoes keep them supple (especially if they are leather). If shoes are left unworn in the cupboard, they tend to go brittle over time.
Think Comfort
We’ve all had to wear a pair of shoes that leave your feet aching and blistered at the end of the day, and often, you are only walking around an office! Now, think about all the activity your kids do – running to the bus, climbing at the park, playing sport, throwing the ball in the backyard, racing after the dog…It’s critical that your kid’s feet are being protected.
What’s your best tip for buying kids�shoes?
Responses to “How To Buy Kids Shoes”
Don’t just go for the cheapest, buy the best quality you can afford. It’ll work out cheaper in the long run.
Grab a coffee first to get the energy started and then have a list and do it all in one days shop. This saves time and patience.
Have your little one make their own list that is identical to yours so that they can check it off as well, they find it fun as it gives them a bit of responsibility and you can even add things on there like have some lunch or take a ride on the escalators. Tried and tested, works like a charm.
Do a clothing swap.
This is a great way to save money. If you have friends who have
children, see if you can pick through their old clothes, and ask if they
want to take a look at your kids’ old clothes as well. It can save quite a bit of money..
Dont take the kids shopping with you if you can help it!! It will save a lot of stress and money
Buy during the back-to-school sales and buy the best quality you can afford! (and buy a few sizes up while the sales are on!) It’s your children’s well-being you’re investing in!
Take advantage of the School Book Packs you can buy through your school. Saves you time and sometimes money because going all around the shops looking for certain items is time consuming and ends up costing you more money. This is especially helpful if you have a few school aged children to shop for.
Be prepared and have a plan. Compile all lists to one big 1 add all you need. And read catalogs. Do all you can without kids of possible. Let kids help in choosing shoes… then they will love them more.
have a big bottle of wine ready for you when you get back from the shops
Cheap isn’t always cheaper. Don’t skimp when buying a school bag, otherwise you will be replacing it each semester or worse, every term. We used to buy cheaper kmart backpacks and found the zips would pop or the bag would wear a hole in it. I was told to try surf brands by a family friend as they are far more durable. So far my son’s Mambo backpack has stood up to a almost a full year of punishment. If the zipper holds up, he may well have it for multiple years which will make for huge savings. We’ve also found that neoprene pencil cases stand up to multiple years of use, so if you buy something generic and not preschool-y they last many years.
Sort
through last year’s supplies to see what is left over or can be reused
(donate whatever can’t be used books/uniforms to others) to. Such as
pens, to school uniforms, not only are you recycling, you may also help
out others who can’t afford new uniforms. You’ll defiantly no your wants
from your needs
The best back to school shopping tip is exactly that. Wait until the little darlings are back at school and then go shopping. Try to remember the 3pm pick up time though.
Buy in bulk, shop early or even buy extra the year before, get your children involved in helping, and spread it over a week
I shop at the beginning of Term 4, all the summer stock is in, my tax is usually back and I miss the ‘back to school’ rush. I also study from home, so stationary purchases are a regular event, so every time I find a bargain I stock up and hide it for later 🙂 hottest tip: get cheap stickers and cool lens to store in a homework box…gets homework done at my house every time! Good luck mummies 🙂
A WELL THOUGHT OUT PLAN IS BEST FOR TACKLING THE ‘BACK TO SCHOOL’ SHOP! RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH!! SORT THROUGH THOSE ENDLESS CATALOGUES TO FIND THE BEST BUYS FOR YOUR TRIBE AND THEN WRITE UP A SHOP BY SHOP LIST! DON’T ATTEMPT THE SHOP AT THE END OF A LONG DAY WHEN BOTH YOURSELF AND THE KIDS ARE TIRED, BUT RATHER, SHOP IN THE MORNING WITH A FUN FAMILY ACTIVITY PLANNED FOR LATER ON TO KEEP EVERYONE MOTIVATED!!
I usually buy 2 pairs of shoes, t-shirt, jumpers and trackies, one in the size that fits and one in the next size up, that way I’m getting something that we like and during the year sometimes the right cloths are unavailabe
the best tip is go with your gut….if the kids are with you shopping, and they are want want want, then go and buy the shoes, but if they are hot, tired, hungry, and complaining…take them home and do it without them ! 🙂
I make sure I check out all the junk mail for what’s on sale. Work out which store has the most bargains and go there so I’m not wasting fuel on driving around.
Invest time to find a good quality,
comfortable pair of shoes for your child. Their feet will love the TLC, they
will last the whole school year. Mum’s hip pocket will be happy too.:)
Leave the kids at home ! Go shopping alone 🙂 buy durable back packs , rescue anything from last years supplies . Always look for specials and go easy on the school clothing .
Pick your time of day for shopping. If your kids are freshest in the morning, go early before the shops get busy. Have a list & plan the order in which you will visit shops. Plan breaks along the way (food breaks, play in the playground, etc). Save the best break (reward) for last, after all the shopping has been done.
make a thorough list before you leave the house so you know exactly what you need and where to go to purchase it.
Know what you want, where you are going to get the best quality/prices, if taking the kids be prepared to be flexible with their choices-they are going to be the ones wearing them after all & they need to be comfortable or they just wont wear them!
Make a list of what you need and how much before you go shopping
I try to do some of my shopping on-line, this allows more time with the kids..
When we do go to the shops, there’s not as much to buy.. Although I do make time for shoe fittings instore, as the experts at Athletics Foot know we they are doing! We always have time to play in the playground and have a special snack!!
Do it all in advance when there are sales! There will always be some things you have to get outside of sale periods, but not as much.
Leave the kids with hubby and run
My best back-to-school shopping trip is to be organised, have lists, check the sales and specials, tackle it in the morning before everyone gets too tired (except shoe shopping when needs to be done in the afternoon so the child’s foot has expanded) but most of all be kind to yourself and don’t overstress about it. It really won’t matter too much if the student doesn’t have their sticky-tape or their new socks a few days or weeks late.
wait for the sales or buy beforehand
Go towards the end of the day to get a perfect fit for school shoes
I give two choices to my child of the item to be purchased (which i consider is acceptable), its a win for all 😉
Buy your own stationary rather than the school pack! Generally cheaper and most of the time they still have last years unused!!
Don’t skimp on decent shoes. Yes, you can buy cheap shoes but they aren’t as comfortable and wear out much quicker.
Bags, hats, sunglasses and even shoes can all be found at op shops. It will take a bit more time to browse the options, but quality is generally fine and the prices are totally amazing! Pay $5 for a $30 backpack – terrific!!! I recommend making friends with your local op shop manager. They’ll generally be happy to help you find specific items. And give them your shopping list (well in advance) – there’s no telling what treasures you’ll find.
I buy stationary all year round somthing that you pay $2.00 for in back to school sales I can maybe get for half that during the year,have save heaps doing this way.
I try to get the back to school shopping done as early as possible to avoid the rush.
Avoid back to school drama and kaos, I have older kids so if a fitting is needed for shoes etc I go late night shopping Thursday or Friday with the promise of a brought dinner after if all parties are well behaved. I have no problems with bribing my kids . If all else fails online purchase in the comfort of your own home
Get someone else to do it!!
Officeworks, certain Newsagencies and various other stationery supply stores have a free service in which you drop off or email your list and pick up everything once they have picked and packed it for you. Can’t get any easier than that.
DON’T try to do everything in the one day. Plan ahead so you don’t have one big mad scramble at the end. It’s NOT pretty!!
Ring your friends and arrange to take turns babysitting each others children,so Mums can shop in peace.
Also if you have to take the schoolies for new shoes leave tiny tots with someone,they get bored and we all know what bored littlies are like. 😉
If you can’t take your child with you shopping, draw around your chil’d foot on a piece of paper so at least you can buy shoes to their exact size/ slightly bigger
Buy during the stocktake sale!
I found talking with my friends who have children younger then mine helps as I may be able to sell them some of my childs old books at a second hand price. It helps them save a little and any money I get can go towards this years books. I have also done this with uniforms. I know its not a lot of money but every little bit helps 🙂
Stock up at the beginning of the year for all your school needs, use catalogues to compare prices and chat to other mums in higher levels about things you might need etc.
Hold off on your urge to get everything for your child at once, selecting only a few items of clothes and supplies before the first day back. By waiting a month or two after school has begun, you will not only save money on discounted clothing, but will have a better grip on what your child wants, needs and likes as well. Before you venture into big retailers checkout the “$2 shops” and online first.
Send DAD!
Give the kids a couple of dollars each week for school banking. At the end of the year you have enough in there to buy their back-to- school book packs.
Wait until after the Back to School sales when they are throwing out the remaining stock at below cost prices to stock up for the following year
Do it early to avoid the crowds
Leave the kids at home and do the shopping without them – wins every time!!
I shop at KMART, they always have Terrific Back to School Bargains, its the best and they always have different items, My Kids get all their back to school books , pencils and anything else that is needed for no more than $20 each!
Tell dad and the kids you’re all going out for the day, somewhere fun like the movies. Arrive at the shopping centre and hand dad and the kids a list. Tell them if they don’t get everything on the list the internet will not be returning to your home. Then go and pamper yourself with a day at the local spa and beauty salon because out of the 365 days in the year you’re allowed to have one, one day that’s all about you, one day where you can think about yourself first, one day where you know things WILL get done without you, because if it’s one thing you’ve learned, your family cherish the internet 🙂
I take each child separately to go shopping for School outfits and accessories as they love the one on one attention. They really enjoy feeling special for that day and being able to chat about whatever they feel is important at that time.
Don’t forget to buy markers or name tags so you can identify all your children’s goodies!
Go just after a meal, so breakfast or lunch. The kids are full, wont ask for food, will be nicely behaved. Dont go late in the day when they are tired and possibly grumpy.
Arrive in time for the shops to open, that way you’ll be the first one in there, and will hopefully be the first one out again!
Good Music and relaxing bath for mum, Yummy healthy snacks and cuddles for the kiddies.
Bring pepper spray, don’t let the other mums get YOUR kids shoes!
Ditch the Processed Snacks, and just Go Natural, Make it Fun with Fruit, and It’s so much cheaper, and because it’s just the fruit shop, No Long Lines 😀
have everything ready the week before because if its anything like me, the day back to school is chaos and you are surely to forget something!
Write a list and check it twice
Tick it and check it to ensure suffice
Kids love shopping as much as head lice
Take one child at a time, don’t dare a roll of the dice
Remind the kids capture ALL and to ensure really nice!
Go on a Sunday afternoon, after lunch. You will all be full and relaxed, and shopping centers will be less busy. Don’t forget to take a list!
Plan ahead with a list of things you need and try to get most things done without the kids, if possible, otherwise, don’t drag the kids around the shops for more than a couple of hours at a time, or they get bored and chaos ensues!
Explain to your children before you go that it is a shopping trip to get school supplies and not a trip to get toys. Sit down and write your lists together and ask what they used all the time last year. I found that if the kids knew what they needed, they could help search the aisles and they kept their focus. They each carried their own lists and baskets and afterwards we had a great celebratory lunch and checked out our bargains.
I have no tips for other mums but I’m sure you will feel the same, i do lists for their school books and pencil cases but I forget things like buying paper bags for packed lunches orGetting fresh bread and running out of milk the first day of school, I cry when I drop them off, it’s not my fault, I’m a MUM Once I even forgot to pack my daughters lunch until the school rang. I laughed and i cried… but nothing will compare to the laughter of our kids the moment they get home from school and tell you about their first day.
Be brave MUMS , you can be prepared for everything but it’s ok if you forget.
When there’s not much difference in price I prefer to buy from small, Aussie businesses rather than big department stores. Let’s support the locals.
Don’t leave it to the last moment, there is nothing worse than finding the perfect item, like awesome school shoes, only to be told it sold out in your required size last week!!!!
If you have little girls, watch Cinderella before going school shoe shopping… instead of being fussy and uncooperative, they will be desperate to find the shoe that fits and prove they’re a princess!!!!!
lots of water ,try not to stress
Remember it’s only once a year you have to address
So grab your list and off you go
And they’ll be back at school before you know.
I always buy 2 pairs of the same shoe because my son seems to often come home with damaged shoes from being a typical boy and its never a problem because I have the spare pair ready to go!
Order iron-on name tags and stick-on labels then have ONE ALMIGHTY LABELING SESSION while the kids watch a favourite DVD. Very satisfying!
When buying school shoes,
Buy only the best,
Quality shoes outwear the rest,
Athlete’s Foot, a fit you can’t refuse,
And like your child when homework’s perused,
They’ll always pass the test!
Enter great competitions like this one 😉