Buying quality vs. frugality--shoes and undies? - Page 2

[Free Thinker]

Stride RItes here, too. I just spent $55 for both girls a pr of shoes, I think shoebuy.com had 20% off and I picked the cheaper ones. Not bad IMO, but my kids' feet also don't grow a whole lot at one time. I buy them a bit big. My kids have really skinny feet (like me!) and it's hard to find narrows. I give up and just buy on-line when they need them. FOr undies, I have bought Gymboree ones for my older DD b/c they don't have the stupid ridge seem in the crotch (WHY do companies even make these!), and she was having issues. My younger one doesn't seem to care so I just get cheaper ones for her, but when she gets bigger if it's an issue I will buy the more expensive ones b/c of the ridge seem issue. They irritate me to no end, and I refuse to let my kids be irriated by them, either If it's in the budget and you can afford it, I think I'd spring for the shoes, and shop around for some cheaper undies than Hanna, but still the quality and no seem!

[cedoreilly]

Do you have a Stride Rite outlet near you? I buy my kiddos sneakers there for not more than $15-$20. I got my DD sandals there last summer (B-day present) for less than $10. Shoes is the one thing I don't skimp on.

Underwear.... I buy Hanes and Fruit of the Loom multipacks at Wal-mart (hiding my head). I have yet to have anyone complain.

[aircantu1]

Is there a Stride Rite outlet near you? Or a Marshall's or Ross? I've found Stride Rite shoes at both places. And supposedly the pre-walkers shoes (on the end cap, size 5 and under) on the end caps at Target are made by Stride Rite.

Also, if you go to Stride Rite first to measure the feet, then buy that size on Ebay, it should work fine.

I'd definitely just buy Hanes for the underwear.

[kalisis]

We don't skimp on shoes, even if money is tight. Even when I was a kid and my parents had NO money, my mom still bought us quality shoes (we only had one pair at a time, but still, they were quality). I second shopping around - ebay is good, watch amazon, etc. I also buy a size in advance so I'm not scrambling, although DS's feet have grown a lot this summer and we've gone through several sizes in only a matter of months. I also measure their feet every chance I get at the higher end stores - I know what sizes they wear and so can shop. I second a pp's suggestion about keeping a list on ebay so you get notices.

On underwear, I LOVE Hanna, but I just can't justify spending that kind of money. I don't buy myself expensive underwear either, so I guess, it's just a value. I don't skimp on bras, but underwear, bah, I buy whatever is cotton and cheap.

[wednesday]

I only buy good shoes for my son, but he never has more than one pair at a time. A lot of people have multiple cheap pairs, yk? I'd rather have one good pair.

[azzuranotte]

I don't know where in NJ you are, but there is a stride rite outlet in Jackson. I got dc's shoes there for about half the price of the regular store. They have a smaller selection, but the same quality shoes.

[eldadeedlit]

Personally I try to go for quality w/ shoes... Underwear... ehh. You could try Goodwill actually... or freecycle and see if you can get some used ones if you don't mind. That's how we get most of our kids' underwear (hand-me-downs.) Personally I don't see underwear quality as being that important.

ETA: I'd make sure you get their feet sized at a shoe store, even if you are going to get the shoes online, just to be sure that you are getting the correct size.

[Om Girl]

Target has some good flex-sole shoes out now, but some of their styles are absolutely ridiculous.
I tend to splurge on shoes and skrimp on undies.
We buy DD's shoes from REI or places like that, spending about $40.00 twice a year. (REI has an awesome return policy "if it doesn't work, worn or not, bring it back 100% guarantee")
We've yet to use it, but its nice "Insurance" in case DD hates a pair or they don't fit well.

[melissel]

Thank you everyone!!! Awesome ideas. I actually happened upon a sale at Marshall's not long ago where I got several pairs of Umi and Stride Rite shoes for $15-$19 each, but the Umi 8s that I have seem to be MUCH larger than the Stride Rite 7.5s she's currently in, so I need something in between. I would never even have noticed, except that she's been complaining that her toe hurts when I put her sneaker on, so I guess that's a pretty good sign, eh?

Endless.com rocks! I have never seen that before, and they are currently running the -$5 shipping, so I could get a cute little pair of basic Stride Rite sneaks for $21, which might be the way I go. We're going to hit Target today (went to Marshall's yesterday and they had nothing in the right size/quality) to see if I can get a decent pair of dress shoes for DD1, and possibly sneaks for DD2. If not, then it will probably be Endless.com or the Stride Rite outlet for us (thanks for the reminders, I had completely forgotten about them, and Jackson is not that far from us at all).

About the underwear, I'm not at all opposed to cheap underwear on principle My concern is that my DD1 spent almost two years very visibly digging her underwear out of her...er, nether regions?--including onstage at her preschool graduation : My mom and I bought her countless packs of different kinds/sizes of underwear, and had the same problem with all of them. Since I got her the Hannas, she's been SO much more comfortable and we no longer have that issue. I spotted them on eBay for $13/pack, so I was thinking pre-emptively, since now DD2 is in gotchies every day. I still haven't decided what to do about that, but I noticed the eBay seller sold out of her Smalls already, sooooo... I don't know.

Thank you all so much, I'm so glad I posted. I learned a lot from your replies!

[momto l&a]

Buy quality

I have bought cheap shoes for my kids and they don't last a season.

Buy good quailty shoes and they are so good that a 4th child is wearing them.

As for underwear I love Hanes

Undies are hard to hit though some brand just dont fit some bums right IMO

[Stace]

I'd go less expensive on the shoes right now...you can still find good quality at lower prices, and with how quickly little ones' feet grow, there's no reason to stretch your budget for the pricier ones. However, I'd be willing to go a little pricier for the undies because they'll likely last her longer anyway....you don't want to buy poor quality undies that you'll have to replace soon, as that would just cost you more money in the long run.