I need help... little girl sandals
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| Wed, 04-13-2005 - 1:19pm |
DD loves sandals in the summer. Her shoes, no matter what type, get so dirty and worn out from playing on the playground, and this year have had problems with the velcro on her shoes earing out, not to mention last summer that she grew two sizes during that time, we always end up getting her a lot of shoes over a season. I usually get them at payless so they are not to expensive, and often on sale. Payless right now seems to have very little selection, but we did manage to find two sandals that she liked and fit her well. Soon after buying them she decided they hurt her feet and now she won't wear them (the are the same sandal we bought in two different colors, and they aren't jelly, I hate jelly shoes they always tear up little feet). We went to famous footwear, and they had basically nothing (one pair she tried on and hated). We went to Target and none of them fit (the size 9's were good in length, too lose over the top of her foot, size 8's fit good on top but too short in length). So now I am at a loss. I am not interested in buying used shoes (yuck) and I don't want to buy them at the mall and most other places are too expensive (famous footwear even seems expensive to me).
Any suggestions?


I don't know what's already been suggested, but I want to give you this big suggestion:
Yard Sales.
It's the season, and I am forever seeing little girl shoes, in good condition, for 50 cents to a dollar. We have purchased all my two sons's shoes this way (with a few exceptions), and it is perfect. Shoes are outgrown so quickly that usually the shoes at yard sales have very little wear on them, and because you only spend a buck or so on them, it's no big deal if they don't fit right--you just go buy another pair. Often when I purchase one pair of little shoes, the seller will throw in another pair or two, just to be rid of them.
Saturday morning, set your alarm, take your daughter if you like. My oldest son loves to go--I give him four crisp one-dollar bills (he is four years old), and he is allowed to spend them on anything. When we get home, for each item he purchased he has to throw/give away one equivalent item from his current stash of toys, etc. He learns about the value of money, learns to haggle, gets some truly loved toys (his favorite toys right now are all things he purchased for himself at yard sales), and we get rid of old, broken, no-longer-played-with items that he would otherwise be unwilling to part with.
At any rate, depending on what part of the country you are in, you might need to check the paper the night before for a few good addresses, but around here I can just get up in the morning and drive, and we hit dozens of them without even trying very hard. I also find lots and lots of other really useful things for very low prices, but I wouldn't make any purchases over about a dollar until you've gotten a feel for how available certain items are and how much they usually cost at yard sales, because it is a whole different economy. It's like going back to 1930s pricing on things.
As for sanitary issues, I read an article about this. It said that most shoes, by the time they've sat in a closet and then out on a table at a yard sale, anything contagious is already dead. Obviously, don't purchase damp shoes. In a dry shoe, the only thing likely to still be alive is the athlete's foot fungus, but if your child has never had athlete's foot, she is highly unlikely to catch it from used shoes. If she has had athlete's foot before, you might be wise to purchase a sanitizing agent made specifically for shoes, and spray them before using them.
And as for fit, as long as the shoes aren't showing visible signs of significant wear (a few scuffs and scrapes are okay), they should be fine for your little one's feet. If they are uncomfortable, you can always buy something else.
Have fun. You'll be amazed at the things you can get for practically free at yard sales.
Heather
P.S. I can't resist sharing one of my dozens of finds already this season--an Oster kitchen center, a blender, food processor, french fry maker, standing mixer, salad shooter, and many-other-uses all-in-one kitchen aid. $15. We make everything in it, and it replaces about three other appliances that were cluttering up our kitchen counter (also purchased at yard sales). Which brings me to another cool thing about yard sales--even if something doesn't work out, if you've purchased wisely, you can usually resell it for about what you paid for it. I fully expect to get at least the $10 I spent on it out of my Sunbeam standing mixer (which we have loved and used, but are now replacing with the Oster). :)
I agree totally, the yardsale is the way to go.
Ppl just want the stuff out of the house.
It's tough when you've got a kid who's picky about what they wear. BTDT
I hear ya...I, personally would rather have 10 pairs of $10 shoes than 1 pair of $100 shoes.
I, also, used to have more luck at Payless than recently. Did you know you can order from payless.com and have it shipped to your local store for pick up and avoid shipping costs? Good deal.
I also like zappos.com--not real cheap but lots of selection, extended sizes, good sales.
It's funny how we loosen our standards with subsequent kids. With the first kid, nothing but Stride Rite would do. I came to my senses when she threw one out the car window on the interestate! LOL With #4, it's Target, Wal-mart or garage sales--I just clean em up real good with lysol!
My 6'5" 17yo son wears size 15 shoe! Yachts! Or maybe I should say, Aircraft Carriers! He recently renewed his drivers license and they measured his height--i couldn't believe it. He's grown a half inch since Christmas! I hope he stops soon, he's already smacking his head in stairwells, etc. I like Famous Footwear too...they carry extended sizes up to mens' 15. For him it's usually a matter of being able to find it, not how much it costs. Hoo boy, is the big and tall man's shop pricey!
Try Wal-Mart, they have really cute stuff this spring. Got the kids some cute $1.97 flip flops--won't do for elem. school though. Hope you gals have fun shopping.
Well, I did end up at stride rite. Shopping takes a toll on my body and I was fed up with going to every store I could think of, trying on every shoe they had and not finding anything that worked. It seems this year her foot just does not fit most sandals. Her foot is long enough for a 9, but all the size 9's are too loose over the top of the shoe, and the ankle part hit's too high and it hurt when she'd try them on. The 8's fit great except her heel hangs off the back! I ended up with two pair that have velcro over the toes as well as the ankes, so fully adjustable. They also have padded soles and they were the first shoes dd said were comfortable and she was even willing to consider wearing. Comfort and size was never an issue in prior years. The shoes I bought have plenty of room to grow but also fit her well now, so I told her these are the only one's I'm buying this summer so we all have to take good care of them (and then I told my ex the same). I will try and check out garage sales this summer, but I'm not going to be able to do that until I get back from my trip at the end of this month, and then I'm sure I'm going to need time to rest up first.
I used to always buy my own shoes at payless, but now that I have rheumatoid arthritis I can't wear cheap shoes. I have to buy very comfortable shoes and it is such a struggle to find one's that feel good but that my mom would not wear (I struggle with being forced to wear granny shoes, and I'm fighting it as hard as I can) and that I can afford.