7 tips for affording stylish shoes on a shoestring budget
A good pair of shoes doesn’t have to be expensive. It all depends on where you buy it. Below are some tips on how to save money on stylish shoes.

Small feet? Buy kids shoes
Many shoe brands have separate kids shoe and adult shoe lines. If you’ve got small feet, you may be able to shop for kids shoes instead of adult shoes – they typically come in many of the same styles and are a lot cheaper. Not only do brands price them slightly cheaper, but you don’t have to pay VAT on kids’ clothing, resulting in some massive discounts.
To give you an idea of the savings you could make, Nike Air Force 1 shoes typically cost £74.95 to £119 for adults depending on the style. However, Nike Air Force 1 shoes for kids cost between £49.95 and £54.95. At the very least, you’ll save £20. This Huffington Post article has more examples.
Kids shoe sizes typically go up to size 6. If you’re a size 6 or below, consider shopping in the kids section to see what discounts you can find.
Insoles for Plantar Fasciitis
If you’re dealing with plantar fasciitis, finding the right shoes can make a significant difference in your comfort and overall well-being. Plantar fasciitis is a common condition that involves inflammation of the thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot, causing heel pain and discomfort.
Consider investing in specialised insoles designed specifically for plantar fasciitis. Plantar fascitis insoles can provide additional arch support, cushioning, and alignment, helping to alleviate the pain associated with the condition. When shopping for shoes, look for styles that can accommodate these insoles comfortably.
Opt for lesser known brands
Some people are very brand conscious and will only buy shoes manufactured by well-known brands. However, there are many lesser known brands that make shoes that are just as stylish and high quality for a lot less just because they don’t have that well-known logo.
These brands aren’t always easy to track down because, well, they’re lesser known. This post on a few alternatives to Zara offers a good example of some of the different brands out there. It’s worth reading reviews online to make sure that the brand has a good reputation despite being lesser known (after all, some brands are less renowned for a reason).
Hunt for sales online
Forget going to local stores to shop in the sales. The best discounts are often found online. Online stores don’t have as high overheads so can generally knock more off the price of shoes than physical stores. You do have the cost of delivery to factor in, but if you’re not interested in fast delivery this is generally very cheap.
Sites like The DOM have discounts on a range of stylish shoes, as well as other clothes. It’s worth also checking out promo code sites – some stores prefer to offer sales in the form of vouchers. By taking advantage of these sales, you can build your dream wardrobe at a fraction of the price it might cost were you to visit a physical shoe store.
Haggle discounts on slightly damaged shoes
If you go to a store or market and find new shoes that are slightly damaged, you may be able to negotiate a discount on them. This is particularly the case if they’re the last ones left – the store may be eager to sell them and they may even be discounted already.
Obviously, you don’t want to be buying shoes with major damage. Instead, look out for minor damage that is unlikely to affect the comfort and performance of the shoe such as small scratches or scuff marks. Display shoes are most likely to be damaged from being handled a lot, however, you may not always be able to buy these if there are more of these shoes in stock.
Shop second-hand
Second-hand clothing of any kind is always cheaper than brand new clothing. You can buy second-hand shoes that have barely been worn online or at car boot sales for a very cheap price. In some cases, it could be less than half the price you’d pay for brand new shoes.
Just make sure to thoroughly inspect the condition so that you’re still buying good quality shoes. If you’re buying online, make sure that there are good quality photos provided. Be wary of seemingly brand new designer shoes at a very low price as they may be cheaply made fake shoes.
Don’t purchase winter shoes in winter
You can often grab discounts on shoes by buying them out of season. This is because stores are often eager to clear these items in exchange for the next season of clothes.>
The best time to buy winter shoes is often Spring. Meanwhile, Summer shoes are likely to be discounted in Autumn.
Take advantage of cashback rewards
Various cards and membership schemes now offer cashback rewards. These cashback rewards could be used to save money on high priced shoes (in fact, they can be used to save money on all kinds of things).
Cashback rates are typically about 2% but there are some places that offer cashback rewards of up to 7%.

![[AD] We’re a cricket-mad family, so we’re buzzing that @thehundred is back this August! 🏏🔥
To get ready, M tried out the official FREE Activity Pack — and it’s brilliant! 🙌
Packed with fun games, creative challenges and sporty tasks, it’s perfect for getting kids hyped whether you’re at home or on the go.
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We enjoyed the glorious sunshine this weekend with a trip to Brighton. We went on the @brightoni360official which is right by the sea front.
The i360 pod take a slow journey up, allowing you to take in views across Brighton and the South Downs 450ft above ground. There’s a bar inside with drinks and snacks available to purchase and the experience lasts 25 minutes.
Afterwards, we headed to the open air roller rink for a roller skating session!
The roller rink is:
⭐ Suitable for over 5s
⭐ £6.50 if you have your own skates or £9.50 if you need to hire them
⭐ 45 minutes per session
Full details to visit the i360 + skating
📍 Brighton i360, Lower Kings Road, Brighton BN1 2LN
🚗 Parking nearby (we parked in the Regency Square Car park)
🎟️ Prices start from £25.40 for an adult and £16.90 for a child
🕐 Opening hours are currently Sun-Fri 10.30am-18.30pm and until 19.30pm on Saturdays
☕️ Bar inside the i360, cafe and gift shop
Book tickets here:
https://tickets.brightoni360.co.uk/tickets/?_ga=2.195305772.1869001490.1689671753-1757164059.1689671753/#events?eventid=157](https://suburban-mum.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/417980235_313576471048632_3682382982231216432_n.jpg)

![[AD] ***Summer of fun at Barracudas Activity Camps!****
There is plenty for kids to do at @barracudas_activity_day_camps
From Tennis, Archery, Swimming, Motor Sports and more you can be sure that there will be something for kids aged 4.5-14. ⚽🏈🥅🎾🏓🏎️🏹🏊♂️🏉
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![[AD] We have some super exciting news...we have been chosen to be Laser Quest Ambassadors, and the boys are over the moon!
We are really lucky that our local Laser Quest (@laserquestkingston) is just around the corner from us. It means we can pop in of a weekend or anytime during the school holidays, and with summer just around the corner, I know Laser Quest will be one of our go-to places for some family fun.
As well as games of Laser Quest, there are also VR experiences and arcade amusements too. To find out a bit more about how Laser Quest works, you can read my blog post: https://www.suburban-mum.com/laser-quest-kingston/ (clickable link in bio)
Don't forget to keep an eye out for our Laser Quest posts - I'm going to be giving away two family passes to use at Laserquest Kingston!
If you can't wait and want to head down to Laser Quest to try it out, use the code SUMMER30 for 30% off your booking. The code is valid from now until the end of August 2023 and can be used on Laser Quest games and birthday party bookings.
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![[AD] The sun has finally made an appearance and the boys have been making the most of it by spending it
in the garden.
They’re go-to is always football and they’ve been trying to improve their aim and accuracy with the new Messi Foldable Footlball goal from the #MessiTrainingSystem range.
I love the fact the goal is foldable, making it easy to store away when not in use. It is also lightweight so you can effortlessly pack it up and take it to the park or to a friend’s house.
The Messi Foldable Football Goal retails at £36 and can be purchased from @argos
You can read my full review here: https://www.suburban-mum.com/messi-foldable-football-goal/
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![[AD] We are absolutely thrilled to announce that we are Barracuda Ambassadors again this year.
With Easter just around the corner, the boys were sent the @barracudas_activity_day_camps new camp kit in preparation for the school holidays.
There’s a wide range of activities for kids aged 4.5 - 14 including Tennis, Archery, Basketball, Arts & Crafts and more.
If you like the sound of Barracudas, find out more over on their website. You can also save £20 a week or £4 a day, using my discount code: MARIA20](https://suburban-mum.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/336812306_765234558514317_685553691647241974_n.jpg)


![[AD - Gifted]
Last weekend we were invited to try out @tsarettaspice’s new Bottomless Brunch menu and I can tell you it was thumbs up all round!
There’s a good choice tapas on offer from Punjabi fish fingers, Indo Chinese Chicken to Spiced Lamb Scotch Eggs and Manchurian Cauliflower (which was amazing!)
If you’re local to Twickenham and fancy giving them a try here’s are the details.
Tsaretta Spice Bottomless Brunch
⭐️£37.50 per head for bottomless Prosecco or cocktail of the day
⭐️£55 per head for bottomless Champagne
⭐️ Food included: 4 tapas selections and dessert or 2 tapas selections, a pav or naanwich and dessert
⭐️ Non-alcohol brunch is also available
Tsaretta Spice
55 Church Street
Twickenham
TW1 3NR
You can also read our full review over on the blog (link in bio)](https://suburban-mum.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/334565436_5960402314015030_663031098700829518_n.jpg)
![[AD] What does family look like for you?
I am fortunate to be surrounded by strong, powerful women in the form of my mum, sister and mother-in-law (along with many others). With Mother’s Day just around the corner, @BootsUK want to celebrate all the different mums and mother figures we are lucky enough to have in our lives. They have a huge range of Mother’s Day gifts to choose from so we can show them how much they mean to us. (swipe to take a look at some of my choices)
If you want to express love and appreciation for the mother figure(s) in your life, head to Boots.com to find the ideal gift. They have a whole host of gifts, so you can be sure to find something to suit all tastes. Celebrate the #LoveForAllMums this Mother’s Day with Boots.
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