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%.