Most children grow at an incredibly fast rate. It seems like one minute they are in toddler clothes and then the next minute, you have to start buying “big kids” stuff. This is even more noticeable when it comes to shoes. Kids usually do not keep shoes very long. No matter how much you spend on that famous brand Mary Jane’s, those tiny toes are sure to outgrow that little investment. So, what is a parent to do? Well, here are some tips for taking care of your kids shoe needs without paying so much that you have to live in one:

See if any one that you know has some shoes that they don’t need, and you make yours available also. As kids grow, most parents start to expect that their child will outgrow their shoes faster than they can get a good wear out of them. Ask around to parents that you know. Churches and schools and other places where there are lots of families with kids are sure to be filled with people that have an abundance of outgrown kids shoes!

Host a shoe swap. This is something that you can do to get the kids involved. They can even send out little invitations, fashioned as shoes of course. Have the families come together and watch as everyone has fun letting their kids try on and swap shoes. The cost of this type of an event, a few bags of chips and a few pitchers of homemade iced tea!

Buy for cheap at a thrift or consignment shop! If you don’t mind buying things slightly used, then you might just find a virtual shoe treasury by visiting a local consignment or thrift shop. It’s one of the cheapest shopping ways. Save money for other stuff by searching out deals at the thrift store. Sometimes, you may find shoes for as cheap as $1 per pair. Not only will you save up to 90% off of the retail price, but sometimes, you may not even end up with the slightly used shoes. Yes, people donate BRAND NEW shoes also!! Another fabulous way to save is to consign your own things. Some consignment shops pay you on the spot and by selling your stuff and getting paid, you could end up with a bunch of stuff for FREE!

Make sure to buy during the “savings” seasons. After the holidays is a fantastic time to find the best deals on shoes at retail stores. You can get sandals during the cooler Fall months and boots when the weather is about to change from cold to warm. People that buy for cheap during these sales seasons can expect to save up to 75% off of the regular prices.

Need the shoes now? Buy them…but only at stores that have fabulous sales going on. Try to look for deals and coupons in the Sunday local paper and always try to get a “buy one, get one” deal. When they are available, use the “get one” to buy the next size shoe for your kids. You know that their feet will keep growing, so you might as well do your best to be prepared…especially in this economy crisis.