Buying children cheap items

[Raysplus1]

I refuse to buy cheap shoes for my DS9. I tried buying cheap WalMart shoes and they last about a month before they split out the sides. They just don't last. I bought him a pair of NIKE Shox around $50 - $60 and they have lasted the last month of the school year and all summer. All that I had to do is replace the shoe strings.

Is there anything that others refuse to go cheap on when it comes to purchases for your children?

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

We are the same way with shoes.

 

[MoniqueU]

I espcially will not buy cheap shoes or pass shoes on from one girl to the next because of some feet problems I have from being put in pointy non leather shoes as a kid. Even when newly married and not much money I would manage to find good shoes at Ross, Marshalls and TJmaxx My favorites for little kids were the elephantens.

I also am in a differnet place in my life now so I do not buy cheap clothes for my kids. One my girls can pass on and two, I just dont do it because I like the cute stuff at the designer stores.
I enjoy shopping for clothes for my kids.

 

[puffkin]

Diapers. I tried cheaper brands, and while they absorb ok, the moisture seems to be sitting on my sons skin. I have yet to find something that I like better than Pampers Cruisers.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

It depends on what it is, tbh. DS doesn't go through shoes that quickly because we never make him wear shoes unless we know we're going somewhere he'll be required to walk. Clothing, we can usually find good deals on if we look, but it's hard to know what to buy for him shorts/pants-wise because he is SO friggin skinny. He's almost 2 1/2 and still has sz 18 mos pants/shorts that fall off of him. He's got sz 24 mos pants/shorts he's never worn because they are far, far too big for him.

TOV

 

[KristiKelly]

I'm a firm believer with just about everything that YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. The times I've bought my kids cheap shoes, they ended up needing a new pair within a month or so (just like OP said) or with blisters or just smelly, bought DD a cheap swimsuit (we go to the pool alot) only lasted a few weeks. On our honeymoon (in 1994) DH spent $150 for a Gucci wallet, it lasted for 11 years, In Dec. 2005 he bought a $30 wallet that is already splitting at the seams.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Maybe you just have to be more careful and take better care of the cheap stuff? We didn't have a lot of money growing up so we always bought 'the cheap stuff' and we were taught to take VERY good care of our things because they had to last us a long time.

TOV

 

[mill4023]

I'm a firm believer with just about everything that YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. The times I've bought my kids cheap shoes, they ended up needing a new pair within a month or so (just like OP said) or with blisters or just smelly, bought DD a cheap swimsuit (we go to the pool alot) only lasted a few weeks. On our honeymoon (in 1994) DH spent $150 for a Gucci wallet, it lasted for 11 years, In Dec. 2005 he bought a $30 wallet that is already splitting at the seams.

I think that is true sometimes, but not always. Sometimes, when you spend more money, you do get what you pay for, but what you are paying for is a fancy name. It really just depends on the product.

I spent probably $20 on my last leather wallet and it's still in great condition years later. As far as shoes, I'd agree that many of the cheap shoes don't last. But I've also had Nikes that fell apart quickly.

 

[sk8ingmom]

winter coats & boots - gimme Columbia, LL Bean etc., although always on sale.

Warm is good!!

 

[golfgal]

For tennis shoes or every day shoes, I get the kids (and myself) good shoes. For church shoes for the kids or shoes they don't wear often, they get Walmart shoes. I don't shop by labels, I shop for shoes that fit. For trendy items, I don't buy expensive things because they are only in style for a short time. For classic things, I don't mind spending more if it is going to be around for a long time. I have some expensive sweaters that I have worn for years that are still in great shape because I take care of them. I rarely pay full price for anything though.

 

[goofy's friends]

I feel the same way about shoes, especially tennis shoes. Dress shoes, flip flops, etc. I don't mind doing cheap. School shoes I want to last, so usually spend more on those too. I've bought cheap shoes and they end up being tossed in a couple of months. Clothing I think you can buy cheaper these days and get pretty good quality. I also buy at end of season sales, so get good clothes for cheaper. Most of the time they fit by the next season, so it has worked for us.

 

[juligrl]

Diapers. I tried cheaper brands, and while they absorb ok, the moisture seems to be sitting on my sons skin. I have yet to find something that I like better than Pampers Cruisers.

I'm also picky about Diaper Wipes. I don't like the scent of some of the cheaper brands.

 

[MushyMushy]

I was definitely that way about shoes with the kids! In fact, when they started school they used to get upset because they liked the crappy Payless shoes that the other kids were wearing and I was sooooo mean for not buying them. Clothes, I wasn't too picky about. No designer names, but I've always felt that I could spend the same amount of money at department stores as I could at Walmart for better clothes. Diapers and wipes were always better brands.

Now that they're older, I wish I could cheap out a bit.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

I agree with the diapers and esp. Pullups. The good ones are just better and don't split at the sides.
I do buy "cheap" shoes for my kids. They can have more of a variety if I shop at payless where I can afford 6 pairs of shoes for each instead of 3 if I paid alot of money for them. I have never had a problem with any cheap shoes that I have bought for them.

 

[lil mermaid]

I don't like to buy cheap shoes or clothes for Madeline. I hate when I buy something and then wash it and it looks terrible, or falls apart. She does have Target flip flops, lol.

That being said, I very rarely pay full price. I am a bargain shopper and love to get good deals!

 

[slk537]

Amen to the diapers! We tried cheapie ones and they just weren't as good as Pampers and Huggies. It darn near killed me, but we have gone with the Pampers ever since.

And the pullups have Disney characters on them so that sealed the deal. Sad, but true.

 

[ducklite]

I think that is true sometimes, but not always. Sometimes, when you spend more money, you do get what you pay for, but what you are paying for is a fancy name. It really just depends on the product.

I've got a Kenneth Cole wallet. I didn't care about the brand name, it's a wallet for God's sake, but I wanted a RED wallet because I could never find my black wallet in my black lined bag. That was the one that best suited my needs at the time. It's wearing well, I expect I'll have it another ten or more years, and it's almost five years old at this point. For the extra $15 it cost over a no-name wallet at a discount store, it was probably worth it as it is holding up so well, and I'll certainly not think twice about replacing it with another Kenneth Cole when the time comes.

OTOH, I bought a few t-shirts (the type that are a little decorated and suitable for busienss casual with chino's) on sale 50% off or BOGO at Penney's. No brand name, and they are holding up as well as my Perry Ellis t's--that I bought on sale at the outlet, so they were quite reasonable. Had I paid full price for both the JC Penney shirts would have been by far the better value.

I do spend a lot on the pants I wear to work most days. There is a certain style by Eileen Fisher that are just sooooo comfy. They are about $100 a pair, but they wash and dry well, never need an iron, and I've worn each pair 50+ times and they still look brand new, so for me it was money worth spending. I expect that I'll wear them at least 100 times before they even begin to look a bit shopworn. Another pair I have by Gap that were about $50 are looking a bit shopworn after 50 washing and dryings--plus need ironing about every other washing, and a $25 pair by Old Navy I finally gave away because they ALWAYS needed ironing. So that shows that sometimes spending more will get you a better deal in the long run.

But to the OP's post, I always bought Stride Rights for my son when he was small, he now lives in Army boots.

Anne

 

[Luv'sTink]

I dont buy cheap tennis shoes for my son. I do buy cheap flip flops, water sox and sandals (though he rarely wears them)

 

[allie&mattsmom]

I've always had the "you get what you pay for" mentality as well. I did try the cheaper diapers when my kids were young but learned a quick lesson there. As far as shoes, I never buy cheap (not even for DH and myself).

 

[tiggger1]

I buy my daughter cheap shoes because she goes through them so quickly. She has 4-5 pairs of sketchers that she wore about a dozen times before she grew out of them. I learned to buy 1 pair of nices sneakers ( still cheaper) a pair of nice sandals and then a few pairs of walmart play shoes!