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M + S Girls school shoes - GRRRR
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My priorities- roof over head, bills paid, food in cupboards, well clothed, shod, educated and entertained. I balance the incomes with the outgoings- some months he will get more than his Child Ben spent on him, other months less, depends on what he/we as a family need (not want I hasten to add a lot of the time!). The bottom line is the OP was trying to use her money sensibly for her daughter, and buy what she thought was quality. Not sure how many children the OP has, what her family income is, or if she is in debt, but perhaps she was just trying to get the best she could with what she had, and is rightly a bit annoyed! As for child benefit going on the children' tell me how feeding them is not 'on the children' ? ....anyway OP as I said, all the best....you might have to chalk this one down to experience! xGuess it depends what your priorities as a parent are.. Even when XH was a student and we were on the bones of our @r$e the children had proper fitted shoes because that is what they require and what is important to me..
Wages go on food and bills .. child benefit goes on the children first and foremost and other stuff next.Ermutigung wirkt immer besser als Verurteilung.
Encouragement always works better than judgement.0 -
Just to add my two cents with regard to how appropriate highstreet shoes are for children. I have always prefered to have shoes properly fitted at either Clarkes or Startrite. However, there have been times when neither shop have stocked the size we needed and I have bought high street shoes as an emergency pair because they had outgrown the old ones - and I would expect them to be fit for purpose regardless. I have been disappointed on many occassion with Clarkes for shoes breaking, poor service and lack of stock. Startrite are my preference with regard to quality IF they stock the right size. Just my experience, I can understand why someone might use highstreet shops.0
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I think getting feet measured and then buying that size slightly cheaper elsewhere can be ok.......up here often there are not many sizes available and only 1 or 2 shops...one stocks clarks the other startrite! Thats itJust to add my two cents with regard to how appropriate highstreet shoes are for children. I have always prefered to have shoes properly fitted at either Clarkes or Startrite. However, there have been times when neither shop have stocked the size we needed and I have bought high street shoes as an emergency pair because they had outgrown the old ones - and I would expect them to be fit for purpose regardless. I have been disappointed on many occassion with Clarkes for shoes breaking, poor service and lack of stock. Startrite are my preference with regard to quality IF they stock the right size. Just my experience, I can understand why someone might use highstreet shops.
. Ermutigung wirkt immer besser als Verurteilung.
Encouragement always works better than judgement.0 -
Children ALWAYS cost more than the child benefit a month.. I was thinking of stuffing mine up chimneys to earn their keep..
Chalking things down to experience is a valuable skill to learn.. but I think 9 times out of 10 you can see what quality (or lack of) something is before purchasing.. I am one of those annoying people that tugs seams, pulls buttons and wiggles zips before buying..
but shoes, for the reasons given above, have to be good.. I do refuse to buy certain styles because they are poorly made, not durable etc.. I am just delighted the 2 littlest of mine are getting 'free shoes' since they have to have special ones that cannot be sourced without a prescription!
It is more about learning what is quality and what is not by looking at it before purchase.. not relying on a 'brand name'.. some of the shoddiest things I have ever bought have been supposedly 'quality' makes (and they went straight back!!).. they rely too heavily on the name and do not expect people to question it. We are not sheep!
I think M&S ladies underwear and food is crappy too.. the mens and childrens is ok though oddly. and there have been lots of complaints about their wedding cakes!
Brantanos do stock Clarks/Startrite/Hush puppies etc shoes at much lower prices.. no guarantee they'll have a size that fits.. but if you have said child measured/fitted so you know what size they need for definite.. buy some you THINK fit.. take them into a Clarks shop they will make sure they do fit well and if they are unworn you can take them back to Brantanos and swap them for some that do fit better! I have on occasion done this for DS2 with his hugely wide feet!LB moment 10/06 Debt Free date 6/6/14Hope to be debt free until the day I dieMortgage-free Wannabee (05/08/30)6/6/14 £72,454.65 (5.65% int.)08/12/2023 £33602.00 (4.81% int.)0 -
Yes, this is a good idea. Shame we can only do that when we are on the mainland! Sigh!Brantanos do stock Clarks/Startrite/Hush puppies etc shoes at much lower prices.. no guarantee they'll have a size that fits.. but if you have said child measured/fitted so you know what size they need for definite.. buy some you THINK fit.. take them into a Clarks shop they will make sure they do fit well and if they are unworn you can take them back to Brantanos and swap them for some that do fit better! I have on occasion done this for DS2 with his hugely wide feet!
Don't buy ready meals or main meals there really but have to differ that some of the sarnies, Percy Pigs and some of their biccies are to die for (mum sends the latter two up every now and then!).I think M&S ladies underwear and food is crappy too.. the mens and childrens is ok though oddly.Ermutigung wirkt immer besser als Verurteilung.
Encouragement always works better than judgement.0 -
I don't buy biscuits.. my children are deprived..
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and that's what you get living in developing countries... LB moment 10/06 Debt Free date 6/6/14Hope to be debt free until the day I dieMortgage-free Wannabee (05/08/30)6/6/14 £72,454.65 (5.65% int.)08/12/2023 £33602.00 (4.81% int.)0 -
I don't buy them very often either (well except hovis digestives and fig rolls mainly for DH) but mum sends them upI don't buy biscuits.. my children are deprived....
and that's what you get living in developing countries...
DH eats most of them and DH has the odd one, but being just turned 3 not too many! I prefer to bake my own if I can! Ermutigung wirkt immer besser als Verurteilung.
Encouragement always works better than judgement.0 -
Just going slightly O/T for a min but |I wanted to ask Pigpen more about this. 99p school uniform shops? Or 99p at littlewoods clearance shops do you mean? I looked in my local Littlewoods clearance today- they have no school uniform in. Or is this something on-line?I have 8 children who NEVER had anything other than clarks/Startrite.. though 2 now have piedro boots which are in excess of £80 each pair!!! I regularly go in and spend in excess of £400.. that is what the child benefit is for surely? Providing for your childs needs.
As far as I am concerned clothes don't matter so much (apart from Primark.. I won't even go in the shop), you spend a lifetime walking round on your feet so you keep them in the best condition that you can.. They have charity shop clothes, 99p school uniform (littlewoods clearance is a wonderful thing!!) and £40 shoes.
Stitching on the tops of shoes is a REALLY bad idea for children.. they do crawl about which destroys the stitching.. which is why I wouldn't ever buy those hideous 'meatpie' style shoes.. in 19 years I have returned 2 pairs of Clarks shoes as they were not fit for purpose.. My children have a variety of foot problems and disabilities which mean they have trouble with their mobility.. it also means their shoes get 4 times as much hammer as anyone elses.
Mine always have buckled t-bar shoes so they do, do them. I don't trust them to fasten velcro ones tight enough to support their feet properly and not allow the shoes to slop about. DD1 (16) has buckled Clarks shoes right now in size 5.. adult size 5, not toddler size!
Back to shoes- I have yet to find the school shoes that last mine! They've had from Tesco and Asda ones right the way to hush puppies and clarks! We have no start -rite so that's not one I use. Regardless of cost mine get thru em!!!!!! I did get a slight explanation last year when DS was diagnosed with flat feet but we are still going thru school shoes at a rate of knots. We are lucky if a pair lasts a whole term. It is frustrating when kids need school uniform in the last few weeks of term as you know it's not going to get enough wear and will be outgrown by September. In the OP's position, I would at least try a cobblers first. An independant old-fashioned one if you have such a thing, I find them extremely helpful in being honest about whether or not things are worth repairing as even if they don't get business from you that day, they know that the customer service provided in giving advice will repay itself when you return.0 -
online.. it used to be bargain crazy but last June/July they had MASSES of school uniform.. all sizes, both genders.. packs of 5 polo shirts £2.99, packs 2 trousers £1.99 and the like.. I bought loads.. and Quidco cashback.. Other than a few bits we have everything sorted for this year too.. I have no idea what the stock is like at the moemnt as I have had no money to warrant looking. It is definitely worth keeping an eye on though.
They often have hush puppy/clarks shoes available too.. I got DD1 some but they were too wide.
Obviously the stock they have varies immensely but they usually have a few bits worth picking up!
http://www.littlewoodsclearance.com/LB moment 10/06 Debt Free date 6/6/14Hope to be debt free until the day I dieMortgage-free Wannabee (05/08/30)6/6/14 £72,454.65 (5.65% int.)08/12/2023 £33602.00 (4.81% int.)0 -
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