I love my kids, but they are reckless little shits who will destroy anything I buy them. This is why I refuse to pay full price for clothes and trainers — and how places like Vinted, charity shops, and bargain apps have saved my sanity (and my bank account).
I love my kids. I really do. They’re grateful, kind, loving little humans…
but they are also reckless little shits who will destroy anything I give them without a second thought.
Especially shoes.
I’ve watched a child open brand new trainers with genuine excitement, thank me sincerely, put them on immediately… and then use them as a brake for their scooter about five minutes later. Toe on the floor, sparks practically flying, stopping themselves from a bazillion miles an hour like they’re auditioning for Jackass: Junior Edition.
And that right there is why I refuse to pay full price for things.
Because why would I spend £110 on trainers when I know, deep in my soul, those same trainers will be:
dragged across concrete,
stood on,
used to kick balls, walls, fences and siblings,
and absolutely wrecked before the month is out?
Who am I impressing?
The school gates?
Other parents?
My bank account certainly isn’t impressed.
So no. I buy replicas. And second-hand. And charity shop finds. And I do it proudly.
I’ll happily buy replica Air Force trainers for £30 instead of the £110 real ones. They look the same. They do the same job. And when they inevitably get destroyed, I don’t feel like crying into my online banking app.
Because let’s be honest — kids don’t care if they’re real. They care if they’re comfy and if they can run fast in them.
I use Vinted a LOT. Not casually. Strategically. I search, save, stalk and wait. And the bargains I’ve picked up are ridiculous. I’ve had Doc Martens for £16. A Marc Jacobs bag for £10. Absolute steals. And yes, some things might be replicas — but again, who are we impressing? I’m not buying to resell. I’m buying to survive parenting without financial ruin.
Charity shops are another goldmine. Kids clothes in charity shops are criminally underrated. Half the stuff looks brand new because children grow out of it in about twelve minutes. And there is a special kind of peace that comes from letting your child wear a £3 coat knowing full well they might drag it through mud, puddles, and God knows what else — and it genuinely not bothering you.
Recently, a work colleague introduced me to a new app called Whatnot and honestly… it has changed me as a person. It’s live auctions for new and pre-loved items, and it is dangerous in the best way. I’ve won brand new Nike tops for £1. Nike socks for £1. Trainers. Toys. A Carhartt coat. For actual pocket change. Huge shout out to Michaela for that recommendation — you’ve saved me money and possibly my sanity.
Here’s the thing though — my kids are grateful. They really are. They say thank you. They love their stuff. They just also live life at full speed with zero regard for wear and tear. New shoes are not protected items in this house. They are tools. For running. For skidding. For emergency scooter braking at ridiculous speeds.
So I stopped asking myself, “Is this real?”
And started asking, “Is this worth it?”
Worth it for how long it’ll last.
Worth it for the stage of life we’re in.
Worth it for my budget and my mental health.
And most of the time, paying full price just isn’t worth it.
You don’t get extra parenting points for overspending. Your kids won’t remember the price tag. And no one is checking authenticity labels while watching their own child eat dirt at the park.
Buy second-hand.
Buy replicas if that works for you.
Shop charity shops.
Grab bargains where you can.
Save your money for things that actually matter — or at least for replacing the next pair of shoes they’ll inevitably destroy using them as brakes.
Because kids will ruin it anyway.
And honestly?
That’s kind of the point.
Stay tuned
If you want more like this, I’ll be sharing practical, money-saving ideas that actually work for real families — including how I use places like Vinted, charity shops, and bargain apps without overthinking it or feeling guilty.
And if this post made you laugh, nod along, or feel a little less alone in the chaos, I’m really glad you’re here.
This stage of parenting is expensive enough. We don’t need to make it harder by pretending our kids aren’t absolute menaces to new shoes.
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