I have never paid more than $12.00 for a pair of kids shoes. I ALWAYS buy when they are on sale/clearance and save them for when the grow into them. Same goes for clothes for them, too. I try shop at the end of the season for next year. My kids are 7 and almost 9. I love to check out rummage sales, too. I got 4 pair of Lands End shoes for my son with almost no wear on them at all for $3.00 each. I always had cheap shoes growing up and they never bothered me. I still wear cheap shoes now, unless I know I will be walking for miles or standing for hours at a time.
Aaaaghh split answers once again 