The Toughest Thrift

I walk at least two miles a day, and I have been since last April without missing a single day. That's why my three-year-old sneakers are cracked and the soles are starting to peel away from the uppers.

To get a new pair I went to the local shoe store, where I only shop every couple of years, but all the sneakers have gotten super expensive. I don't mind paying a little more for good quality, especially when I'd be walking in them every day, but nearly everything I saw looked very cheaply made. I decided to see if I could thrift some decent sneakers instead.

I think shoes may be the toughest thing to thrift. Most are donated used, which I didn't want, and those that are new are snapped up fast online. But after months of watching and searching I found a pair of Skechers in my size that were brand new with tags, bid on them, and won the pair.

They arrived last week and are really pretty. They've also got very sturdy soles and fit like a glove, and came with an extra pair of shoelaces. They're in gray colors with amethyst reflective strips, and while I usually buy only white sneakers I certainly don't mind that.

These shoes also retail for $79.00, and the cheapest I could find them discounted was on Amazon for $55.00. I paid $14.99 for my thrifted pair. Savings: $40.01.

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Valerean

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