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10 Tips for Building An Amazing Sneaker Collection On A Budget

Modified on December 11, 2022 at 1:10 AM

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If you love buying new shoes and want to become a certified sneakerhead but have been putting off your collection-building efforts due to a lack of funds, you might be wondering if there’s a way for you to “ball on a budget” without breaking the bank. While there will inevitably be certain shoes that you simply won’t be able to afford as a financially restricted buyer, there are many more that most people can easily save up for, and there are numerous ways to obtain decent brand name sneakers for anywhere from $30-$70 or less on a regular basis. With a bit of strategy and the help of the following ten tips, anyone should be able to step their sneaker game up, even on an ordinary income.

1. Air Force 1s Are Your Friend

The Nike Air Force 1 is like the budgeting shoe collector’s best friend because it comes in thousands of color variations, new styles are released every season, and you can find pairs for anywhere from $50-$80 very easily. While there are some rare collector’s editions that sell for hundreds of dollars and exceptionally rare or exotic pairs can go for as high as $1,000+, you can easily find diverse selections of affordable AF1 releases online. 

2. Go for “Athleisure” Style Sneakers

Saving up enough money to buy causal, athletic, and luxury shoes can be difficult when you’re operating with limited funds. Some shoes fall under an in-between category that combines the best of all three worlds into one design e.g. the aforementioned Air Force 1 or Nike’s Air Max line. These are shoes that look nice enough to be considered luxurious casual wear, yet functional enough to be useful for any athletic or active use. Choose shoes that are suitable for various occasions so that you don’t have to rotate through a small number of pairs of each style, and pair them with matching apparel, such as shirts to match with Air Jordan 1 shoes. The only time you may need to deviate away from your athleisure collection is when you require dress shoes because you’re going to be dressed formally in a suit and tie – obviously, sneakers might not be the best option then.   

3. Take Advantage of Promotional Deals

If you’re really trying to save money as much as possible, it’s best to only buy sneakers that are being sold at a discounted price and shop online. There are plenty of shoe sales happening online at any given time, so it’s really just a matter of paying attention to the sale start and end dates. Subscribe to the newsletters and weekly updates that are offered by many shoe retailers so you can be instantly notified about upcoming promotions.

4. Try Your Hand on Auction Sites

You might be wary about placing bids for sneakers on auction sites like eBay because there’s always the concern that you might not get what you paid for, or the sneakers could be in worse than condition than advertised. However, if you’re thorough about checking seller feedback and you set a maximum bid amount, you can often get in on some excellent second-hand deals for hard-to-find sneakers. Many sneakerheads use auction sites to liquidate their old pairs, and the market is so busy that you can often find auctions with very little bidding competition and sometimes with no minimum reserve price. 

5. Give the Local Thrift Store a Try

Buying shoes from a thrift store is usually not an option that most people would want to consider, but in rare cases you can stumble upon some very gently used name brand sneakers for incredibly low prices. This is an especially good tip if you wear a smaller size, as often times sneakers are donated to thrift stores for no other reason than the owner grew out of them – aesthetically there may be absolutely nothing wrong with them. In terms of affordability, you really can’t beat thrift store pricing, so stopping by and seeing what they have is always worth a shot, even if it is a long shot that they’ll have something appealing in your size and style preference. 

6. Sort Catalogs by Price

Every online sneaker retailer will provide sorting options that you can use to filter your results based on a variety of criteria. The fastest way to find the cheapest deal on any site is to use the “sort by price: lowest to highest” option. This can usually be found somewhere near the top or side of the search results after you search for a specific term. To get the broadest range of cheap options, simply use a general term like “sneakers” and then adjust the sorting options once the initial results are returned. 

7. Clean and Maintain Your Shoes Regularly

If your goal is to expand the size of your collection, it doesn’t make sense to go around ruining the pairs that you already have. At that point, you’re just buying new sneakers to replace the ones you’re tearing up. Set rules about how and when you wear certain shoes. Designate a pair or two of old shoes for play and leave the rest of your collection for special occasions. Wipe down and clean shoes when you’re done wearing them. Store them stuffed with newspaper and in their original box to prevent creasing and dust build-up. 

8. Sign Up for Rewards Programs

Most online footwear retailers offer rewards programs that will give you a certificate for $10 or $20 every time you spend a couple a hundred dollars on their site. Some of them will also send you certificates worth at least $10 for your birthday. One of the best feelings comes when you stack up enough rewards points and certificates to obtain already discounted shoes at a next-to-nothing price. 

9. Wait Until the Release Hype Dies Down

Buying the latest sneakers on their release date is a horrible move for anyone who is trying to save money. Often times, you can find the same exact shoe 6 months later for half the price. In the case of expensive or rare collector’s editions, the price may actually go up with time, but in the case of most new releases, it’s a lot like any other technology – it’s much cheaper after it’s been out for a while. 

10. Shop Around

Settling for the first price you find is a sure-fire way to expose yourself to the risk of overpaying. Why pay more when you don’t have to? Check local sneaker and clothing outlets for surprising deals, and try using shopping comparison plugins or search aggregators like Google Shopping to find the lowest price for each pair you buy. 

10 Pairs of Sneakers is a Good Starter Collection

While saving up money and gradually building your collection over time is definitely a feasible option, sometimes it’s better to just go ahead and sacrifice a chunk of a pay check on a $500-$800 in order to stock up on a collection of 10-15 pairs and get your collection rolling with the basics. From there, you can buy one pair a month, or one every other month, and you’ll already have a sizeable line-up to build upon.  

Ultimately, you don’t have to be rich to have an extensive sneaker collection. Here’s an example that illustrates how just about anyone can have a collection of sneakers after 1- 2 years of collecting:

Let’s say you only make $30,000/year (roughly $625/week). If you spent 4% of your income on shoes, you could buy seventeen $70 pairs (about $1200 worth of sneakers) every year – about one pair every three weeks. After two years of doing that, you would have roughly 35-45 pairs, considering you’ll be getting discounts by putting the tips above to good use.  

Related posts:

5 Timeless Shoes You Can Still Get Today5 Timeless Shoes You Can Still Get Today Best Work Shoes For Women In 2021Best Work Shoes For Women In 2021 waterproof sneakersToday’s Outfit: Loom Waterproof Sneakers Nike History: Everything You Need to Know About the Iconic BrandNike History: Everything You Need to Know About the Iconic Brand 10 Comfy Sneakers Every Busy Mom Needs10 Comfy Sneakers Every Busy Mom Needs

Posted By Guest Blogger
on July 23, 2019 at 9:04 AM
Filed Under: Shoes Shoes Shoes!
Tagged With: athleisure, budget friendly, Budget Shopping, Nike, Shoes, Sneakers, Thrift Store

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Hello, there!

Sarah-Jean Ballard

Hi! I’m Sarah-Jean. I’m a Christian, the wife of a handsome Molecular Biologist, and the homeschooling mother of 5 beautiful kids!

I enjoy homesteading, reading, writing, cooking, baking, crafting, home decorating, Xtend Barre, and of course, fashion!

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𝕊𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕙 | Fashionable Homemaker & Mom of 5
Looking at pictures of my last birth makes me grie Looking at pictures of my last birth makes me grieve my baby in Heaven that I just lost a few weeks ago. 

Knowing all the firsts we won’t be getting. All the newborn snuggles, that new baby smell, the joy of breastfeeding, it’s all gone. Slipped through my fingers in a moment, for no reason. 

No one thinks it will ever happen to them. Nothing prepares you for the loss of your child and no one can fully understand and appreciate the intense level of grief and pain until it happens to you. And if you do not understand this kind of grief, consider yourself very, very blessed and fortunate. 

Sometimes being open to life, also means being open to loss. 💔

#miscarriage #miscarriagesupport #miscarriageawareness #lossmom
READ this post before you LIKE it. 💔💔💔 A READ this post before you LIKE it. 💔💔💔

A few weeks ago, we were planning to announce that baby #6 would be joining our crew in January 2023, but instead we've been processing the death of our beloved child... 

At our 20 week anatomy scan, when we were joyfully expecting to see what our little babe looked like, we were met the words that will haunt us forever - "We can't find a heartbeat."

Two days later, we found ourselves in a foreign environment, after 5 beautiful homebirths, naturally delivering our stillborn son in a hospital. 

Dylan Marinus Ballard was born on August 31st, (our first son's birthday) at 6:43pm and weighing only 7.5 oz. 

Tearfully and filled with grief beyond words, we had to say hello and goodbye at the same time. Our beautiful son. 

Seeing his face, holding his tiny body, and admiring his little toes that looked just like daddy's was just a glimpse into the miracle of life that God allows us to partake in. When you fully realize the sanctity of human life, it makes it even harder to say goodbye. Not being able to take my baby home with me was the most gut wrenching, heartbreaking pain imaginable. It is a pain unlike all others that only mothers who have lost a child can even begin to understand. 

The hardest part of losing a child, is living everyday afterwards. It's such a devastating loss, a loss so unimaginable, that you have no idea how you will get through each day or survive the grief that is in your heart. No matter what age a child is, a parent's heart is forever tied to that child and there's nothing that will break that tie, including the passing of time. That's the beauty of unconditional love. 

Our only consolation is knowing that our little saint is in the loving arms of Jesus now. We look forward to meeting him in Heaven someday.

📷 birth photography by Melissa Lee Photography

#griefjourney #griefandloss #miscarriage #miscarriageawareness #griefawareness #griefislove #itsokaynottobeokay #largefamily #largefamilymom #bigfamily #bigfamilylife #lossmom #pregnancyloss #momlife #pregnancylossawareness #stillbirth #stillborn #stillbornstillloved #stillbornawareness #babyloss #miscarriagemomma #bereavedparents #lossmoms
Some of my favorite fall eats here! 😋 What ar Some of my favorite fall eats here! 😋 

What are your favorite fall comfort foods???

#momlife #homemaker #octobervibes #feelslikefall
Need an easy solution for dinner but don’t want Need an easy solution for dinner but don’t want fast food? @wildgrainbox delivers bake-from-frozen breads, pastries, and fresh pasta right to your door!

Clean ingredients, real sourdough, artisanal pastries, hand cut fresh pasta, eco friendly shipping, and they support small bakeries! 👩🏼‍🍳

Every item is freezer to table in 25 minutes or less so you can enjoy homemade quality food, FAST. I whipped up a loaf of sourdough bread and delicious pasta with marinara sauce in under 30 minutes for me and my husband to enjoy a little date night at home. It was like going to a fancy Italian restaurant, but we go to eat in our pajamas!

We love that Wildgrain is passionate about delivering slow-fermented sourdough bread‘s, fresh pasta, and artisan pastries directly to your door and I love that they are local to me! 

WANT TO TRY IT?! The first 50 people to use my coupon code and link can get $30 off their first box PLUS free croissants in every box! 

Use coupon code FASHIONABLEWIFE to snag this deal QUICK! 💃🏼

LlNK in bio and in stories! 🛒

#momlife #homemaker #mywildgrain #datenightideas
Introducing Caraway’s most requested products, t Introducing Caraway’s most requested products, the NEW Mini Fry Pan & Mini Sauce Pan!!! 

By popular demand, they now have miniature versions of their two best-selling À La Carte pieces, now in compact and cute sizes!! 

These are designed for cooking smaller portions and are a perfect complement to your current Caraway cookware collection. 

🥳Get 10% off the new Mini Fry Pan & Mini Sauce Pan using my link in my bio! 🥳

#momlife #homemaker #homelifestyle #kitcheninspo
What better way to welcome fall than with @caraway What better way to welcome fall than with @caraway_home latest products, the Mini Fry Pan & Mini Sauce Pan!!! 

By popular demand, they now have miniature versions of their two best-selling À La Carte pieces, now in compact & cute sizes. These are designed for cooking smaller portions and make the perfect complement to your current Caraway collection. 

Get 10% off the new Mini Fry Pan & Mini Sauce Pan using my link! 🛒

⁣LlNK is in my bio and stories! 💃🏼 Or use code FASHIONABLEWIFE-MINI22 
.⁣
.⁣
.⁣
.⁣
.⁣
#cottageliving #decor #decoration #farmhouselove #hgtv #homedesign #interior #interiordecor #interiorstyling #kitchendesign #kitchendiner #kitcheninspo #kitchenremodel #kitchenrenovation #kitchensofinstagram #magnoliahome #modernfarmhouse #modernfarmhousestyle #neutralabodes #neutraldecor #neutralhome #neutralkitchen #neutralstyle #neutraltones #newbuild #newbuildhome #newbuildjourney #quartzworktops #shakerkitchen #whitekitchen
Can you imagine a more beautiful thing?! I can’t Can you imagine a more beautiful thing?! I can’t! 🤣

My son is loving our @treasuresfromjennifer calendar and keeping track of the days now. He keeps telling me how many days it is until the first day of fall rather than asking me 900 times “when is it going to be fall, mama?!” 😜

Do you have a calendar or weather board in your home for your children? 

#homeschoolmom #homeschoolroom #homeschoollife #homeschoollookslikethis
Anybody else excited about apple picking season?! Anybody else excited about apple picking season?! 🍎 

When September rolls around, you’ll find us doing fun fall-themed homeschool stuff, decorating the house for fall (yes that’s a family affair!) and going apple picking!!!

What’s your favorite thing about September?! 

#septembervibes #fallinnewengland #fallvibes #applepickingseason #fallinnh #newenglandfall #newenglandlife #newhampshirefall #appleorchards
Introducing Theology of Home III: At the Sea 🌊 Introducing Theology of Home III: At the Sea 🌊 

This is the newest release in the amazing book series by @carrie.gress and @noellemering from @tan_books !! 

A must-have for homemakers, At The Sea draws from literature, mythology, and scripture to show readers the rich connections between the sea and mystery, recreation, yearning, and joyful reunions.

Within these pages you’ll find inspiration for home, womanhood, and family. Learn more about water in Scripture, Our Lady as Stella Maris, and more. This book is beautifully laid out and includes breathtaking photography that will capture your heart. 

It would make a beautiful gift or a lovely addition to your book collection. 

Use the TAN Books link in my bio to shop and use ✨coupon code RAISINGWILD-15 for 15% off!✨

#fashionablewife #fashionablehome #homemaker #homemakerlife #homedesignideas #homedecorations #theologyofhome #homeishere #domesticchurch #tradcat #bookstagram #bookshelf

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Looking at pictures of my last birth makes me grie Looking at pictures of my last birth makes me grieve my baby in Heaven that I just lost a few weeks ago. 

Knowing all the firsts we won’t be getting. All the newborn snuggles, that new baby smell, the joy of breastfeeding, it’s all gone. Slipped through my fingers in a moment, for no reason. 

No one thinks it will ever happen to them. Nothing prepares you for the loss of your child and no one can fully understand and appreciate the intense level of grief and pain until it happens to you. And if you do not understand this kind of grief, consider yourself very, very blessed and fortunate. 

Sometimes being open to life, also means being open to loss. 💔

#miscarriage #miscarriagesupport #miscarriageawareness #lossmom
READ this post before you LIKE it. 💔💔💔 A READ this post before you LIKE it. 💔💔💔

A few weeks ago, we were planning to announce that baby #6 would be joining our crew in January 2023, but instead we've been processing the death of our beloved child... 

At our 20 week anatomy scan, when we were joyfully expecting to see what our little babe looked like, we were met the words that will haunt us forever - "We can't find a heartbeat."

Two days later, we found ourselves in a foreign environment, after 5 beautiful homebirths, naturally delivering our stillborn son in a hospital. 

Dylan Marinus Ballard was born on August 31st, (our first son's birthday) at 6:43pm and weighing only 7.5 oz. 

Tearfully and filled with grief beyond words, we had to say hello and goodbye at the same time. Our beautiful son. 

Seeing his face, holding his tiny body, and admiring his little toes that looked just like daddy's was just a glimpse into the miracle of life that God allows us to partake in. When you fully realize the sanctity of human life, it makes it even harder to say goodbye. Not being able to take my baby home with me was the most gut wrenching, heartbreaking pain imaginable. It is a pain unlike all others that only mothers who have lost a child can even begin to understand. 

The hardest part of losing a child, is living everyday afterwards. It's such a devastating loss, a loss so unimaginable, that you have no idea how you will get through each day or survive the grief that is in your heart. No matter what age a child is, a parent's heart is forever tied to that child and there's nothing that will break that tie, including the passing of time. That's the beauty of unconditional love. 

Our only consolation is knowing that our little saint is in the loving arms of Jesus now. We look forward to meeting him in Heaven someday.

📷 birth photography by Melissa Lee Photography

#griefjourney #griefandloss #miscarriage #miscarriageawareness #griefawareness #griefislove #itsokaynottobeokay #largefamily #largefamilymom #bigfamily #bigfamilylife #lossmom #pregnancyloss #momlife #pregnancylossawareness #stillbirth #stillborn #stillbornstillloved #stillbornawareness #babyloss #miscarriagemomma #bereavedparents #lossmoms
Some of my favorite fall eats here! 😋 What ar Some of my favorite fall eats here! 😋 

What are your favorite fall comfort foods???

#momlife #homemaker #octobervibes #feelslikefall
Need an easy solution for dinner but don’t want Need an easy solution for dinner but don’t want fast food? @wildgrainbox delivers bake-from-frozen breads, pastries, and fresh pasta right to your door!

Clean ingredients, real sourdough, artisanal pastries, hand cut fresh pasta, eco friendly shipping, and they support small bakeries! 👩🏼‍🍳

Every item is freezer to table in 25 minutes or less so you can enjoy homemade quality food, FAST. I whipped up a loaf of sourdough bread and delicious pasta with marinara sauce in under 30 minutes for me and my husband to enjoy a little date night at home. It was like going to a fancy Italian restaurant, but we go to eat in our pajamas!

We love that Wildgrain is passionate about delivering slow-fermented sourdough bread‘s, fresh pasta, and artisan pastries directly to your door and I love that they are local to me! 

WANT TO TRY IT?! The first 50 people to use my coupon code and link can get $30 off their first box PLUS free croissants in every box! 

Use coupon code FASHIONABLEWIFE to snag this deal QUICK! 💃🏼

LlNK in bio and in stories! 🛒

#momlife #homemaker #mywildgrain #datenightideas
Introducing Caraway’s most requested products, t Introducing Caraway’s most requested products, the NEW Mini Fry Pan & Mini Sauce Pan!!! 

By popular demand, they now have miniature versions of their two best-selling À La Carte pieces, now in compact and cute sizes!! 

These are designed for cooking smaller portions and are a perfect complement to your current Caraway cookware collection. 

🥳Get 10% off the new Mini Fry Pan & Mini Sauce Pan using my link in my bio! 🥳

#momlife #homemaker #homelifestyle #kitcheninspo
What better way to welcome fall than with @caraway What better way to welcome fall than with @caraway_home latest products, the Mini Fry Pan & Mini Sauce Pan!!! 

By popular demand, they now have miniature versions of their two best-selling À La Carte pieces, now in compact & cute sizes. These are designed for cooking smaller portions and make the perfect complement to your current Caraway collection. 

Get 10% off the new Mini Fry Pan & Mini Sauce Pan using my link! 🛒

⁣LlNK is in my bio and stories! 💃🏼 Or use code FASHIONABLEWIFE-MINI22 
.⁣
.⁣
.⁣
.⁣
.⁣
#cottageliving #decor #decoration #farmhouselove #hgtv #homedesign #interior #interiordecor #interiorstyling #kitchendesign #kitchendiner #kitcheninspo #kitchenremodel #kitchenrenovation #kitchensofinstagram #magnoliahome #modernfarmhouse #modernfarmhousestyle #neutralabodes #neutraldecor #neutralhome #neutralkitchen #neutralstyle #neutraltones #newbuild #newbuildhome #newbuildjourney #quartzworktops #shakerkitchen #whitekitchen
Can you imagine a more beautiful thing?! I can’t Can you imagine a more beautiful thing?! I can’t! 🤣

My son is loving our @treasuresfromjennifer calendar and keeping track of the days now. He keeps telling me how many days it is until the first day of fall rather than asking me 900 times “when is it going to be fall, mama?!” 😜

Do you have a calendar or weather board in your home for your children? 

#homeschoolmom #homeschoolroom #homeschoollife #homeschoollookslikethis
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