Mr. Thrifty likes to run, play tennis and shoot hoops. As such he has found certain brands and model of shoes that he tends to buy over and over again. For example, in running shoes, Mr. Thrifty loves the New Balance 856 model.

Traditionally, Mr. Thrifty would stock up on shoes at manufacturers outlet stores or wait for shoes to go on sale at a local store. More recently, Mr. Thrifty has been buying his running shoes on eBay. If you know your exact shoe model and size, this may be a good option for you. For example, this week Mr. Thrifty bought a new pair of 11 ½ D width New Balance 856 running shoes on eBay for $23 (+$10 shipping). These running shoes normally retail for more than $90 at your local Oshman’s or running shoe store. The shoes arrived yesterday and fit perfectly.

Note: only do this if you know your EXACT shoe size and model that you want to buy. The last thing you want is to get shoes that do not fit and then have to resell them on eBay. Also, when shopping on eBay for shoes, check out last years models.  Many times running shoe stores will clean out their inventory on eBay and you can get bargains on last year’s model. Just make sure the shoes have not been sitting in someone’s 95 degree garage. Severe heat and cold causes polypropylene to break down and your "cheap shoes" will be just that...

Happy running…