Depending on the report you read, the average person in the U.S. owns anywhere from 12 to 19 pairs of shoes and buys 5 to 7 new pairs every year! Sadly, only about 15% of all the unwanted old shoes and clothes are donated or sold.
If you find yourself with too many shoes, how can you create less shoe waste in the first place? Here are a few easy tips to cut your closet’s shoe pile.
Follow these “less shoes” tips!
• Buy only the shoes you need. Make sure you don’t already have a similar pair that will work with your outfit.
• Save up and buy fewer shoes of higher quality so they will last longer. You’ll save money in the long run and keep your shoe count low.
• Repair shoes instead of replacing them.
• Share your unwanted shoes. Ask neighbors, friends, or family if they could use your unwanted shoes, especially those that you only wore a few times.
• Sell good condition or highly desired shoes through online marketplaces, such as Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, Poshmark, eBay, or OfferUp.
• Host a used shoe drive with Soles4Souls or to benefit other organizations that help people in need of shoes.
Image Credit: Liudmila Chernetska | iStock | Getty Images Plus