Not that these aren't all very valid but there's several things I've learned from being poor myself. I have actually been very blessed to get out of the severe brokeness but I still live very modestly just in case and I love offering help anyone willing wants it.
First thing: buy secondhand or look for "free" stuff. There's tons of groups on Facebook devoted to stuff like this and your shoe example, I've gotten $60 second hand shoes that were barely used for $15 and they last just as long as they normally would if you bought them new. Also clothes, house wares, furniture, baby stuff galore, it's a gold mine all for very cheap if you look in the right places and people will usually negotiate with you. Plus thrift stores and second hand shops such as Plato's closet (which Imo can be a little bit pricey so I mostly stick to Facebook groups) if you have children in diapers, look into cloth diapering, it will save you thousands. If you're any good with a sewing machine, it's extremely simple to whip up your own stock, Hancock's and Joann pretty much always have the necessary fabric on sale for 40-50% off on top of coupons and don't forget to hit up the remnants bin. Or buy second hand, if they're properly cared for, they're sanitary and will last through several children.
Food: you can pick up a secondhand crock pot and make tons of recipes while you're at work and have a delicious smelling house and yummy food waiting for you when you get home. My favorite place for cheap recipes is budgetbytes.com and of course pinterest. You'd be surprised how well you can eat for very cheap. I never used coupons because it seems to me like everything there aren't coupons for are expensive processed junk. The closer you get to a food's natural state, the cheaper. Yes there's more prep involved normally but that's where the crockpot comes in. I also cut out as much meat as possible since this is by far the most expensive ingredient in meals, you can find a few healthy, high protein, MUCH cheaper substitutes that I feel are just as good and occasionally even better.
Paying to cash your check: Before you say anything, yes I know there are tons of stupid fees on cards such as greendot or even regular pay cards BUT there are many that have lots of free transactions as long as you follow the info guide they give you and stay away from transactions with high dollar fees, they can work pretty well. It's all about paying attention to the fine print. Also, I know of many banks that will give you a "probationary account" for bad credit or bad banking history. It's not always available but definitely worth looking for.
Deposit/rent: Not sure about everywhere but at least in my area apartments often have specials where they will waive the move in fee if you move in by x date. Some of them are shitty, some of them are really nice, so it's not just ones in bad areas that do this. Houses though are a different story, I was fortunate enough to find a landlord who let me pay off my deposit by adding $100 to the rent every month so it's not completely hopeless, it's just difficult. This was not through a real estate company or anything, it was a private owner which is usually more willing to work with you.
Utilities that want a deposit: Not everyone will be able to use this but in my case, I was able to open an electricity account my a relative's name (with permission obviously) to avoid the massive deposit they required so if anyone is willing to help you, hit them up. Companies don't care who's name is on the account as long as that shit gets paid. Oh and don't fuck that person over on payments because after all, they are being extremely helpful to you and that's the best way to never get help again. Duh.
Car insurance: Yes you pay more for bad credit but if you keep your driving record clean, have certain safety features, have been driving more than 3 years, avoid accidents, and in some states take a defensive driving course, you qualify for discounts with most companies that can make a huge difference in your premium. It's also taken into consideration how long you stay with one company. It you jump around from company to company every six month, it definitely affects your rate negatively. Also several companies have something similar to state Farm's drive safe and save which basically gives you a discount based on how much you drive and it can save you up to 50% on your insurance if you meet certain requirements such as low annual mileage.
Open a savings account: For some people, this might seem stupid because why put money away when you barely have any? But that's exactly why. If you get into an emergency and you have absolutely no money, you're fucked. However often times if you can at least put down a deposit on whatever it may be, there will be an option of a payment plan. You don't even have to put much in there. Maybe just keep a change jar and deposit it when it's full or put like five bucks in every check. It will add up and it will come in handy when you really need it. You can't afford not to have a savings at all.
And this one is a no brainer: Budget budget budget. Plan where every penny is going to go and stick to it.
Cleaning your house: Baking soda and vinegar will clean just about anything very well, are both dirt cheap, and don't leave a harsh chemical smell like other household cleaners (if that's important to you) and are safe for use around food. The vinegar smell goes away when it's dry. You can turn baking soda unto washing soda for homemade powder laundry detergent plus a couple extra inexpensive ingredients. Baking soda will freshen your carpet and clean your stove. Vinegar will soften your clothes. You can air dry laundry to save money on the electric bill and hand wash dishes. I know your time off work is very precious, but if you clean a little every day, it's so much easier to keep up with plus it helps to improve your mood. Basically, don't pay extra for things you can make/ do yourself.
If you have a car: DO YOUR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE! I can't stress this enough. A car is an investment and if you want the investment to last and get the most out of it, you absolutely have to take care of it. Also, learn about it. Learn to do simple repairs. Look your vehicle up on YouTube and you can find how to fix just about anything yourself. Maybe you even have a buddy willing to lend you a couple tools so you don't have to buy your own. Actually, the YouTube thing doesn't just apply to your vehicle, you can find out how to fix pretty much anything at all on there and it can possibly save you from having to buy another one of whatever broke.
Tl;dr hopefully some useful advice on making your money go as far as possible.