If you're a runner (or even just a fitness enthusiast), you know the joy that comes with getting a beautiful, brand-spanking-new pair of running shoes. You probably are also familiar with the woes that come with a post-shoe-buying credit card statement, no? Good running shoes are rarely cheap, but hope has arrived, in the form of a savings guide. "Cheap Nike shoes" might still be an oxymoron, but there are ways to save up to 40 percent on the retail price.

Running shoe review site RunRepeat recently conducted a study [1] and analyzed nearly 200,000 prices of about 2,500 pairs of unique running shoes, across 36 brands, from 41 US retailers (aka 99.99 percent of the total market — they covered their bases). And why on earth would they do this? To help you save money, of course! Here are the top tips for saving money on your next running shoe purchase; you can also peep all the stats RunRepeat gathered in their infographic below.

1. Buy online: save 38 percent. Skip the line, do a little online shopping, and save a ton. On average, shoes purchased online were $46 off.
2. Get last year's model (online): save 50 percent. Unless you HAVE to get the latest and greatest, opt for an older version of a shoe to save an additional 20 percent when you're shopping online. Trust us, they'll run just as well as the new ones.
3. Buy a competition version: save 17 percent. RunRepeat found that race-specific shoes tend to be less expensive than the everyday variety. They even have a list of race running shoes [2] you can check out to find your next (discounted!) pair. The list includes the popular Nike Free FlyKnit, Brooks Launch, and Mizuno Wave Hitogami.
4. Pick the right brands: save 53 to 62 percent. Scott, Reebok, or Skechers will yield the most savings. Brands to avoid if you're trying to save: Vibram and Topo Athletic. Also, multisport brands like Reebok and Puma tend to have higher discounts (13 percent) than running-specific brands like Vibram or On Running.
5. Shop here, not there: save 30 percent. The highest savings on running shoes could be found at Sierra Trading Post, Amazon, or Shoebacca. Who gives the worst deals? Road Runner, Denali Outdoor, and Zappos gave only 1 to 4 percent in savings (ouch).
6. Skip arch support if you don't need it. The more arch support, the higher the price in general.
7. Go lighter. Running shoes on average are $5.60 more per every ounce heavier they are than the average shoes. One more reason to lighten up.