My shoe dilemma
I have extremely bad feet. I am not talking about the gross kind. I mean that I had surgery on my feet when I was 25. Every time I take a step, I sheer off part of my big toe joint due to the way my legs and hips are formed. Sounds painful? It is. Nonetheless, I am what the old people call orthotic dependent. I can’t go barefooted and if I don’t have my orthotics in my tennis shoes, I can’t walk without pain. I have 1 pair of tennis shoes and 2 pairs of boots that I can wear. Yep, I have 3 pairs of shoes that I can wear for longer than 2 hours without having to take pain medication. And trust me, I am not a wimp. So …
I do have a pair of sandals that I ironically got at Wal-Mart that I can wear around the house but not without discomfort. How would you like to know that you have to wear closed toe, leather shoes all year round?!?!?! I also have a size 2.5 children’s size foot so the support in the shoes I have to choose from are nil.
Now I have a dilemma. I have the opportunity to save and have shoes made specifically for my feet. There is a cobbler (shoe maker) in the area that also works at my prosthetics place where I get my orthotics. He can make me shoes to fit my problems from scratch. He can build orthotics into the shoe itself. I’m not talking ugly shoes either. I bring in a picture of a shoe, sandal, boot, etc that I like and he can reproduce it only with the specifications I need to be able to walk with and not have any pain.
Sound too good to be true? It’s not. It just costs $400 per pair of shoes. Now you see my dilemma? You can pick any shoe out of the store and walk out in them with no pain. I look at shoes and rate them as to the level of pain they would cause me and how quickly they would cause it. So I am thinking of saving my money and having him make me a pair of sandals for summer so that I could actually go around and not have such sweaty feet this year. Ever try to wear tennis shoes every day, all day?
What do you think? Is it worth the money? I am not objective since I just want a pair of shoes that aren’t painful. So I value your comments. Let me know if you would save the money and get them or not.
Tags: frugal life, shoesRelated Stories
POSTED IN: clothes, financial matters, frugal living
20 opinions for My shoe dilemma
Maria
Feb 26, 2008 at 9:52 am
I think you should get at least one pair. If he is making them, they are undoubtedly of high quality, and as they break down, much like Birkenstock, etc, he can probably resole them, so you would be able to wear the shoes for YEARS rather than one or two seasons. To me, that alone makes the shoe worth it. Add to that the feeling of wearing sandles during the summer (if that his what you have made) or a trendier shoe that you almost never get to (or would have thought of) wear, and the psychological benefits just push the deal over the edge.
Now, I know some people don’t care if they ever wear a “cool” shoe, but it is a part of my decision making process, and it seems to me that you are wanting a change in the shoe department!
Good luck!
Emily
Feb 26, 2008 at 10:02 am
Go for it! There are things in life that are definitly WORTH the money, and to not be in pain is work well over $400. If you can afford it and like the shoes, get more than one pair. My philosophy is that you should spend your money on things you value and bring joy and enhance your life. This fits into that catagory. Good luck!
heather
Feb 26, 2008 at 10:05 am
Interesting–I have similar issues with my feet though for me wearing heels alleviates most of the pain and then I don’t have to wear the orthotics. This is the only reason I am able to buy cheap shoes. (I should add if you, like me, wear child sized shoes go to Stride-right. I find that many of theirs have much, much more support.)
In that case I would definitely have him make you a pair of sandals–if those work out well then you can consider getting others made down the line.
Char
Feb 26, 2008 at 10:10 am
Your feet and your comfort are worth it for one perfect pair! Is it possible to have your insurance pick up part of the cost?
Tracee Sioux
Feb 26, 2008 at 10:14 am
Of course it’s worth the money! No Pain is always worth the money. Sandals sound like a great choice since you already have the winter shoes covered. Pick really pretty ones - brown for summer should last longer.
HickoryChick
Feb 26, 2008 at 10:28 am
I buy shoes for two reasons: comfort and cost. I would not sacrifice one for the other. Therefore, if I couldn’t get a comfortable shoe at a low cost, I’d pony up for the comfy ones! Go for it girl! You are thrifty in so many other ways that I think you can let yourself splurge a little bit!
kellys
Feb 26, 2008 at 10:31 am
Unfortunately, my insurance won’t cover the cost. If I do have the sandals made, I will pay to have the mold made and then have the shoes made. He takes payments but the thought of paying so much for a pair of shoes just goes against my nature.
jessica
Feb 26, 2008 at 11:12 am
Maybe you’ve been saving money for so long so that you can splurge on comfortable shoes. i think you deserve it! Would a pair of shoes that fits your feet well change your life for the better? Do it!
Pickel
Feb 26, 2008 at 12:54 pm
OMGosh! Get the shoes! I had knee surgery a few years ago and can’t wear heals anymore for longer than about an hour (I know, nothing compared to your issue) but I now know the comfort of good shoes and nothing compares.
If the mold is worth it and you can use it again have him make you another pair in a couple of years (if your feet have not changed).
My husband has always said that shoes are one of the most important investments, especially for children, because they have to learn to walk correctly and learn gross motor skills. If someone is not comfortable that all goes out the window.
Pay the money for comfort and health.
DramaMama
Feb 26, 2008 at 1:52 pm
I totally agree w/Maria. I buy my hubby expensive shoes and sandals, like Birks, and then have them resoled. It has saved me so much dough, especially b/c he has large feet and it’s hard to find shoes. I tell him to just treat them like an investment and take care of them, which means no tossing them down the steps like his lawn shoes! It sounds like everyone agrees…you should buy them! And please post a pic of them when you do =)
Solomother
Feb 26, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Absolutely, spend the money on a decent pair of shoes for your poor feet. Hand made shoes last for EVER, and I think $400 is money well spent on a pair of shoes that will take away the pain you live with daily.
It’s a bargain.
Cortney
Feb 26, 2008 at 3:10 pm
BUY the shoes!!! Just think if a DR. wrote a scrip for them you would have it filled, right??? I say get atleast 2 pairs of.. And I would love to see pics of them!
kellys
Feb 26, 2008 at 3:35 pm
OK, so if I do decide to choke on the price, any ideas as to a cute pair of sandals that has a back to them? They can’t have open back due to my prescription.
Jess
Feb 26, 2008 at 3:55 pm
I agree. Go for it. At least one pair. Sacrificing your well-being vs $400… Get yourself those shoes! The idea that you daily live in pain makes me hurt for you. Even one day without the pain would be worth. And, if you get sandals, you could still wear them around the house in the winter time, no?
amie
Feb 26, 2008 at 4:59 pm
You MUST get them! You have only one pair of feet in a lifetime & you must take care of them. Is there anyway this oucl qualify as a medical expense?
Frances
Feb 26, 2008 at 9:36 pm
I’m so sorry to hear of your troubles and pain, that has to be so hard! I’m the worlds cheapest person and if I had the problems you do, I would get AT LEAST one pair. Your feet need to support your entire body…you definitely deserve at least one pair of really decent shoes. Oh and this is coming from a person that is not into shoes at all, but this isn’t for aesthetics, it would be for your health. Believe me, I know how hard it is to justify spending that much money on yourself. Think of all the ways you DO save your family money. You really can’t afford not to do this. Have fun picking them out :)
Amanda
Feb 27, 2008 at 8:19 pm
I’m so sorry to hear about your problem, but I totally agree with the other ladies on this site– go for it!! Splurge on yourself and get some good looking shoes! While you’re at it, get a pedi so your tooties look cute, too!!
A great place to find shoes for inspiration is zappos.com. If you can’t find a closed back sandal, maybe you could try a pair of flats. Just a suggestion. Hope everything works out for you! Good luck!!! :)
Karen
Feb 29, 2008 at 8:37 pm
You should definitely get a pair of sandals made.
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