If you're a frequent visitor of Your Feet Make You Unique, then you know I love shoes and I proudly wear a size 11. If I could, I'd probably buy a pair of shoes every single day. Making a simple monthly budget that includes shoes and clothing along with your other expenses will make life easier. Of course
Supra Hats, it's easy to open your purse, pull out your credit card and charge your life away. Living life on a budget will help you get those $200 designer heels you've been eyeing for the last 2 months. It's rather simple, if you have the cash, then buy the shoes! If you don't, then don't.
I know. It's easier said than done, but I'm actually taking my own advice. There was a time, I'd flip out a credit card at the drop of a hat
Texas Rangers Hats Avenues For You To Buy Your Ext, but not these days. I've seen the light. So, I thought I'd pass on some tips that I've learned over the years from my own experiences, books, websites, finance gurus and ex-shopaholics.
I hope some of these shoe shopping tips will be helpful. Pick and choose the ones that work for you. Shop Wisely!
1. Plan out a monthly budget.
If you don't sit down and spend your money on paper on purpose with a written budget that includes shoes and clothing expenses, you'll buy those Jimmy Choos and wonder why 2 checks have bounced and your credit cards are maxed out. Need help with budgeting your money? Get Dave Ramsey's Free Budgeting Tools.
2. Don't go shopping when you're bored.
Studies show women who are bored exhibit more risk-taking behaviors. After the euphoria of carrying out 10 pairs of shoes from 10 different stores totaling $2000.00 wears off, then what?
3. Know exactly what you want to spend.
When I go to the store, I know exactly how much I can spend because I have prepared a written budget. If the pair of boots I want are over my limit, then I'll leave them in the store. It doesn't mean I won't shed a tear or two. If they're meant for you, they'll be there when you have the money to buy them.
4. Shoe sales.
This may take a little work on your part, but doing a little comparison shopping can save you time and money. The internet has made this task simple. Now for those of you who wear large size shoes (sizes 10 and up,) you may have to do a little more research. Several websites can make your research a breeze: like.com, pricegrabber.com, bizrate.com, shopping.com, ebay.com and more...
5. Check out online shoe stores.
The one great thing about shopping online is the convenience of leisurely scrolling through sites and finding exactly what you're looking for at the right price. Often times, sites like Zappos.com offer free shipping and other discounts. Shopping online saves on gas and your wallet. If you're like me, I least want a snack after I go shopping.
6. Use them or lose them- gift certificates.
Make sure to use your gift certificates before they expires. Pair your gift certificate with a sale item, the money you've budgeted and you'll save big.
7. Make extra money online.
A little extra money can help keep you out of trouble and fund your shoe obsession.
8. Buy in bulk when it makes sense.
If you're a woman who has large size feet, it may make sense to buy shoes in bulk. I don't mean you have to buy 10 pairs of shoes. I simply mean if you wear a size 14 and the shoes are available in 2 different colors and/or you know this style of shoes will work with just about everything in your wardrobe. Why not buy 2 pairs? If you wait you could risk your favorite pair of shoes being out of stock.
9. Sign up for shoe giveaways.
If you enjoy contests, then sign up for free shoe giveaways. Win Free Shoes atZappos.com
10. Check out consignment stores.
Occasionally, you'll find new or gently used designer shoes at consignment stores. Your budget will thank you.
On the other hand, I look at all these structured shoes like crutches. Yes, we may need it for a while. But, when we consistently wear them and use them, we can never regain our natural ability to move the way we were originally made to - Pain free, explosive and flexible.A plain simple running shoe that allows your feet to spread out is sufficient and good for any weekend jogger. It also happens to be much easier on the wallet! If you do want a fancier shoe, the Nike Free series would be a good buy because it goes beyond un-restriction of the feet; it mimics the shape of the feet and offers the feet much more control.Ultimately, the injury and pain does not come from the lack of a jazzed up shoe, but rather dysfunctional feet.
My Feet / Knee / Shin / Calf hurts because of my Pronation. What do I do now?
I would first make a wild guess that the sole of your shoe is eaten up excessively on one side of the shoe. This could occur on one or both shoes. Do not assume that both feet equally underpronate or overpronate.The first thing to do is to throw away all your shoes that reflect this unevenness. Go buy new pairs of shoes; neutral shoes that do not have excessive support. Have fun shopping, do it with a friend, a spouse or alone!After a while, if you do not buy new pairs of shoes, your recovery will be impeded because you never throw away the crutch.The next step is to slowly walk barefooted and as often as possible. You can start with your house, followed by the beach or park. The aim is to re-introduce your 26 foot bones and muscles to the sensation of the natural foot movement. They have been trapped in the shoe for all these years.