Comments on: There Was an Old Woman…

By: Andrew A. Sailer

Andrew A. Sailer — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 16:04:45 +0000

I like your content on your website, but it looks as though your RSS feed is offline? Maybe it has something to do with your host. I just thought from webmaster to webmaster I would warn you of this problem so you don’t miss out on potential subscribers! If it still works for you have a friend try it, could be blocking external connections.

By: Emma

Emma — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:00:51 +0000

Elvin, I have:
- 1 pair of running shoes (around $80)
- 1 pair of black dress shoes (gift from my mom)
- 2 pairs of flip flops (for wearing out / wearing in the apartment; these were gifts or purchases at $3)
- 1 pair of brown canvas slip ons (to replace my previous pair that I wore through, for $15)
- 1 pair of croc-like shoes for vacations / rainy days when I don’t want my running shoes soaked through ($10)
- 1 pair of winter boots ($85)
- 1 pair of heels (to wear with dresses – $30)

Total: 8 different pairs. When something gets worn out, I look for a replacement pair, but I don’t actively hunt for shoes! My dress shoes were probably around the $150 mark, but they’ve served their purpose for more than 3 years now, with regular wearing. I’ll have to replace them within the year, but paying more for something that is going to last beyond one season isn’t unreasonable. Would I pay that much for flip flops? No, they have a different purpose, and aren’t being worn for at least 9 hours a day, nor do I need to be able to run for a bus in them!

By: wondering

wondering — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 02:04:24 +0000

I keep saying I don’t have much footwear, but they do add up quickly after a while. But I bet these are not the type of footwear you’re thinking of!

- one pair of business shoes
- one pair of running shoes for everyday
- one pair of old running shoes for dirty work
- one pair of hiking boots
- one pair of sandals for when it is hot
- one pair of dressy half-boots
- one pair of heels
- one pair of winter boots
- one pair of crocs to wear as river shoes
- two pairs of moccasins

My partner has:

- one pair of work boots
- one pair of hiking boots
- one pair of dress shoes
- one pair of sandals
- one pair of running shoes for everyday
- one pair of old running shoes for dirty work
- one pair of cowboy boots
- one pair of slippers
- one pair of winter boots

As you can see, we’re not exactly shoe fanatics. Many of these pairs of footwear have been around a long, long time. And still we have 20 pairs for two people!

By: babydolls

babydolls — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:31:41 +0000

There is a saying that “Clothing is an art of expressing one’s personality”. This saying holds a great truth in itself. This is why people pay so much attention on their clothes. Every person with their personal dress will show qute different out of thousands of peoples.

By: Shawn

Shawn — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:45:51 +0000

as a guy, I just don’t understand what’s with women and shoes. My girlfriend is also an example of this. There has to be something similar with men that women don’t understand. Maybe an obsession with electronics?

By: Elvin

Elvin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:11:19 +0000

Folks,
It’s not the amount necessarily you spend, it’s the quantity. If you own only 3 pairs of shoes one black, one brown, one pair boots, and they cost $200 each..that’s okay…but fess up ladies….how many of you out there only own 3 pairs of shoes.

My wife alone has more than 10 at an average cost of $125 per pair…do the math folks.

Gail is trying to point out consumeritis…..buying elaborate stuff at mass quantities = personal ruin.

As I said…What you own will eventually own you! Question is….how conforting will it be to have all those shoes when you’re living in a car…not very….

By: tess

tess — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:57:34 +0000

My 8 yr-old daughter decided that 3 pairs of shoes are needs, any after that are wants. I tend to agree with her.
The way I read it, Gail is not saying there is anything wrong with buying good quality shoes. Not at all.
She is questioning why a person would spend loads of unsaved money on a pair of brand-name shoes when it leaves them poor in other areas.
It also seems she is commenting on how easy it is to fall into the trap of going for immediate gratification versus having to endure the sometimes agonisingly slow time it takes until a person gets the thrill of seeing a large savings account.
And I don’t think she is talking specifically about shoes – they are just an easy way of illustrating a point.

By: Christine

Christine — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:54:42 +0000

Gail – The moral of your story reminded me of something my mum used to say to me when I first started out on my own…. “if you think you can afford to spend your money on that crap, why aren’t you saving more?” Hmmm….. yet a different way of looking at it I guess. I took her up on her sound advise and now, 20 years later, have more than $500,000 in savings and no debt other than my mortgage which will be paid off in less than 5yrs. Needless to say, I could care less what people think of my shoes (or anything else) especially when I check out the status of my accounts.

BTW – like the new look to your site. Keep up the great work!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:43:02 +0000

mmmm…Fluevogs. I have three pairs. All retailed for $250 plus. My price? No more than $70 a pair, all bought on ebay. What did we do before ebay anyway?

I think a lot of people assume when they buy expensive, quality shoes that the money is well spent because they’ll last forever, and they’ll wear them forever. But it’s only hindsight that proves this – plenty of expensive, quality items do fall apart or fall out of style. I’ve has $100 shoes that barely lasted a year, and $20 shoes that lasted four.

By: Monica

Monica — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:51:40 +0000

I have several pairs of shoe. Some call it a fetish. I just like to look nice and shoes help that. BUT, I don’t spend a ridiculous amount on them. Many of them are designer, good quality and wear and last well. I am SAVING for a pair of Christian Louboutin’s. Saving being the key word. They are a reward for my weight loss goal and I don’t get to buy them until I reach the goal. I figure if I save the money over the next 6 months, my weight loss goal should be able to follow!

Gail’s point is that too many people buy frivolity (shoes) on credit and then complain they have no money or can’t buy food because pay day is Friday.

I am so glad I watch TDDUP and found this blog. It has truly changed the way I view money and stuff!

By: moneymagnet

moneymagnet — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:18:06 +0000

I must admit I’m a bit of a shoe pig. While I never thought I had any sort of shoe fetish, apparently I’m known at the office by my shoe collection under my desk (probably anywhere between 10 pairs of shoes/4 pairs of boots, give or take). I choose flats to walk to/from the office and change into my heels once I reach my desk and since I’d rather not drag shoes back and forth between home and office, my footwear collects under my desk. I don’t own any designer shoes and probably have not spent more than $100 on any one pair. Thankfully, in my 20s, I never wore stilettos or extremely high heels (I’m barely 5’2”), so my feet have been good to me – no issues with bunions, heel spurs or falling arches and my shoe collection hasn’t put me into debt. My secret shoe acquisition would be a pair of Louboutins – maybe one day

By: Derek

Derek — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:02:44 +0000

Best. Blog. Ever!

By: Tara

Tara — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:41:24 +0000

I prefer to buy fewer shoes that are of great quality. I do own a few pairs of designer shoes, and they are extremely comfortable and durable. I’m not sorry I bought them, and they are paid for. I spend almost nothing on entertainment, restaurants, or vices (drinking/smoking) so I think it’s just fine to spend that part of my budget on shoes.

By: Natalie

Natalie — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:08:13 +0000

The shoes I wear today are 16 years old. I considered it a real find when I dug them out of a box of my stuff my Mom found at her house. They’re covering up my mismatched socks. I’m wearing all my socks out and am on my last 10 pairs and they’re not all matching.

A friend of mine recently explained that there are 3 financial ways to live your life.

#1. Cheap, cheap, cheap, scrounging and hoarding every penny. My great aunt did this saving 20% of her income and at the end of her life said ” I only ever took a couple nice trips, I could have done so much more”

#2 Frugal with the expectation of abundance. A good middle ground.

#3 Spendthrift. Judging from TDDUP, it’s too stressful.

I’ll take#2. I’ll wear out my socks but I expect to buy something really fabulous that means a lot more to me/my family than socks and shoes.

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:29:45 +0000

I wouldn’t even know where to buy the above mentioned shoes. My most expensive shoes are some holiday shoes that I purchased in 2000: $75, my winter boots are the most expensive at $100. I love shoes, and I have plenty, but not super expensive ones. Okay my running shoes are 80, but wear them everyday!