Buying shoes that do not fit or give
value for the money spent on them
can, among other things, affect
your finances. Simon Ejembi
highlights things people should
consider when they go shopping
for shoes
Imelda Marcos loves shoes. In 1986
when the former beauty queen and her
husband, Ferdinand, who was Philippine
president at the time were forced to flee
the country, she reportedly left over a
thousand shoes behind.
Imagine how much those shoes would
have cost her. Then imagine the
amount of money she would have
wasted if those shoes did not fit her
properly and consequently she couldn’t
wear them at all.
Whether you love shoes like Marcos, or
you just wear them because doing so is
necessary, there is need for you to
ensure that you are getting value for
your money.
For many people the process of buying
shoes is simple: you see them, you like
them, you buy them and wear them.
But many other people have learnt the
hard way that there is need consider
many other things when buying shoes.
You surely don’t want to end up walking
with a limp during an important event
just because your shoes are too tight.
Neither do you want to end up being
unable to show off those rehearsed
dance moves on your wedding day
because you have got blisters all over
your feet, no thanks to the most
expensive pair of shoes you have ever
bought.
To ensure that you do not end up
buying shoes you won’t use, thereby
wasting money, you need to:
Know your size
When was the last time you measured
your feet? Do you even know your size
or are one of those who says things like
“I can wear size 43 or 44? Knowing your
size is important. To know your size, it
is important to have your feet
measured. And this is not something
you are expected to do once in a
decade.
Generally, people – especially young
people – are advised to measure their
feet now and then, preferably twice a
year. The elderly are not left out. It is
believed that as people age, they are
likely to notice changes in the shape
and size of their feet.
Consequently, it is important that you
do not just measure the length of your
feet; the arch and width are also
important.
It is also recommended that you stand
when measuring your feet. This is
because when your feet expand when
you stand and contract a bit when they
are off the floor.
If you have challenges measuring your
feet, you can visit a very good shoe
store and get their sales personnel to
help you with the measurement.
It will be helpful to note that shoe sizes
may differ slightly depending on the
designer. For instance a size 12 shoe
produced by designer A might be
slightly bigger than a size 12 shoe
made by designer B. This makes it
important for you to try shoes out
before buying them.
Choose colours that suit your
wardrobe
When buying shoes, it is important to
consider what you will wear them with.
In fact, it is important that you consider
your wardrobe. Will the colour you are
looking at go with what you have? You
are to wear a black suit for your
company’s AGM, are those red boots
appropriate?
Make sure the price is right
Shoes can be very expensive. It is for
this reason that you need to ensure that
the shoes you buy are good value for
the money.
Bear in mind that the fact that the fact
that a pair of shoes is expensive is no
guarantee that it is durable. It is also no
guarantee that the shoes were finely
made. So, when buying a shoe check it
out properly and ensure it is in perfect
shape — without defect.
Sometimes many different people try
on a particular pair of shoes many times
without buying it. At a result it may
start looking old. Are you buying a pair
like that?
A defect as small as a tiny hole in a
shoe can quickly become a major
problem and prevent you from getting
value for your money.
Give up if they don’t fit
Yes, shoes do expand. Yes, tight shoes
can be made to fit. But do you need all
that? Why not just get shoes that fit?
Many people make the mistake of
thinking they can wear smaller shoes,
they fail to realise that the shoe may
lose shape in the process. This is part of
the reason why it is not wise to buy
shoes even though they do not fit
because you think you can stretch
them. The best thing to do when the
shoes do not fit is to find those that fit.
When you receive shoes as gifts and
you can’t return them, you can try to
modify them.
Try out the shoes on both feet
When buying shoes try them on both
feet. It is believed that one feet is
usually bigger than the other. Hence it
is important to ensure that the shoes fit
on both feet. It is advised that you allow
a little space for your toe to move. The
ideal thing is to leave a half inch space
at the front of your longest toe. When
trying shoes out, it is wise to do so
using the socks you expect to use when
wearing them.
Take a walk with both shoes on
Of course no dealer is going to allow
you go take a walk down the street to
determine if the shoes are okay. But
they won’t stop you walking around in
the store. Do just that; walk with the
shoes on and ensure that they have
enough room to be comfortable no
matter what you’re doing.
Avoid shopping for shoes in the
morning
The preferred time to shop for shoes is
later in the day o evening. This is
because the feet are said to be smaller
in the morning when you wake up. The
get swollen – bigger – as the day
progress and you move around.
Consequently, shoes that were
comfortable in the morning may
become tight later in the day. By
waiting till later in the day to shop for
shoes, you can avoid such an
experience.
The idea is, regardless of the type of
shoes or purpose for which you are
getting them, always ensure that you
buy shoes that are comfortable, even if
that means buying a size that is smaller
than what you normally purchase. Make
sure your shoes fit right from the point
of purchase. That way not only will you
prevent your money from going to
waste, you will also protect your feet
from having problems or becoming
deformed.

SOURCE: www.punchng.com/am-business/things-to-consider-when-buying-shoes/

Thumbs up rodeo, Article is on point. Not a shoe freak myself but there was a time I bought a pair of sandals a size too small cos they didn't have the colour that's my size. It felt ok when I tried it on at the buyers but was so darn uncomfortable when I wore it out. Had to give it away eventually.