Like many young women, I have an addiction to buying, wearing and keeping shoes. I am a twenty-seven year old single girl and I make a decent living as an executive assistant to the CFO of a huge company. I’ll be the first to admit, I like to spend money. I love buying new furniture, clothes, and electronics. I enjoy taking nice vacations and eating at high-end restaurants. I do not have a savings account but I figure I will work on that after I turn thirty. For now, I am enjoying life and reaping the benefits of my hard work.
One thing I did not mention in the list of ways I spend my money, is my shoe addiction. I saved this for last because it is most definitely my largest expenditure. In fact, I recently started keeping track of my spending habits and it turns out that I spend more on shoes than I do on rent. Keep in mind I live in Manhattan so rent is not cheap. Although part of me sees the stupidity in spending tens of thousands of dollars on shoes, you need to understand how much I truly love shoes.
When I bought my first pair of high heels I was twelve. My mom took me shopping for something to wear to my friend’s sister’s wedding and she let me get this cute little pair of white pumps to match my dress. I loved them so much that I almost didn’t wear them to the wedding, in fear that something might happen to them. I should have seen this as a warning sign that an addiction was looming in the future.
My first pair of designer shoes was these amazing navy blue Manolo Blahnik stilettos with tiny gold bows above the toes. I fell in love with them and paid for them on credit. It was those very shoes that prompted me to apply for the job I have now. There was no way I could afford $450 shoes with my Starbucks salary so I started looking for something else. Well, I got the job and the rest is history.
I vividly remember my first paycheck from the new job. It was nearly four times what I used to make and the numbers on that check literally winded me. After I caught my breath I headed to the shops and proceeded to buy three pairs of shoes. I actually spent so much money that I had to eat canned tuna and cereal for the next two weeks until I got paid again.
So, here I am, five years into my current career and I estimate the value of my shoe closet to be upwards of ten thousand dollars (yes, I have a closet designated entirely to shoes). I keep my shoes organized by type and then by color and they all live in their original boxes with a picture of them taped to the front. I came up with that idea after I got sick of looking inside each box to see which shoes were in there.
You may not understand my affinity to shoes, but they make me feel good. When I try on a gorgeous pair and they look perfect on my feet I just have to have them. I plan my outfits around my shoes and I am constantly getting compliments on them. If you should be so lucky to find something that makes you feel as good as my shoes make me feel, I suggest you embrace it and never let it go.
