I get an allowance every month (so does my husband so it's not sexist or unequal), which I almost always spend on clothes and/or cosmetics. There have been a few items I've saved my allowance to buy, sometimes even for a few months. And actually, I started saving, and found the blouse on sale, so it was even better. Maybe you can do this with these boots? Here's the thing: I'm terrible at saving up for a long time for something. I always find other things that I invariably end up spending my money on. If I have enough fortitude to save for a while, that must mean I really love the item, and won't get tired of it, so I will want to wear it for years to come. Also, you should think about how often you would wear the item. If you live in a very warm climate, the boots might not be a very practical purchase: expensive, and you'd hardly get to wear your treasure. If you lived someplace like Seattle however, they would probably get a lot of use. Make sense? It's a lot to think about.
I like your substitution pair--they give a very similar feel. Angie has a pair of knee high lace up Doc Martens that remind me of these boots. Sometimes it's the little details of the original that really catch your fancy, so I can understand wanting to get what you originally had your heart set on.
