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Winter boots, feeling guilty

Glory

Veteran

I have a few pairs of winter boots including a snow boot. I feel terribly guilty for buying additional boots. Does anyone else ever feel like this?
None of my boots are new within the past 2 years. The snow boots are over 10 years old and I hate them so much - they are heavy, almost impossible to drive in and really not as warm as stated.

I ended up trying the ones Una suggested: Kamik New York (also called Inez). They didn't have any black left in the store so I came home and promptly ordered them. I did have to go up one size - they don't come in half sizes. My dithering cost me an additional 20% but I still plunged ahead.

In general I often feel guilty for buying items that I already own. Any insights?

Shopping

15 replies

Latest reply was from Glory

Sam

I think replacing items that aren't serving their function well is important in terms of ongoing wardrobe review. While there's something to be said for buying for longevity and good stewardship of our belongings, even the most long-lived of wardrobe items will eventually need replacement. Things wear out beyond repair, our bodies change, our tastes change, etc.

I felt a slight twinge replacing an almost brand-new black v-neck tee recently, but the long sleeves weren't long enough for me, and wearing a shirt that has me constantly tugging at the sleeves doesn't make sense. Once the new tee came in, the guilt evaporated: I'm donating the old one and will wear the new one happily. (You should have heard me squealing excitedly to my partner about how long the sleeves were!)

Based on what you're saying, I think it's well past time that you replaced those old snow boots!

catgirl

Veteran

What Sam said. As much as I use my boots they wear out and I feel completely justified in having as many as makes me happy. Move learned that same philosophy does not apply to cocktail dresses for me though.

Yay for the Kamiks!

Diana

Veteran

Well, it definitely sounds as if the snow boots needed to be upgraded/replaced. I feel like if I am doing one in/one out and the new item is clearly an improvement, then it is justified.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

If you feel guilty about a boot purchase, just take a look at my closet! It sounds like you are certainly entitled to some new boots that truly work for you. After all, you hate the old ones! No guilt necessary.

Anonymous

That is a totally necessary purchase, in my books. Clunky old boots that did their time can go with no guilt.

viva

Veteran

I think your 10 year old snow boots have served a good long life and deserve to be put out to pasture.

As for guilt, what purpose does it serve in this case? None really, except to make you feel unreasonably bad.

I say, congratulate yourself for giving those boots for a full life, and enjoy the heck out of your new ones!

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

Think of it like this: your old boots are/were functional, in the very basic sense of the word: for walking in snow. But they are heavy - which puts strain on the ankles, knees,and hips joints. Impossible to drive in - which puts you and anyone else in your car at risk. And not warm enough. Clearly, the old boots need to go - if you donate them, there are people out there who can use them.

So after ten years, these boots aren't meeting any of your needs. Don't look new boots as a selfish purchase. Look at them as a necessary investment that allows you a functional life in a cold-weather climate!

Alassë

Veteran

What Diana said.

Gigi

Veteran

I think you have stuck it out with the 10-year-old snow boots for long enough. Heck, some people get brand-new living room furniture more often than that just to "change things up." You have been responsible in getting a decent amount of wear out of those boots, and now it's time to get something that you enjoy.

shedev

Veteran

10 years is plenty long to keep a pair of boots. Wear your new ones without guilt.

Parsley

Veteran

Gosh, I don't feel guilty about replacing something I hate!
And, living in a cold and snowy climate I think it's totally reasonable to have multiple pairs of boots.

When I replace something that still has lots of wear left, I donate the original to charity and feel glad that someone else may appreciate it more than I did.

LACeleste

Veteran

Hi Glory,

LBD said it so well. I hope you enjoy your new boots!

Anonymous

There's absolutely no need to feel guilty here!

With something like snow boots, especially, my theory is that it's important to have a pair you actually like so you'll wear them more often, thus saving your other shoes from possibly being ruined by being worn in iffy weather.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Glory, I totally hear you on this. I also feel quite a lot of guilt at replacing articles I already own, especially the kinds of things I may or may not wear a lot in any given year. This year is a huge snow boot year. But who knows? The next three years may see very little snow. Or at least that is the kind of thing I tell myself.

But as others have already said, from the information you gave us, your old boots were not working well for you any more. CPW on those must have been very low by now after ten years, even if you only wore them four or five times a year. You are more than justified in buying the Kamiks.

I still haven't, but I plan to. So you will be in good company!

Glory

Veteran

Thanks everyone for your encouragement. I have realizes that this guilt about new things extends to all purchases. I have trouble letting go of items and although I did a large purge last year it was very hard to get the bags out of the house.
I have 2 more huge bags up in my room now and they have been there for several months - I feel I need to look through them "one last time".
I clearly need to work on this!