I'm a total bargain shopper, love a good deal and yes, I use coupons! My hubby likes to call me T$Money and teases that my favorite phrase is "free is for me"! So, how does a thrifty, deal loving girl fall in love with luxurious, expensive ballet flats called Tieks? This is going to sound like a total contradiction, but I fell in love with Tieks because I'm thrifty.
I'll explain. I worked on my feet in the restaurant industry for over 10 years and it totally wrecked my feet. I have fallen arches and heal spurs. I can't wear heels for long, or very often. I have been wearing flats, almost exclusively, for the last 10 years or so. I don't even like wearing sneakers for long because they usually have too much arch support, which kills my feet since I have fallen arches. Even though wearing heals and sneakers kills my feet, most flats aren't that comfy either after prolonged wear. Usually, when I wear flats my feet either ache by the end of the day, or I end up with blisters at the heel or toe box area where they tend to rub and pinch.
I can't tell you how many pairs of shoes I have purchased and subsequently gotten rid of over the years in my quest for comfy, stylish flats. I never used to spend more than $25-$75 on flats. Occasionally though, I'd be tempted to buy some cute, high end designer brand, but I always hated shelling out big bucks for flats, knowing that my feet would probably still end up hurting anyways.
Enter Tieks. A little over four years ago, I started seeing these gorgeous, fold-able ballet flats all over my Facebook feed and then saw they were one of Oprah's Favorite Things. Initially, I balked at the high price tag, but I'm a sucker for just about anything teal and those blue soles kept calling my name. Plus, Oprah loved them and I kept hearing people say they were so comfy. My mom and I were talking about them when she said she would splurge and purchase me a pair as an early Christmas gift. So, I jumped at the chance to try them out and ordered Tiek Blue.
Once my Tieks arrived, it took less than 5 minutes for me to fall in love! Tieks are the most comfy shoe I have ever put on my foot! The leather is so buttery soft, it almost feels like I'm wearing slippers, not flats. I instantly wanted another pair, but decided I should test them out first. A few days later I was officially hooked. No blisters, no achy feet, it was like magic! When my dad and stepmom called a short time later asking what I wanted for Christmas, I promptly replied, Tieks! Matte Black made their way into my closet and I knew then that I was in trouble.
I wanted more pairs, but how was I going to afford this new shoe habit?!? I started to add up all the money that I've spent on shoes throughout the years and realized how much money was wasted when I got rid of shoes that either hurt my feet or fell apart and had to be tossed out or replaced. I used to buy about 4-6 pairs of shoes a year. Spending an average of $25-$75 a pair, that totals roughly $200-$450 a year on shoes! It was a constant buying cycle trying to find flats that were comfy, stylish and would last.
I decided that investing in Tieks would actually save me money in the long run. By no longer purchasing tons of other shoes and instead purchasing fewer pairs of just Tieks, I save money or at least end up spending almost the same amount. I usually purchase, or am gifted with, 1-2 pairs of Tieks a year. Occasionally, I'm lucky and get a third pair. My friends and family know how much I love Tieks, so I tend to receive Tieks gift cards for birthdays and various other holidays. I save them up and splurge when I can. Having several gift cards to use, brings the price down to something I'm more comfortable with and don't feel so guilty about spending. Over the last 4 years, I have been replacing all my other flats with Tieks and haven't looked back. 15 pairs later and the only shoe shopping I do nowadays is on the Tieks website.
These Blush Tieks are my newest pair and I'm in love with them. They are super stylish, crazy comfy and they'll last. They're made from Italian leather which is so buttery, soft and luxurious that they require little to no breaking in time (bye bye blisters) and the rubber soles act like little shock absorbers (no more achey feet). My first few pairs of Tieks that I purchased over four years ago are still in amazing condition, are just as comfy and have held up fabulously. I know that when I invest in Tieks, my money is well spent and that I no longer throw money away on other shoes that aren't comfortable or don't last. That makes this thrifty girl happy!
If you're still on the fence about purchasing Tieks or if you have more questions, you can check out my full review here where I go into more detail about these amazing shoes. I hope you'll give them a try and see for yourself how fabulous these shoes are.
This is not a sponsored post. I am a longtime customer of Tieks and truly love wearing them.