Why I want to splurge on... black calf-high boots

Have you ever walked down a street during a moderate fall rain shower and can feel the water that had pooled from the pavement beneath your boots squish up through your already soaked socks and between your toes?

No? Well aren't you lucky, because I can assure you, it feels worse than it sounds and the aftermath is as unpleasant as the experience itself. And what I mean by that is that the combination of the wet boot and sock plus the usual smelly feet did something to my feet and created a really painful walking experience the following day.

(And if you happen to know what it was that likely happened, do me a favour, don't tell me because I'm pretty sure it's gross, disgusting and will make me want to skin my feet the next time I'm ever in wet socks)

So why am I telling you this story? Because the above tale is a recent experience I had with a pair of black calf-high boots that I've worn during most cool and cold months over the past three years. 

(And when I say three years, I mean three years except for last winter because I spent most of it wearing thigh-high boots to better cover up and deal with how freakin' cold it was)

Granted these aforementioned boots were EXTREMELY cheap. They were an Ardene's special and cost me about $30 when it was all said and done, so three years is a pretty decent amount of time in which I was able to arguably use them. But you know what they say about the cheap right? They're really not made to last and now these boots got a MASSIVE hole in the toe of the shoe from standard wear and tear.

And they now leak EVERYWHERE. 

They've seen better days and it's probably high time to replace them.

I waaaaaant new boots though. Want. :(

But that's part of the problem. See, I really don't need new boots and simply because I already own a different pair of boots that I wear regularly already. They're styled like riding boots and are a dark chocolate brown. So really, replacing my existing pair of black boots is just a luxury in the sense that I have a pair of black boots in which to style and fashion outfits with, rather than having to work with the brown ones.

And honestly, I'm in far more dire need for a legitimate pair of winter boots (after my old ones kicked the bucket two years ago) than a pair that is more or less nothing more than fashion boots.

Actually there are also other things I'm in far more dire need of right now as far as clothing is concerned, but I'll divulge on it another time.

Also, if I'm going to go ahead and buy a brand new pair of black boots, I won't be going back to Ardene's again, even despite the fact that their last pair actually proved to last quite a while, but I consider that to be the exception and not the norm. So this new pair will immediately be more of an investment purchase as far as I intend to buy a pair that's of good enough quality and a classic enough style to keep relatively long term.

So where does all this leave me? Well... 

The first problem is that I really really really don't want to toss my only pair of black calf-high boots until I get a new pair. Even if they soak in at the slightest impetus and are now useless in winter because of its leaky ways, it's still nice to have options, even if unrealisable ones. Or I'm just crazy. Either explanation is a valid one.

It also means that I'll be keeping any eye out for a decent pair this winter, either on the sales rack or just drooling over a pair while window shopping. And trying to keep the other shoe from dropping.

Thing is, I am saving some money for an investment piece (which I will talk about soon-ish) but as I have really yet to find a style that I like enough of said piece yet for a price I can be comfortable with, there may be a good chance the boots may win out in the battle over my money (and my mind)