I was cleaning out my closet the other day to see if there was any clothing I wanted to add to my yard sale pile. After I found a whopping 4 items to get rid of, I started to go through my shoes. Did you know the average female in the United States owns 20 pairs of shoes? Does that number seem high or low to you? How many pairs of shoes do you think you own?
Daffodils have got to be one of the happiest flowers on the planet.
No one will ever be able to convince me 1 box of Kraft macaroni and cheese has 3 servings in it. 
In case you were wondering, it took the HH and I exactly 75 days to go through 22.5 ounces of shampoo. That’s a little less than a penny a day for 2 people {I paid about $0.64 for the bottle of Suave}. Note to self: I think I am starting to go crazy. Because really, who else wonders about these things?
And last but not least, Yeti tumblers. The HH and I were in the hardware store last week and noticed a Yeti Stainless Steel Tumbler priced at around $50. When I got home I immediately looked it up on Amazon to see what the big deal was and there were are over 2,000 reviews on the thing!!
The HH says the tumbler keeps beverages incredibly cold… But still. What am I missing here? Why would someone pay $50 for a coffee/beverage cup?
~Mavis
Jenny says
My hubby wants a yeti cooler for $1000…I think he has lost his mind! And I still have shoes from my senior year in high school, mind you, I am 36
KAte says
I have shoes from high school too! (Fancy ones, the tennis shoes wear out faster.) I take really good care of them and store them in separate boxes so they don’t get all messed up. I figure if I take good care of them then they’ll last longer and I’ll get more value for my money.
Mavis Butterfield says
I still wear my black loafers from when I was 19 even though Girly Girl makes fun of them. They are so comfortable I cannot get rid of them.
Nicola says
If, when you had used a bit of the shampoo, you refilled it with water and gave it a good shake, it would last even longer and be even cheaper per wash!
I think I have about 20 pairs of shoes, that’s a lot less than I used to have and now includes things like snowboots and gardening shoes.
Earlene says
I used to think I don’t have a lot of shoes. But I counted them yesterday just for fun. I have 8 pair that I wear and 5 more to get rid of, thanks for the push!
Mavis says
I think 8 (even plus 5) is a very reasonable number–glad it inspired you to pare {pair–ha!} down, though, Earlene!
Karin says
My husband bought me a yeti cup for Christmas. We live in Florida and it is truly amazing how long my water stays cold even sitting in the hot car. He said it was expensive but I did not imagine it cost FIFTY DOLLARS! Holy cow! I would never have paid that much.
I’m really impressed with your shampoo usage. My small bottle of shampoo lasts me for months however my husband manages to go through a large bottle of Suave in about a month ALL BY HIMSELF! And he only has like an inch of hair! I keep telling him he doesn’t need a whole handful to get his short hair clean but I guess he’s not very interested in my lectures on shampoo conservation…
Susan Altizio says
The number is low! I cannot part with any of them, especially heels too high for me to walk in any more, but they are sooo beautiful, I am going to decorate a closet or bedroom with some!
Lesley says
Mavis, you are NOT crazy … there are loads of us who LOVE your price breakdowns (shampoo). Please keep them coming! Love the behind-the-scenes details.
And wow, you keep your shoes in great shape. They all look new! Did you decide to keep them all?
Jacki w says
I own 1 pair of mud boots for outside chores. 2pr of shared slip on for running outside outside for mail. 1 pr sandals, 1 pr nice shoes, 2 pr of tennis shoes, and 1 pr of really awesome llbean slippers!! I’m usually fairly off of the typical females beaten path. I am more utilitarian withy clothing and shoes than most.
Dayna says
30 Oz Yeti is $39.99 at Cabellas. I hear RTIC Colliers work just as well for half the price. We use Thermos brand stainless insulated mugs from Walmart they are about $16. Keep comfy hot for hours if you are the type to let it sit that long lol
Delores says
I have a pair of tennis, a pair of sandals, and 1 pair of dress shoes. Okay, 2. But I only wear 1 of them — the others are too painful and I am now motivated to just toss them after I hit post on this comment. 🙂 I am going to replace the dress shoes, and I could really use some waterproof boots of some sort for gardening. So all in all, by the end of the year I hope to own 4 pairs of shoes. But I could survive with 3. 🙂
My husband won a Yeti cooler and mug last year for his company’s driving rodeo (he is a truck driver). I would never have paid for either, but I tell you what: that cooler has saved our meat more than once! Seriously. I put some ice in it on a Sunday (about a year ago) and it was still there a week later. My sons forgot to unload the meat from the cooler on this past Thursday night, after an hour drive home from Costco. We went looking for it and found it Sat morning — still cold to the touch. I cannot speak highly enough of them. I know it is incredible, but truly — they are worth the money if you know you will use it. I am so thankful for that cooler!!! Like my husband said on Saturday: you gotta love a Yeti cooler!
tia in boise says
i don’t know how many pairs of shoes i own (would be easier to tell if i actually put them all away—might not fit in closet if i did). but i will say that about 15 years ago, i used to bring my shoes to school for my students to do easy percentages with…..easy because they were counting “how many are sandals?” “how many are athletic shoes?” out of 100 to make %. so, yah…at that time i had 50 pairs of shoes…….i think i may have more than that now….most of them have been purchased at thrift stores over many years.
angie says
We love our Yeti’s….we paid $39.99 for the 30 oz tumbler and $29.99 for the 20 oz and for another $5 you can get it monogrammed. Yes they are expensive but they really work for hot or cold! I have had ice to last 4 days!
Wendy says
Gosh, I own a pair of 4 year old Ugg boots, a pair of 10+ year old generic Crocs and a pair of 6 year old Birkenstock sandals. 95% of the time, I am barefoot.
Sue says
I wish my Crocs would last that long! Mine tend to get worn out in about a year, but that’s with near-daily wear.
The only way I could count more than about 6 pairs of shoes is to count garden wellies, snow boots, xc ski boots, etc.
But like a commenter said above, I’m not typical in that regard — I’m hyper-obsessed with minimalism and practicality and not at all into fashion or different styles.
I think I have a pair of Crocs, a pair of running/walking shoes, two pairs of hiking boots (that I don’t wear anymore and probably no longer fit — time to winnow!), a pair of Berks and MAYBE a pair of flats for fancy occasions. Oh, and my comfy slippers of course! I did just get my first-ever pedicure so maybe I’ll spring for a pair of real sandals this summer. Or maybe not — they’re just not practical unless I can walk at least a couple of miles comfortably in them…
Megan says
I wanna live where you live!! I’d be barefoot WAY more 🙂 These ME winters cut into barefoot time…
Despite that, Mavis, I counted just for you… 24 pairs of shoes, 6 pairs of boots (including 2 winter) and 2 pairs slippers. Some of those are “work”. I think I have a lot of shoes… And I don’t wear most of them!! Project for another day…. 😉
Brianna says
My hubby has more shoes than me and I don’t care. I hate shopping for anything for my feet and I refuse to do it unless necessary. I wear my shoes out until I can’t find them (the hubby disposed of them) and I am forced to buy another pair. I own 1 pair of snow boots, 1 pair combat boots, 1 pair soccer cleats, 1 pair steel toed work shoes, 1 pair motorcycle boots, 1 pair sandals, 1 pair shearling slippers, 1 pair dress shoes, and 1 pair athletic shoes. 9 pairs of shoes each with a purpose and all I will ever need. I do purchase good quality shoes and it seems like they last forever if stored and taken care of properly.
Loretta says
Ha ha. My husband has more pairs of GOLF shoes than all my shoes put together (I only have 12 pairs, including Uggs, thongs (flip flops?), gumboots) No running shoes, as I don’t run, ever.I hate, hate, hate spending money on shoes, so I always buy good quality. My Camper boots cost me $400AUD, but that was 11 years ago and they are worn 9 months of the year. i don’t know what I’m going to do when they finally wear out, but I had the soles replaced last year and both zips, so they should last me another 10. They used to be made in Morocco so the leather is divinely soft, but sadly, they are now made in China.
Mavis, have you tried the ‘no ‘poo’ shampoo method? I’ve been doing it for 4 years now, and it’s even cheaper than using cheap shampoo;-)
Debbie says
I have many shoes and would have many more if I could wear any kind of heel. Many are from thrift shops or the clearance rack. And still I love the next new pair. I got an awesome Aztec print flat from the dollar store. The thrift shop next door was selling an identical donation for $7!!!!
My Big Bubba cups are getting worn out and don’t keep them as cool as long as the yeti seems to. It gets very hot in the summer. And it’s nice to keep hot drinks hot in the winter.
Ashley says
I don’t think 20 is high. I own 2 casual boots, 1 winter boot, 2 flip flops and 1 pair of running shoes. That’s already 6 pairs and I don’t even like shoes. My husband probably has 20…..of course they are mainly work boots so they take up half our house. Drives me nuts!
Margery says
I own two pair of shoes per season for winter -sneakers and winter dress shoes ( some years they are dress boots this year they were dress clogs) and for summer sneakers and sandals . I also have a pair of house slippers. My older boys all have a pair of sneakers, dress shoes, work boots, and flip flops. The littlest boy has 2 pair of sneakers ( one for school and one for play), dress shoes, flip flops, and the current sport season shoe. My daughter has black flats, 2 pair of sneakers, hiking boot and one pair of heels. That’s 20 pairs of shoes shared among 5 people, now my husband has more pairs of shoes then I care to count and to suggest that we get of of some is never taken well.
I have even tried buying the older boys an extra pair of sneakers and they will only wear the one pair until it’s time to trash them, then they will wear the other.
JC says
I probably wouldn’t buy a yetti, but I was given one as a gift. I have since learned to not boil water for tea, but only heat it to drinkable temperatures, otherwise it will be a solid 5 hours before you can drink it. Those things work great!
Connie says
Regarding shoes: I am constantly on the lookout for comfortable shoes. Too many years of standing on concrete in high heels took it’s toll. I have a couple of pair of Merrill that are casual and I can wear to work, but they are starting to look sad, and they don’t make that style anymore. Would love some Hunter tall boots and short gardening shoes like in the photo. Got some LL Bean rain mocs and they are OK, but heavy. Think I would like the Hunter better.
I have the thermos brand cup that you can close and turn upside down or knock it off and it DOES NOT SPILL. Also in our hot desert climate, I can leave it in my hot car all day and still have cool water to drink. I have one for water and one for coffee and they are worth every penny – about $16 as I recall. Would not get Yeti unless they had a spill proof top.
Jfred says
I have 12 pair of shoes…5 pair of boots (1 winter, 2 cowgirl: 1 for jeans, 1 for skirts, 1 heeled for dress pants, 1 barn), a pair of garden clogs, pr of slipper clogs, sneakers, 5 pair sandals (1 brown, 1 black, 1 heeled for dresses, 1 wedge for dresses/dress pants, 1 flat for the beach).
My dh must have 100 pair of shoes/boots/flipflops/running shoes. Lol.
Lilypad says
I have five pairs of shoes (dress pair black flats {worn twice a year}, black stretchy fabric clogs {worn a few times per year}, 10 year old black ratty fleece/suede clogs from Lands End worn every time I go out at this time of year {I should be ashamed to be seen in them but I go for comfort over fashion}, black Merrell sandals {worn every day in the summer}, and used-to-be-white New Balance slip on sneakers. I also have one pair of black ankle boots {rarely worn} and one pair of snow boots. Strike that, two pairs of snow boots but one is in the trunk of the car awaiting the Snow-pocalypse that we never have here in the Pacific Northwest. The snow boots are at least 20 years old. I really need to replace 95% of them, they are all so old and in bad shape but 1) it’s hard to fit my feet and I hate shopping and get discouraged and 2) we are on a very tight budget since my son needed $2400 oral surgery and I had to take that money out of my emergency fund. You of all people understand expensive dental work, right Mavis?!! 🙂
Tracy Tidwell says
The large Yeti is $39.99 and the smaller one is $29.99 – so wherever you saw one for $50 – that is a rip-off.
Not only will it keep it amazingly cold, it will keep stuff so HOT that you can’t drink it for hours or until you add ice to it.
Nicole says
I’ll confess to my shoe addiction. I have 51 pair in my closet right now and those are just my winter shoes. I have an equal or greater amount of summer shoes in storage so about 100 pair total. This doesn’t include slippers, are those even shoes? If so, I have 3 pair of those. Mind you, I donated a very large box of shoes this past December. And yes, I wear them all!
In all other regards, I’m more of a minimalist and don’t own duplicates of anything. Shoes have just always spoken to me.
Stephanie says
20 pairs? That seems high, but I know ladies who have twice that. Me, I have 6 pairs. 2 pairs I use for work. 1 pair for yard work. 2 pair of flats and one pair of cute heels for church.
I agree yetis are overrated and overpriced.
Ashley Bananas says
When I read posts sometimes I click on the links to old posts, and I know you’ve done a lot of decluttering and minimalism with clothing. I wonder if you had kept more of the clothes or shoes, given that your size has remained the same roughly, if keeping items would allow you to not have to shop for new clothes or shoes in the future….
Mavis Butterfield says
I have about 8 pairs of shoes/boots. So less now than I did then. Also, since I’ve basically worn the same outfit {jeans, Gap t-shirt} for the past 20 years I pretty much wear out my clothes then buy the same ones again in bulk {15 shirts, 5 pairs of jeans} every few years.