I hear you about shoes. My feet are long and extremely narrow. Shoes are, and always have been, difficult for me to find. And when I do, they have to last forever.
I once got a pair of narrow shoes at a discount store, $95. The cashier was shocked by the price and said she would never spend that much on shoes. For me, $95 for a pair of well fitting, comfortable shoes was a pittance! It was a good brand, too!