I grew up in the Chicago suburbs and have been a Bulls basketball fan my entire life. Though things have been pretty dire for the past few years, I at least got to live through the Michael Jordan era when the team won six NBA championships in the 1990s.
As a kid back then, there was nothing I wanted more than a pair of those black and red Michael Jordan sneakers in order to "be like Mike". But they were far too expensive for my parents' budget, so all I could do was look on in envy as my friends wore theirs.
When I was 16 years old, I got an after school job and saved my paychecks for weeks until I was finally able to afford a pair of Michael Jordan shoes of my very own. They were the Air Jordan V model, and I thought they were the coolest things ever! I wore them until they came apart; then I bought another pair, and another. In fact, I've bought Michael Jordan sneakers almost every single year since then.
These days, I mostly buy retro Michael Jordan shoes because I think they look much, much better than the current stuff. Keeping my closet filled with brand-new kicks is definitely a drain on my finances, so I've learned how to shop smarter and stretch my dollars as far as possible. For example, I always look for sales and I always make my purchases online because most web retailers can offer savings of anywhere from 10-30 percent (or more) off the prices I'd have to pay at the mall. The savings really add up over time, which of course allows me to buy even more shoes!
I now have several favorite websites where I can buy authentic Michael Jordan sneakers online, but that hasn't always been the case. When I first started out, I had to sort through lots of shady-looking sites to get to the good stuff. I wasn't really aware of how many places were trying to sell replica shoes for the same price as the real deal, but I learned quickly enough. All it took to ensure a good shopping experience was to spend a few extra minutes checking out the websites I was interested in. I read customer feedback, looked for unbiased reviews, and checked the store's return policy. If everything seemed on the up and up, I went ahead with my order. A little due diligence goes a long way.
If you're looking for affordable Michael Jordan shoes, then I recommend buying them online. That's what I've been doing for years now, and that's why I'm able to have such an extensive collection!