Sit down comfortably with at least one foot flat against the floor. Your knee should be bent down at a 90 degree angle, making your leg perpendicular to the floor. You should also relax the muscles in your leg as you prepare to measure it. This leg is the leg you will need to measure. The vast majority of people can get away with only measuring one leg, but if one of your legs is slightly shorter than the others, you may want to consider measuring each leg separately. Your leg is straightest in this position which is why you need to keep it this way for both your calf height and circumference measurements. Place the end of a soft tape measure at the bottom of your heel. Extend the tape measure upwards, over the back of your leg, until it hits a point just below your kneecap. You can then take this calf height measurement and compare it to the shaft height measurement of the boots you are looking at. Find the measured height of the boot on the tape measure as you have it pressed against your calf. This spot is the point at which the boot shaft will most likely land on your leg. Locate the widest part of your calf and place the end of a flexible tape measure there. Wrap the tape measure all the way around your calf until it intersects with this starting point, then take the measurement at this point of intersection. If you want to be really precise, figure out where the top of the shaft will land on your calf using the shaft height measurement and measure the circumference of your calf at that point. Compare your calf measurement to the shaft circumference of the boot. If the boot shaft circumference is smaller than the circumference of your calf, the boot will not fit well. If it is an exact match, the boot will fit but may feel a little too tight or snug. If the shaft is too much largerusually 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) or morethe boot may end up feeling too loose. A boot shaft circumference can, however, be 0.5 inches (1.25 cm) smaller than your calf circumference if the material has enough elasticity to stretch over your calf. An ideal situation would be for your boot shaft circumference to be 0.25 to 1 inch (0.6 to 2.5 cm) wider than your calf circumference. Beyond the basics of fit, your ideal boot shaft height is merely a matter of personal taste and preference. There are a few things worth keeping in mind when considering how high you would like a boot shaft to be, though. If the shaft of a certain boot will end right at the crease of your knee, that boot is likely to pinch and rub your skin as you sit, making it uncomfortable. If you have notably wide calves, the best options will usually be ankle boots and similarly short boots. The shaft of these boots will stop just above your ankle and below the widest part of your calf, creating a more relaxed fit. Your height can also determine an ideal boot shaft height. As a general rule, shorter legs look better with shorter shafts and longer legs look better with taller shafts. If you are petite, a shaft height taller than 14 inches (35.6 cm) may overwhelm your figure. If you are tall, a shaft height shorter than 15 inches (38.1 cm) may throw off the visual balance of your legs.

Summary: Sit with your foot flat. Measure up the back of your leg. Measure around your calf. Estimate an ideal boot shaft height.

You will need a prescription from within the last year to order contacts, so always ask your eye doctor for a copy after an exam. If you are considering trying to order contacts without an up-to-date prescription, know that online sellers are required to contact your doctor to verify your prescription. If they will, this offers the best of both worlds. You can purchase your contacts from your doctor and often pick them up the same day, while saving the same amount of money you would shopping online. Your eye doctor will usually be able to give you at least a pair of free contacts. Be sure to look online before your appointment, as you can sometimes find coupons online that are redeemable at your eye doctor for an entire box of contacts. Comfort and quality of vision are a main concern when buying contacts, but it is worth asking your eye doctor if there is a comparable, less expensive brand that you can try. Stores like Costco, Walmart, and Sam's Club have vision centers that can perform exams and sell contacts, often for less than your eye doctor. They also carry many contacts in stock, meaning you won't have to wait on shipping, as you would for an online provider. Online coupon sites offer up to 70% off on certain brands, and big-box stores and national eye care chains also frequently accept coupons. Vision insurance companies like VSP also regularly offer discounts and rebates on top brands, so be sure to check with your insurance before purchasing contacts. And don't forget to look for coupons for saline solution. Saving 2 or 3 dollars every time you buy a bottle can really add up by the end of the year. There are many websites that sell contacts for less than your doctor might, particularly if you buy in bulk. But you will want to make sure you are not only saving money, but also buying from a reputable company that can offer customer service or returns, if necessary. You want to be sure that the online seller you choose is capable of shipping your prescription quickly, and of handling returns if necessary. Before ordering, make sure: Customer service is available. This means you can get in contact with a live person if you need help or want to inquire about returns or shipping delays. Try their number before ordering. If you get an answering machine, you are likely dealing with a back-room operation. You know how quickly your order will ship. Smaller companies may take longer to deliver because they only stock the most common prescriptions. They offer returns. If you buy a year's supply of contacts and your prescription changes or your eye doctor recommends a different brand, you'll want to be able to return unopened boxes for credit. The ordering process is secure. The URL at the top of your browser should begin with https:// rather than http:// on any page that you enter personal information. The bureau can inform you of any complaints against a company and how they were resolved. There are many online sites that will compare prices from multiple seller, including Google Shopping, BizRate, PriceGrabber, Shopping.com and Yahoo! Shopping. When considering the price, be sure to: Include shipping and handling fees. Try entering large quantities in order to reduce shipping costs, but be sure to check the expiration date. Make sure you will be able to use all of your contacts before they expire. They may cost more than you think, due to exchange rates and possible import duties. Also, you will have fewer consumer rights if something goes wrong.
Summary: Keep a copy of your prescription. Ask if your eye doctor will match online prices. Get a trial sample of contacts from your doctor. Try a cheaper brand. Consider a big-box retailer. Use coupons. Check online. Make sure the company is reputable. Check with the Better Business Bureau if you are still concerned. Compare prices online. Be cautious buying contacts from overseas.