Pointe shoe dilemma

I have a pointe shoe problem. I wear Freed Classics and I love them. But they wear out too quickly (the shank breaks and the toes give out- I mean, they are performance shoes after all). But they are so comfortable! And until I get a job with shoe compensation, I can't afford to buy a pair or more each week ($68 a pop). If I could only find a way to freeze them as soon as they are perfectly broken in, then that would be just swell. My coach says that she and her classmates used to coat them in shellac, and that it worked really well, though it dyed them a hideous color. I'm going to try it (fingers crossed). Darning helps to prolong the life of the tips, but after a while I get a little tired of holding myself up by just my toes, with no help from my shoes. But a perk is that they make absolutely no noise.

I think I'm going to try the Classic Proffesionals. They have a 3/4 shank instead of a full, and are made to be a bit more durable. And until I get them, I'm going to try and freeze my shoes using spray shellac!

This is my current pair. They are darned, and you can see a jet glue stain on the left one. Jet glue is fantastic, but it only works to a certain extent. Oooh, I can't wait to get my new shoes! I certainly hope they fit and work on my feet! I'm extremely picky about my satin slippers.