How to use "pairs" in a sentence

I long ago wore out the three pairs of shoes that I was able to buy with my after-expenses and after-tax income from the project which, had it come to fruition, might have been titled I Think There's a Rat Chewing My Foot in Dean Koontz's Theater

And she is not the type who would borrow money just to buy a pair of shoes; she would just wear her old pairs till things got better