Oh, my FEET! How can I find shoes that FIT?

For several years now, the only shoes that I have found that fit snugly and comfortably from day one were "walking" shoes. This spring, I have bought three pairs so far, only to find, to my dismay, that the idiotic tongue hurts the top of my foot right below my big toe joint. It is the seam that joins the shoe to the tongue that drives me bananas. I have Nikes, the kind that has the big "N" on the side, and a pair of SafeTStep shoes. I bought those hoping that maybe "work" shoes might be more comfy. Nope, they hurt worse. What is going on here? Why do three pairs of shoes, from three different companies, hurt in the same place, even the pair that is a half size larger? How can I fix these shoes? To go out and buy a fourth pair...my wallet cries out in despair. Too expensive--too ridiculous! How can I find a pair that FITS???