[aneisf]

You can say the same thing about any large purchase.

Ultimately, you've lived long enough at this point to know your shoe wearing habits to some degree. If you're the type to wear a particular sneaker day in and day out and are disappointed with the way it falls apart, it might be worthwhile to invest in a better shoe. If you wear a pair of leather shoes once a year, it might make more sense not to splurge, but if you wear a cheap pair often they're going to wrinkle and dull very quickly.

Do what makes sense for you, but there's no point in trivializing high-quality goods because you don't "get" them.

[freehunter]

Oh I'm not trying to trivialize it, and I do get it. I have some things in my life that I splurge on because I enjoy the higher quality. But I don't try to justify it as saving money, I justify it as buying something I want and can afford. I don't say I bought a $2000 MacBook because it will save money over a $500 laptop after I've used it for four years, I bought the MacBook because I like using it more than I like using a different laptop.

Buy $600 shoes if you want. But it's not always going to make economic sense to do so. I have a pair of $60 dress shoes that I've owned and worn for eight years now and they still look fantastic. I just don't wear dress shoes that much.