Yesterday, I made a purchase that I’ve been considering for about a month. I bought a new pair of shoes. These aren’t just any shoes, either. We’re talking about the most expensive pair of shoes I’ve ever bought.

I paid $85 for my new footwear. I realize that doesn’t sound like that much for shoes to some people. But I’m used to buying my shoes at Target. My feet are small enough that I routinely buy my shoes from the kids’ aisle, an area with even lower prices than than the already cheap options such a store provides.

My last pair of shoes are pretty much unwearable now. I paid $15 for them a year and a half ago. The bottom of my shoes are now broken in half, the padding in side the shoes has worn away and I need to replace the shoelaces, again. Looking at these broken down shoes, I finally understood the idea of paying for quality. Sure, I only paid $15 for my shoes, but I pay $15 every year.

For my new pair of shoes, I chose a brand name that is known for durability: Dr. Martens. This isn’t an endorsement for the brand in particular, but I know people who have worn the same pair of Doc Martins for the last decade. I only need to wear mine for a little more than five years to beat my current shoe expense.

I’m more than willing to admit that I get caught up in short-term frugality. I’ve bought cheap shoes, rather than investing in a good pair that will last me. But that short-term frugality isn’t always the best solution for my long-term financial success. Even setting aside the question of long-term cost, there are other factors that I really ought to take into consideration:

• How much time have I spent over the years shopping for new shoes?
• How bad for my feet are walking in these cheap shoes, especially after they get broken enough that I start worrying about buying a new pair?
• How poor of an image do I put forward with shabby shoes?

I’ve approached other purchases in the same way. I’ve gone to the dollar store to pick up all sorts of things, only to have to replace them a few months later. Even if you don’t consider the environmental issues that go along with treating durable consumer goods as disposable, I’ve probably spent a lot of money over the years just so that I could save a few bucks immediately.

For the sake of my finances, I’m working on choosing better long-term options when I need to make a purchase. From apparel to appliances, I’ve discovered that doing a little research helps me make sure that my purchases will last past the end of their warranty. There are a few cases where I still feel okay about buying the cheapest option available, but, in general, I’ve come to the conclusion that quality is worth the price.