If you invest in top quality (mostly leather) dress boots, dress shoes, hikers, and take care of them they should basically last forever. $100 shoes will never survive. $400 and up? Bloody better last, but you need to look after them like a car, with regular visits to a Shoe professional after so many miles.

And why not learn how to touch up and polish your own shoes. My dad taught me as a young teen. Though I don't wear dress shoes for work much anymore, I love knowing how. And other than my brother, I don't know a single person under 60 that knows how!