I’m all about a bargain, and I especially love when kid’s shoes go on clearance at places like Target, JCPenney, and Walmart. But the one thing I’ve learned is not to get too attached. Shoes are one of those special staples that take a lot of wear and tear, and if you refuse to buy the best, you can’t always expect it.

I have 3 boys under age five. We have always been blessed with high-quality hand-me-downs from a lady at our church (who also has 3 boys.) By the time clothing and shoes make it to my youngest child, they have gone through six (yes, count them) boys. And we all know that boys are as easy on stuff as the latest tropical storm.

The one thing that this has taught me is that sometimes (even in my extreme frugality, I have to admit) the pricier brands really do hold up better. Now, I’m not talking about the most poshly designed celebrity-endorsed chinchilla booties or the high-tec sneaks with the back wheels and built-in laser pointer. I’m referring to sturdy, well-built, comfy and practical tennis shoes. The better the brand, the longer they have lasted – period.

Brands that have done well at our house: Nike takes the cake every time. We also see the Weebok brand outlast the others. And that tiny pair of Converse canvas uppers? Still going after all these years.

We still take every opportunity to stock up on cartoon-embellished tennies from our favorite Big Box stores. At $3.29 a pair on clearance, we can get an entire range of sizes to cover the next 4 years of shoe-wearing pleasure. And while after only a few months of heavy wear, you can barely make out the Pirates of the Caribbean logo, the laces are knotted and frayed, and rubber soles flap around like my dog’s tongue on a June day, they work for the purpose they were intended for – cheap shoes.

So the next time you see a pair of $60 sneaks from a major shoe guru, don’t freak out. Yes, you can wait to buy them on sale (I always do.) Or you can rush out and grab that $6 pair of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Croc knock-offs from your dollar store.

Just don’t get too attached.