It took me a while to learn the importance of buying quality items rather than the cheapest.  My pair of black Chaco’s went a long way in helping me learn that lesson. 

In 2005 I bought the most expensive pair of shoes ever: a black Chaco’s sandal for close to $100.  I needed a pair of sandal’s that I can wear that was comfortable and stayed on my feet.  Previous to my Chaco’s purchase I have never been a label worshipper and I didn’t stay loyal to brands rather  I went for whatever looked good, felt good and doesn’t come with sticker shock.  But, now I am a Chaco’s customer for life. 

After going through three or four cheap Wal-Mart sandal’s I was ready to put down some serious money for a sandal that I could actually wear that would be comfortable.  I loved my Chaco’s because they were comfortable and the straps criss-crossing my feet made sure my sandal’s stayed on even when it was super humid and my feet would sweat.  My Chaco’s even after four years of use works perfectly well and it was worth the $100 investment and I anticipate wearing it for the next 5 or even 10 years.  . 

 #1 Go for value and quality rather than just price.

People who are careful with their money always have the urge to go for the lower price, but stop and think long term.  Go for the item that is good quality so that you can use it longer thus saving money and being more environmentally friendly.  Quality items can sometimes be more pricey but they can be a good investment if you anticipate using it for a long period of time.

#2 High price doesn’t always equal quality.    

But, high price doesn’t always mean that it is good quality especially with some designer brands.  A lot of times the store brand or less high priced brands offer just as much quality for a lesser price.  The best way to determine if a brand is actually worth the price is to do some research.  If you research a brand like Chaco’s you will see that the brand has a huge following of enthusiasts who love their products due to the good quality and how long lasting they are. 

#3 Buy things for the long term. 

You will get your money’s worth if you are buying a high quality item for use for the next 5 to 10 years.  Although my Chaco’s cost $100, I anticipate using it for at least 6 more years for a total of 10 years.  That breaks down to a mere $10 per year versus a $15-$20 Wal-Mart sandal’s that would last a few months to a year.