Yeah, the only shoes I've ever had falling apart (or more accurately, worn until there were holes in one of them) were worn for years before that happened.

I've also never spent under $100 on shoes.

And I don't think it's smart to buy shoes you haven't tried on. There's variation in foot shapes, some shoes just aren't designed for your foot and need to be "broken in". I thought all shoes needed to be broken in until one time I got lucky and the second pair I tried fit perfectly right away. Ever since then, I'll keep trying shoes until I find ones that don't need to be broken in.

One exception was when I forgot about that when my cousin saw a sale on good sandals and had him pick me up a pair. Was reminded the first time I wore them. I spent a day at an amusement park and my feet were killing me by the end of it. Figured it was because I hadn't been standing much leading up to that. But then, a few years later I wore the same sandals (now broken in) in a similar situation and my feet didn't feel nearly as bad.

So try on shoes until you feel ones that feel good right away and your feet will thank you. Spend money up front for quality and your wallet will thank you when those shoes last longer than that amount of cheap ones do.

Also take care of them. If they are tie up shoes, untie them to remove them. If they are difficult to get the heel in, get a shoe horn. If you're often walking through puddles and/or mud, wear boots. Always wear socks unless your footwear can breathe well.

I've never put shoes through the washer, not sure how that would affect the longevity, though it likely depends on the materials.

Good shoes will last longer than the laces, too, so just replace the laces when they get worn down. A new lace colour can also refresh the look.