This was alluded to earlier but is something that deserves a closer look. Yes, you can prolong the lifespan of the quarter socks that you buy, and here are a few ways to do so.
As was mentioned before, avoiding wearing them indoors and outside by themselves is a good start. Something a little more subtle is to ensure that your toenails are trimmed as they can dig into the end of the fabric. Along the same line, make sure the socks fit as they could be damaged otherwise.