I'm starting to look for something minimal and cheap. 

Tet, any specific brands/models to suggest?

thanks tramps,

The neopreme aquasock beach shoes available at drug/etc. stores for about $10 (used to be $5 only two years ago, - $2.99 on sale) give protection from sharp rocks in chipseal pavements and along so-called “improved” trails.  They were popularized as a barefoot alternative by Dr. Charley Robbins, famed AAU distance champion in the 40's and 50's.  http://www.kidsrunning.com/news/krmanchesterbrowne.html

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Aquasocks could be squished into a fanny pack for use as needed when confronting sharp surfaces.  However, they would get pretty warm in the summer so, once, I tried a pair of thongs to see how they’d do on a 10 mile race up-and-down Cougar Mountain near Seattle.  The thongs were even more barefoot than the aquasocks so I wore them all the way in a 50-mile trail run the following week up-and-down two mountains.

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Now, with the thongs, all I have to do is string them into a fanny pack belt or stuff into running wear for use as needed.  I’ve even worn an extra large size once as a test of how forward momentum seems to keep them on while running.  Otherwise a small size will ensure secure straps while runningz. 

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Incidentally, among the hundreds of barefoot runners I’ve met in real or heard from/about on the internet boards, only two so far are purist barefoot.  All the rest of us sometimes wear various kinds of minimalist protections as needed.  Natheless, there’s never a disparaging word from the purists.  To the contrary, they give advice whenever/wherever welcome. 
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In fact, as a result of their patience and advice about softly, quietly touching the ground, I was recently able to extend my barefooting in the chipsealy Yakima River Canyon Marathon from mile seven to seventeen. 

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good luck.