@IndyRichard Pratchett hit the nail on the head in many of his satirical comments on society. This is but one of them.
Even when I was poor, I tried to spend the money that I did have wisely. Better quality clothing and shoes were a long-time investment. I saved up for that by not having to regularly spend money on cheap stuff.
I still try to live by that standard even now I have more financial means available, as you never know when you do need to spend some of your savings.
When I was in college one year, we had communal kitchens.
Several stoves and sinks, with lockable cupboards for storage.
It was all part of cheap, fast, post-war construction of student housing, but still in use today.
It was really good for community building as we quickly got to know each other.
Any municipality could provide similar places for the unhoused, but, publicly owned, it would be too socialist if it were used by less privileged people
Here's "The Captain Sam Vimes Boots Theory on Socioeconomic Unfairness" from "The Watch"
@IndyRichard This is true of appliances and cars as well.
High-end appliances last forever. New cars hardly break down or produce unexpected expenditures.
It's quite true, but also not the entire picture. Also, the rich don't always spend more wisely than the poor. Exhibit A: Elon Musk.
Some years ago I might have been inclined to do that, but I would have been mistaken based on incomplete information... he hadn't yet revealed his true character and that he's more like a lucky fool than a wise savant.
George Bals 
Indy Richard 🏴
Harald now @ treehouse.systems
Laurens 🐐
mirth
Eric Lawton
DerGinko
MrCopilot
Gen X-Wing
Sliotar
Luis Levy
DaveBee
Axel Foley
VulcanTourist [MOVED]
Max Horn