15+ People Honestly Said Why It’s So Expensive To Be “Poor”

“I’m not rich enough to buy cheap things” — this phrase seems, at first sight, quite absurd. The users of reddit discussed in a forum about its true meaning and how it manifests itself in everyday habits. Some shared their sad experiences, others remembered their acquaintances who were in need.

We, from awesome.club, we looked closely at this discussion and decided to publish the examples that most caught our attention. In the bonus, we will show an advantageous habit of a person of few possessions.

If you’re poor, you buy 150 reais shoes that last a season. If you’re rich, you buy 850 reais shoes that last a lifetime. © english_mat / Reddit

I saw a woman coming out of a laundromat, loading a few bags of laundry into a taxi (there was no bus stop nearby). Because she couldn’t save money to buy a car, or a washing machine (probably, she lived on rent and couldn’t even install one), she ended up spending a fortune. These small and necessary expenses make it impossible to accumulate money throughout your life. © shallow_ender27 / Reddit

It’s very easy to show how you can save money when buying tires. You can buy them new for 450 reais, with a durability of 50,000 km, or ones for 550 reais that last 105,000 km. The price difference is 20%, but the durability is more than double. © tireguymatt / Reddit

I dated a guy who dreamed of a car, but no bank would grant him a loan. So he bought an ‘old can’ at absurd interest rates. When I explained to him how this ‘robbery’ scheme worked, he paid his debt at once. Soon after, the car stopped starting. He decided to buy a new starter from the same shop where he got the car. We went there and discovered that the mechanics had installed equipment that blocked the engine when an owner did not pay the month’s installment. They didn’t even know that my ex had paid off the debt, and they replied: “Sorry, we thought you didn’t settle the installment”, and unlocked the engine. It is very unpleasant to be poor! © YukonBrawler / Reddit

When I was a kid, my mom rented a bed. The furniture arrived, but a few weeks later they took it back. It is very frustrating to see people entering your house and taking ‘your’ bed away. Perhaps, it was for the better, because my mother would have paid twice what it was worth, and the bed was not even comfortable. © ReddFawkesXIII / Reddit

My sister’s friend’s parents ‘bought’ a new SUV car Sport Utility Vehicle, in Portuguese ‘sporting utility vehicle’) as a gift for her daughter. Or rather, they paid the entrance fee. The poor girl worked without rest to pay the loan of 140 thousand reais, in addition to her rent. And her parents still accused her of mismanaging her money, which was the most sinister part of this story, because, on her minimum wage, she couldn’t even afford such a car. © MrEngin33r / Reddit

Banks and financial companies compete for rich clients, because, as those with possessions know how to manage their money, they are reliable. Any bank will offer them low interest rates, early repayment of a loan, and other bonuses. I am an economics professor and I always remind my students of an undeniable truth: if the advertisement says “Loan for all! We don’t even need your credit history!”, these institutions know exactly who will be looking for them: those who cannot apply for a loan elsewhere, and will accept any conditions, even if they are terrible. © Chiggadup / Reddit

I’ve had good-paying jobs, as well as some that paid poorly. We know that expensive things last longer, and that buying new and cheap things all the time, besides being expensive, is also depressing, as everything around you constantly seems to break down. © kirkby18 / Reddit

If you ever ask for an escrow loan, or a quick loan for some emergency, or desperation, you’ll soon feel like you’ve stepped into quicksand. © New_Game_P1us / Reddit

If you are poor, you always need credit cards to survive. The problem is that people with a bad credit history pay the highest interest rates. © Turd_Ferguson009 / Reddit

Renting is not a good option, as you pay four times the real price. If you forget to pay an installment, they will collect the rented item. Worse than that, the things that can be rented are of poor quality: cheaper TVs and furniture, old cars. Renting real estate is a little different, but renting in the center is better. © rhb4n8 / Reddit

I once had to convince my dentist to extract a tooth instead of having a root canal. I couldn’t afford that option and chose the cheapest one. It is sad to know that children from poor families more often eat food that damages their teeth, so they spend more on dental services. © Fulltequilabelly / Reddit

If you want to study at a university, but you don’t have the money, you will have to apply for a loan. Sure, there are some scholarships, but most of the training you’ll need to pay for with borrowed money. © _TallulahShark / Reddit

One of my friends didn’t know anything about financial management. One day, he rented a giant TV for 220 reais a week for a year. If he had saved this money for just two months, he would have saved 1,760 reais and, in a year, he would have added 10,560. When I told him that, he looked at me like he was seeing a ghost. © AmNotSatan / Reddit

Poverty is simply the accumulation of expenses that cannot be paid at the moment. They will never end. Good quality food is expensive, and cheap food sooner or later will cause health problems. And you will need to spend on treatment that will provoke stress, undermine personal relationships and sleep quality, as well as cause fatigue. Good sleep, healthy relationships and the possibility of not working overtime are things that make us feel good and happy. © Gentleman_Villain / Reddit

I’ve been poor most of my life and I’m still not in a good financial situation. Everything you pay seems like a fortune. On one occasion, I went to the market to buy something special for my daughter’s birthday. I spent almost 100 reais. I swear I deserved an Oscar for my ‘landscape face’. I left the market and started to cry. People on the street kept looking at me. When I saw my daughter’s smile, I felt so much better! But I confess that spending almost 100 reais hurt a lot! © Mr_ForeverDM / Reddit

I once saw an ad for renting a console from video game for kids. If they do poorly at school, or don’t help with cleaning the house, it’s possible to return it. Of course it is a temporary solution, but in that time you will understand if your child can play without getting addicted to electronic games. This is more profitable. © Probonoh / Reddit

What habits do you consider harmful to prosperity? Comment.