The Sam Vimes “Boots” theory of socioeconomic unfairness, often called simply the boots theory, is an economic theory that people in poverty have to buy cheap and subpar products that need to be replaced repeatedly, proving more expensive in the long run than more expensive items.
This was my family growing up. I was ten years old and went through six used cars. I remember how embarrassing it was to sit in a dead car on the highway or street.