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 is what my parents did.
I’ve owned two cars in 25 years of adulthood. As a teen my parents went through six.
11 cars in 11 years before I bought a new one that I drove for 8 years trouble free.