Zincy
In Vino Veritas
It’s from Discworld, but it very much applies to the real world.
The theory goes that you can explain the socio-economic burden on the poor using boots.
A well-to-do man can buy a nice pair of work boots for 100 bucks (coin in the theory cause fantasy world). Those boots will last him 10 years, 15 if he takes good care of him.
A poor man can only afford cheap boots. Let’s say, 20 bucks (20 coin). But those boots, he’ll work them to death cause they’re cheap. And he’ll have to buy another pair in six months. And every six months hence.
In the same time frame of ten years, the poor man has spent far more on his boots than the well to do man.
Summed up, it is expensive to be poor.