Commercially designated lifestyles generally aren’t cheap.
I think the point is that today’s financial struggles are not any more an extreme burden than in the past. The problem right now is the downward trajectory and bleak prospects for an uphill climb.
Tell me the cost of grocies, of sufficient quality and quantity, to keep you and yours in good health.
Do you believe $9,000 is expensive for a new car? Maybe we need to define be what expensive means.