9 Things Poor People Have To Pay for That Rich People Don’t
Being poor is expensive. Not in the flashy, big-spender kind of way, but in the quiet, relentless drip of costs that add up simply because you don’t have the cushion to avoid them. From banking fees that punish low balances to overpriced groceries in neighborhoods without proper supermarkets, the system is stacked in a way that makes life more expensive the less money you have. Here are nine ways being poor ends up costing more.
1. Laundromats
Can’t afford a washer and dryer where you live? Hopefully, you have your weight in quarters lying around, because these days, a load of laundry washed and dried will run you at least $5.
2. Rent
Saving up to buy a house is pretty difficult to do when you’re shelling out more money for rent than you would for a mortgage payment. It’s not a system meant to help you get ahead or work toward homeownership, but instead one built to keep you in the cycle of paying rent every month until the end of time.
3. Bank Fees
Minimum balance requirements, overdraft fees, and monthly maintenance charges can pile up fast when someone is living paycheck to paycheck. If your account dips below a certain amount, even for a day, you can get hit with a fee. If you accidentally overdraft by just a few dollars, that tiny mistake could cost you $35 or more.
Meanwhile, people with more money can keep high balances, avoid fees, and even earn interest or perks. It’s a system that penalizes the people who can least afford it and rewards those who already have more.
4. Credit Card Interest
There are two ways of approaching credit cards: as a way to pay as you swipe so you can earn more rewards, and out of necessity because you don’t have cash on hand. If you’re in the latter group, you might find yourself unable to keep up with the balance, leading to daunting (and often sky-high) interest payments.
5. Cheap Products
Financially well-off folks can afford to splurge on high-quality products. If you can’t afford to do that, though, you might find those discount deals are recurring purchases since they don’t last as long.
6. Used Car Repairs
The nice thing about having the money to buy a new vehicle at a dealership is that you can take it back in for repairs, oil changes, and maintenance. If you’re forced to buy used, you’re also stuck sourcing said repairs and maintenance on your own, and depending on how obsolete your vehicle is, you might experience quite the blow to your bank account.
7. Storage Units
If you can’t afford a roomy house with plenty of space to store your stuff, you might have to outsource and pay monthly fees for a storage unit.
8. Public Transportation
While public transportation is sometimes a matter of convenience, it’s often used by folks who can’t afford their own vehicle and have to rely on other ways to get around.
9. Food Deserts
Living in a food desert means poor people often have to pay more for lower-quality food than those in wealthier neighborhoods. Without nearby grocery stores, they might rely on gas stations, dollar stores, or corner markets — places that charge more for basics and rarely carry fresh produce.