Learned a tidbit while in town. It's not unusual

for people to buy a new phone once every year or two.  And the phones people are financing can run close to, or over, a thousand.  It's not just the phone, the activation fee runs about $35, then there's the 5 or 6 foot charge cord, which runs about $70 - they come with a 3 footer, but if your outlet is on the other side of your table...  If you're on the go, you'd probably want one to take with.  Next year, rinse and repeat; chances are, you'll need new charger$ with the new phone.  Oh, almost forgot, the protective case will run about $40.  So, even a cheaper $400 phone (which certainly will not impress the frienemies) will end up costing towards $600.  

Then there's the fake hair, the fake nails, and - lest we forget - those (abominable) tattoos; something like $1,000 for a sleeve.  i believe the fake nails run about $50 or 60, then every two weeks, the gel polish job runs about $15.  If one falls off, maybe $10 to put back on?  How often does that happen?  Anyway, hope the shop is close, because gas isn't cheap either.  The fake hair, can only guesstimate, about $90 - and i understand, it doesn't hold up - so i guess, it's a monthly $30 patch-up.  Am assuming these prices include reasonable tips.  

Men don't generally go in for the $1,200 phones, gel nails or hair weaves, but men sure like those $75,000 trucks and $40,000 motorcycles, and bass boats...whatever they run.  Not sure what a super-duper wide-screen runs, probably a few hundred - that is, until the next model comes out in 2025, then 2026.  All's i know is, a young man just spent $1,800 on computer accessories - he might be a you-tuber; some people makes lots of money that way, but most not nearly as much as they'd anticipated. 

Anywsy, am just wondering, how do people afford it all?  And then, on top of all that, drive late model cars - just saw an advertisement for a $75,000 vehicle financing offer.  Yeah i get it, you can get a lower interest rate - from something like 12% annually, to around 5% - by taking out a home equity; but what if something happens, and you're unable to keep up the payments?  

Such is life in thi$ fallen world.  The world wants your last dollar, and your last minute.