[DoingSomeThings]

As others are pointing out, there's a general problem with financial literacy in the USA population, exacerbated by a culture that values flashy signs of wealth. But it's not the whole story.

There's a macro problem that that cars often are necessary to function in USA cities. With limited public transit, especially in the suburbs/exurbs where below median earners are forced to live, getting to a job requires a car. And cars are expensive, no matter how you slice it. Our city designs make it doubly hard to be poor.

I feel for low income earners - They're least able to afford extra expenses, have the least ability to devote mental/time resources to rate/price shopping, and get hit with the highest rates due to low income / low credit. Even if you want to make a good choice, the finances are stacked against you.

[sneed_chucker]

This is by design. Consumer spending is something like 60% of the US economy.

A deeply engrained conspicuous consumption culture and normalization of debt for non-essential purchases keep the great beast fed.

[freedomben]

Yep. I don't remember where I first heard it at this point, but throughout my life this has felt true more times than I can count:

It's expensive to be poor.