If you decide to pay. If you don't use credit you will be ok. I have used credit maybe a handful of times and regreted it. I have gotten loans, car rentals, apartments,etc... without credit (how do you think illegal immigrants survive?)
> I didn't even realize a life without cars was possible (and still doubt it outside of some very specific metro areas in the USA) until I was well into my late 20s
Not everyone can do it. Uber, buses and bikes have allowed me to be car free in probably the most car dependent and unwalkable city in the world. I am saving thousands a year and honestly for me it isn't even about the money, I love cars but the hassle of dealing with mechanics, insurance, cops,etc... got too tiresome, it's truly liberating but the important bit for me is I get to WFH 2-3 days, not everyone can. I would have to move next to my office, switch jobs and/or move if that changes!
> Then there's the folks clawing their way out of poverty
Yes, my family lived in such a way when I was living at home before i started working.
> They'll be from poverty and any gains they make are going to be expected to be shared with their family (father, mother, grandmother, etc.). It's extremely tough. Especially as those aging folks need medical care (both in terms of money and attention).
Yes, and even the most unfortunate get to join the army, get free college and start helping out that way. My advice which you think is bad is stop playing by the rules of a system designed to keep you down. Don't get credit cards or credit, max out medicare/medicaid/stamps. Let me add one more: don't liver in a mortgaged house, rent unless you have good liquidity and a growing savings account that can handle a mortgage!
The free hospital in my city, when I took one of my parents for treatment, the guy who checked us out literally told us if we get a bill we should throw it in the trash. And i know people who don't even give their names when being treated!
> At this point I'm definitely planning to try and head to a country with a better social system in place, despite "making it".
That's another thing that drives me nuts! America is better than any country in europe by far! You people (and by that I mean HN and redditors) just don't know how to give the system a middle finger in my opinion. Have you looked for a tech job there!? It pays total crap by compaison. Many jobs are like that. You need a degree for everything (i ditched college - another middle finger to the system!) and everyone has one so it comes down to wealtn and connections. They have a lot of problems there and it's a nightmare if you even remotely look like an immigrant or a gypsy lol. America had a ton of problems and I have faced many of them but i have also see how other countries are and see how I am living now. There is no country better than america, the grass in fact not greener on the other side.
I distinctly remember being in my early 20s, making $9/hr and thinking how I have the exact apartment i want (bad neighborhood but never had issues), eating the food i like as much as I like, consuming any movie and music i want (piracy), learning whatever I want (turns out to be tech/security stuff) and driving a crappy car (didn't care, got me to work) and thinking how good I had it. Now I am so grateful, I order stuff from amazon, just about anything and get in a day or two, any food, grocery, enetertainment, vacation almost anywhere and I am so grateful. I am not self made, many people helped me but my point is that the system was rigged, the house always wins if you play by the rules. You have to hack the system. Say no to debt as much as possible even if that is what everyone recommends (see: mortgage and building equity or credit cards and building credit). Sorry, my quality of life has been great because I said no to many of these things. I might get a credit,mortgage, pay hospital bills, finish college,etc... when the money makes sense! Not while i am struggling for money or have responsibilities.
I will say it again, nothing beats liquidity! 1k cash is better than 50k credit. 1k rent is better than 2% apr mortgage.
I don't have all the answers and never made such a claim, i merely pointed out the common traps and scams people fall i to and waste lifetimes in stress and desperation.