I don&#x27;t know what you&#x27;re arguing against here.<p>More expensive stuff definitely lasts longer, in general.<p>&gt; $30 shoes from DSW<p>These shoes aren&#x27;t cheap, they are what is called &quot;seconds.&quot; They have design flaws. I buy shoes from DSW because they are $300 shoes for $60 because they are missing a stitch. They are still technically $300 shoes...<p>&gt; Our clothes from Sears lasted forever.<p>That&#x27;s fine, but Sears is mid-ranged. If you buy something from Walmart it&#x27;s going to lose the wear-ability very quickly. Maybe a polo would be fine, but a Jacket, pair of shoes, or pants will not hold up like something a few times more expensive will.<p>&gt; Middle class people don&#x27;t sigh in relief about being able to afford hipster boots, they just buy the same sneakers they always did.<p>Middle class people generally buy $100-$200 Nikes.<p>&gt; My fancier clothing wears out faster, my more complex lifestyle means more handymen and repairs, etc.<p>??? What? What are you buying, exactly?<p>&gt; Its really not. When we were poor we just didn&#x27;t buy into the consumerist lifestyle. We just kept stuff forever.<p>Very-cheap end things don&#x27;t last as well as mid-ranged things do. It&#x27;s a fact. You won&#x27;t be buying new TVs, but the consumables you buy suck: watches, jackets, the food, your cars, dishes, forks and knives, computers (for work), so on... which leads to you purchasing them more often.<p>It doesn&#x27;t mean the HIGHEST END stuff is much better. You have diminishing returns. But, it&#x27;s very tempting to buy the CHEAPEST when you are poor.