[incision]

>'One part of it is that electronics are actually very cheap compared to living expenses.'

Cheap relative to living expenses and childcare in particular. Years ago, it was cable TV to keep kids off the street while parents were at work - now it's something with a touchscreen.

>'When you actually meet people living in tough conditions...there is music and art in all societies, not just the privileged ones.'

Nice quote.

I think the indiscretions often come back to one thing - stress and seeking to relieve it.

Looking back my own experience, the really tough thing about being poor wasn't lacking any specific thing it was the crushing stress of constantly teetering on the brink and exhausting effort to keep from toppling.

I think the discipline of a life without small indulgences makes a person 'brittle' and invites the risk of outright breaking when some inevitable disruption is beyond your control.

Also, the stress I refer to is something I believe is frequently misunderstood and grossly underestimated. Having ample means and choosing to live spartan or fasting periodically is a toy version of actual hardship.