I think the point is that plenty of adults in first-world countries can't afford new jackets or new pairs of shoes on a whim.

I think the original point of the article is that plenty of adults can afford many things, yet they unnecessarily restrict themselves and inflict suffering on themselves.

I know people who are not going to break their budget by spending $10 on Uber when they are late, yet they would rather wait for a bus in the freezing cold or rain, waste time and be late.

There are also some people who don't get that Uber solves an inconveniencing problem.

Like, I have a friend who was finally convinced to take an Uber. She'd ask the driver to drop her off at the bus stop she'd usually get off at, and walk the rest of the way.

Maybe she was distrustful and did not want the driver to learn her precise home address.

It is perhaps a bit paranoid, but when trying an unknown and unusual service for the first time, not over the top, especially if she is a girl living alone.

For me, it was contactless payments. For the longest time I didn't want a contactless card, a little bit out of fear of someone being able to steal just by being close enough but mainly out of "it's such a minor convenience it's not worth asking the bank for the card". Several years go by and the non-contactless card expired, and the new one was contactless, but I still wouldn't use it.

Then one day I did, and holy shit it's the best thing ever, I'm never using cash again (this was before covid hit which has made contactless mandatory now).

I'm sure there are a few other things in my life like this, i.e. things that I'm aware of, but making stupid choices about, I'm just not aware that it's a stupid choice.

Don‘t know, it‘s just a delay, just cold and maybe just water and some wasted time. I try hard not to get into such a lifestyle. Of coure, I would walk if the distance is reasonable.