> People finance their cars, their education, their music, healthcare, phones, laptops, just about any major appliance. You can even finance your food!

It used to be the case that you could realistically save up money to buy a car or whatever. These days, so many people are living paycheck to paycheck that they can't afford assets at all, and forget about home ownership or other kinds of equity. Some may be lucky enough to have a 401k with an employer match, but without the latter I see why many people prioritize immediate survival over long-term financial planning.