The powers that be have a vested interest in you being utterly confused by a financial system where a series of simple mistakes can leave you in debt for the rest of your life.
My big takeaway from the 'Editor's Picks' this year is that we now live in a city where you can go somewhere and pay a 'Bong Steward' to wipe off your bong for you. So that's where we are now. As a society.