OP mentions cigarettes and gasoline. Typical expenses for people who willingly refuse to be rich and throw their hard-earned money at the first thing that relieves them from the grind. A grind they insist on suffering through their irrational spending.
What most people don't really understand is that capitalism is about exploiting you for 8 hours a day and taking your money from you the following 8 hours in exchange for a quick shot of comfort.
Inflation is evil because it takes purchasing power away from currency holders (and, in general, the poorer you are, the higher the percentage of your savings is based on currency),
The poor might want to invest a little, they could actually get rich!
Seriously, the more I read about this topic, the more I wish for a world where everyone were taught financial education in their infancy. I hope I can contribute to that goal along my life.