Earlier this week my car (10 yrs old) overheated dramatically while I was driving onto my office campus. First thought was "oh crap, what fresh hell is this?" Second though, was, just work the problem and find a shop nearby to get it checked out, see if I can do a quick patch fix to get it there. Then it became a bigger issue that might have to involve a tow truck, etc. When I eventually got a diagnosis and had a >$1K repair on my hands, I just reminded myself that it was nothing more than an inconvenience for me. While my monthly numbers were going to suck because of this unexpected expense, that's all it really meant. A number on a spreadsheet. It made no difference to me in actual real-world life. But I know so many people for whom this would be a big deal. People who would not have $1K of expense, but $1K financed at 18% for who-knows-how-long-until-its-paid with all the low level stress that goes along.
I remember those days, thankfully long ago, and I'm still grateful for the combination of luck and planning that let me escape them.