It was mostly about availability of such luxuries. Even if you were "rich", money in a controlled economy was pretty much useless. Everything was rationed (one

It was mostly about availability of such luxuries. Even if you were "rich", money in a controlled economy was pretty much useless. Everything was rationed (one car per family, 2 breads, 1 bottle of milk per day, etc.) unless you were in the right circle (which meant being actively part of the secret police or a snitch for them). Also, travel abroad and imported goods (unless imported from USSR or a few other select communist countries) was strictly forbidden for the plebs.