MS is
really not interested in extending support for XP any further:
"An IT manager, who wished to remain anonymous because he was not authorized to speak on the matter, told
Computerworld that Microsoft had quoted his company $1 million for the first year of custom support to cover 5,000 Windows XP machines, $2 million for the second year, and $5 million for the third."
Microsoft gooses Windows XP's custom support prices as deadline nears - Computerworld
Maybe if you put aside a couple of dollars/pounds/euro a week you'd have enough money to buy new versions every so often. It's not like it's an unexpected event.
For better or worse software evolves and unless you can maintain it yourself (or pay for the privilege) you have little choice but to go along for the ride. Changing in a number of gradual steps is a hell of a lot easier than one huge leap every ten years.