Good discussion, U-Ming. I write for the "traditional" (read wealthy by global standards) audience, but I've lived most of my adult life in poor countries (Africa, Thailand, Brazil, etc). My experience is that many poor people from the village are actually quite smart with money. They may not have a bank account or a brokerage firm, but they understand cash flow and investing. They know how to start small businesses that generate profit, even investing in real estate for cash flow and appreciation. One thing is for sure, everyone in the village has a side hustle! No one would every rely on a single source of income. These are some financial lessons that us Westerners would do well to learn.