[geofft]

No, you're not "that poor", if by that phrase you mean that $15 is a life-or-death decision for you, and every last cent goes toward survival.

But there's a large distance between that and having enough money to fund every level on Maslow's hierarchy, and there's a larger distance between even that and not noticing a $15 expenditure at all. Maybe they have a budget for things that make life worth living, things other than ramen and a cardboard box, and they spent $15 out of that.

[mberning]

Maybe they have a budget for that kind of stuff. Maybe they don't. Based on personal experience growing up in actual poverty I would bet most do not. I certainly didn't. And neither did most of the people in my life. It's really no different than buying smokes by the pack or 20oz sodas at the gas station. Many people can easily come up with the money to buy these things, even people that are perpetually "broke". But it does all add up.

Anyway, my point was that I don't think "lack of money" is a very instructive way of looking at poverty. If these people are so poor yet have $15 for an impulse buy do you think giving them $1000 is going to change their life? Probably not. Education and building better habits would really help them a lot more. They could save $1000 or probably a lot more and really turn their life around.

[throwawaycloud]

Ever make chicken? 3lbs of chicken is $15 alone ($3.59/lb x 4 lbs, about 1lb of liquid). That's not a lot of food.

Oh, hmm.. How about hamburger then? Same story.

$1k would absolutely be a lifechanger. I'd be able to go get my colonoscopy that I desperately need, or be able to at least go to a therapist to help get over my fear of needles in preparation for that.

You bet I'll drop $15 on CAH. I'm not going to deny myself entertainment just because there are other things I need.

Look at it this way: $15 is a one-time expense. Health insurance is $400/mo.

And I'm not even that poor. I'd rather the $1k go to someone who needs it more than me.

[geofft]

Can you send me an email with a way to get money to you (Square Cash, address for a check, etc.)?

[fjsolwmv]

$1000 for a colonoscopy to tell you that you need $500K of treatment?

[rtpg]

Or to tell you that you are "mostly fine" and just have a diet issue.

Not knowing what is happening to your own body is an extremely scary scenario