They could theoretically save a few dollars a week for a year and buy something nice instead of buying lottery tickets, but emergencies would trump the project.
Should the emergencies trump this project? Should the fund be given away for the emergencies? If it should, then it’s good to have it. If it shouldn’t, then it remains intact.
You don’t understand how difficult it can be for poor people to save money. They may not have access to banks. They may not have a safe place to conceal money.
You are getting dangerously far into the No True Scotsman territory, although of course your point is valid where it does apply.
“Poverty” may nicely compress many details, but isn’t particularly useful in this instance, as we are discussing the specific point of technical ability (as opposed to psychological feasibility, desirability of implementing such a plan, etc.) of a hypothetical rational low-income person to accumulate money in some form. It’s not that impossible a requirement to make considerations depending on it irrelevant. Creative solutions exist: you can probably hide cash under a tree stump of something.
Should the emergencies trump this project? Should the fund be given away for the emergencies? If it should, then it’s good to have it. If it shouldn’t, then it remains intact.
You are getting dangerously far into the No True Scotsman territory, although of course your point is valid where it does apply.
No, she’s not—you’re assuming things about poverty that simply aren’t the case. This list may be useful in thinking on the matter.
Noteworthy:
“Poverty” may nicely compress many details, but isn’t particularly useful in this instance, as we are discussing the specific point of technical ability (as opposed to psychological feasibility, desirability of implementing such a plan, etc.) of a hypothetical rational low-income person to accumulate money in some form. It’s not that impossible a requirement to make considerations depending on it irrelevant. Creative solutions exist: you can probably hide cash under a tree stump of something.