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Contrary to what many billionaires probably tell themselves, being wealthy doesn’t necessarily make you brilliant. And we should all be open to learning new ways of doing things, even if those methods have actually been around for centuries!

Reddit users have recently been discussing things that low-income nations do much better than affluent countries, so we’ve gathered some of their most insightful responses below. From working together as a community to minimizing waste, be sure to upvote the replies you agree with, and don’t hesitate to take a few notes from these clever countries!

#1

"Reuse Things": 30 Things Poor Countries Do So Much Better Than Rich Ones Reuse things.

So many things get fixed, recycled and repurposed.

fastfrank001 , Erik (HASH) Hersman (not the actual photo) Report

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#2

"Reuse Things": 30 Things Poor Countries Do So Much Better Than Rich Ones Not letting any food go to waste

hernan_782 , Boca Dorada (not the actual photo) Report

#3

"Reuse Things": 30 Things Poor Countries Do So Much Better Than Rich Ones Work as a community.

bigwidefrog , theamaria (not the actual photo) Report

#4

"Reuse Things": 30 Things Poor Countries Do So Much Better Than Rich Ones Food, almost every 'poor' country (not a phrase i like) i've visited has had a far healthier relationship with their food, not just the quality of the food but also the way they treat meal times, even though many people have less food.

Its generalising but in poorer countries food is much more communual, the quality of the raw ingredients is far better, the time taken to prepare meals is different etc.

Obviously in some richer countries like France/Spain/Italy they also have a good food culture.

But if you look at places like the UK/US the quality of the food has deterioriated so badly over the last 50 years, people see eating meals as a chore to grind out and they want the least hassle highest fat/sugar/carb options they can get.

I've been to India, parts of the Middle East, parts of South America and their relationship with food is just completely different to how things are in the UK

WolvoNeil , Quang Nguyen Vinh (not the actual photo) Report

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Flora Porter
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's an inevitable outcome of capitalism: for the business owners to keep getting richer, the poor have to consume more of their products than they need. Advertising has a lot to answer for.

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#5

"Reuse Things": 30 Things Poor Countries Do So Much Better Than Rich Ones Speaking as an American, healthcare.

My gf had to fly to a third world country to get dental care for a fraction of the cost and the same quality of care. Her dentist here even admitted the work was very well done. That’s pretty sad that people have to resort to these things.

Edit: Country was Ecuador.

prodigy1367 , Andrea Piacquadio (not the actual photo) Report

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Mohammad Ammar
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes this is one hundred percent true but you have to remember that it's only cheap for you guys because of your strong currency and higher average real wages. For locals, good dental healthcare is very expensive when minimum wage is just USD100 a month!

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#6

"Reuse Things": 30 Things Poor Countries Do So Much Better Than Rich Ones Social contact. The first thing my relatives from India observe when they visit our suburban texas home is where are all the people?! Hundreds of massive homes and hardly any people seen outside.

Also, noise. Asked the visiting relative the next morning if they slept okay, they responded, "No." I asked why? And they said it was too eerily quiet! [:facepalm:]

wromit , sagar sintan (not the actual photo) Report

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#8

"Reuse Things": 30 Things Poor Countries Do So Much Better Than Rich Ones Family bonds.

The western world is so full of depressed, lonely people because it's so focused on 'the grind' and comparing oneself to everyone else.

Poorer people often have close family ties, probably out of necessity, and a much stronger sense of community.

ALiteralSentientTank , RDNE Stock project (not the actual photo) Report

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Lauren S
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think this may be a cultural difference, collectivist vs individualistic cultures. I’m not sure it’s about money, just what values are taught growing up.

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#9

"Reuse Things": 30 Things Poor Countries Do So Much Better Than Rich Ones People take care of each other

Necessary-Big4263 , RDNE Stock project (not the actual photo) Report

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M Kovacs
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Really? Check the slums of India, no helping each other, just survival of the pack

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#10

"Reuse Things": 30 Things Poor Countries Do So Much Better Than Rich Ones Problem solving capabilities with less resource. Creative work

bytebrainiac , Ketut Subiyanto (not the actual photo) Report

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Julius Zuke
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In "first world" countries, things tend to be overthought to the point of uselessness.

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#11

"Reuse Things": 30 Things Poor Countries Do So Much Better Than Rich Ones Way more resourceful with what they have

VisualVolume7499 , cottonbro studio (not the actual photo) Report

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Julius Zuke
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Rich countries exploit people to keep a few people rcih. "Poor" countries teach people to come together and support each other.

#12

"Reuse Things": 30 Things Poor Countries Do So Much Better Than Rich Ones cope.

live with less.

learn to make do.

and ultimately, survive.

rich countries are going to have it the hardest when the supply chains fail.

skyfishgoo , hitesh choudhary (not the actual photo) Report

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Fluffy mommy panda
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You mean rich people or people with lots of money who are use to having everything they need that are use to all the necessities. Some people know how to use what they got to make it last longer. Even for bigger groups of people. Not because they wanted to. But because there was no other way. Just like they have to be more resourceful because they don't have much to work with but they have to make it work. Cause it all they have. And it is not fun or pleasant but will make you thankful for what you do have. And can get through hard times if they were to hit again and or stay that way.

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#13

"Reuse Things": 30 Things Poor Countries Do So Much Better Than Rich Ones Flexibility and resilience.
People in rich countries like to plan and anticipate. They are organized. It's great when everything goes according to plan but all hell breaks loose when things go haywire.
People in poor countries are better at dealing with uncertainty.

miss_leopops , RDNE Stock project (not the actual photo) Report

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Mohammad Ammar
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, delays, power outages, internet blackouts, heck even water shortages are not surprising. It's actually sad.

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#14

Less obesity, they walk more, they want less

External-Conflict500 Report

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Mohammad Ammar
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Obesity is almost non existent here in Pakistan. You have overweight people in urban areas but nowhere close to the people I see in the background of American live news reports and street footage.

I_imagine_even_worse_w***s
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This!!! And before anyone else says "it's hard to be obese when you have less." Whilst technically true, having lived in 2 countries that would be classed as underdeveloped, I've found that even people with means have a much nore healthy relationship with food than a lot of so called developed countries.

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Flora Porter
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's interesting that in the US and UK, obesity is now more of a disease of the poor than the rich.

TotallyNOTAFox
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My guess is that the food that's affordable for poorer people contains more sugar and fat in less filling serving sizes

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Stardust she/her
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I rarely see obese people here in India, the last time I saw them was a few months ago

Heather Vandegrift
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They walk more and there l the food they buy isn't loaded with hidden sugars. I'm American and tried to cut out sugar from my diet, and it's in EVERYTHING, even things you wouldn't think should have it! As a single person, cooking meals with fresh ingredients for one is hard when recipes are created for a minimum of 4 people, but buying anything frozen or canned or boxed has sugar in it! It's awful!

FaceTime Audio
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Exception being the South Pacific, where many countries have some of the worst obesity rates in the world.

Paulina
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"They want less" is such a western way of putting things 🫤 They want more! They just know they can't have any. It's not a trait to praise, it's a problem to fix.

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#15

"Reuse Things": 30 Things Poor Countries Do So Much Better Than Rich Ones Repairing cars. I’ve seen teenagers pull apart a engine on the side of the road and fix it, in America the whole car would have been thrown away

enzo-volvo , Clayton Parker (not the actual photo) Report

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K Davis
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cheaper, older cars are much easier to fix. My dad is forever moaning that with each newer car he has, it's hard and harder and do even simple things like change a bulb. Things are more electronic and that makes things more expensive to replace and harder to do. Likely on purpose by the car companies. He had to take out half an engine to change the bulbs on one car, most people would see how hard that is and have no choice but to go to a garage and pay.

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#17

"Reuse Things": 30 Things Poor Countries Do So Much Better Than Rich Ones They seem to have a better sense of community

CompetitiveAnt2609 , Alvaro Camacho (not the actual photo) Report

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mommamarmar
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Although it's not a poor country in any sense, I miss the sense of community I felt after having my daughter in Germany. Even though there was a huge language barrier, every single adult looked out for the children around them. Not just their safety, but their happiness. We went to a wine festival when she was about 6-7 months old (more like the county fairs here in the states with rides and games but also alcohol) and sat next to a group of about 10 German men in their late 50s-early 60s. They spent most of their time playing with my daughter, laughing and keeping her giggling. If I dropped a sock or blanket, someone would always pick it up for me and help out in any small way they could without asking. It was truly wonderful. We often had to go out and run errands on our own, but it never felt like a hassle because there were always kind folks around to help without ever expecting anything in return.

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#18

"Reuse Things": 30 Things Poor Countries Do So Much Better Than Rich Ones Care of the elderly and mentally ill. In poor countries families consider I a responsibility.

growsonwalls , Matthias Zomer (not the actual photo) Report

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Fabian Bernard
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Sénégal, the whole village take care of the mentally ills. But don't be naive, I saw it: the poor guy was apart, fed and given water, but tied to a tree with a two meters rope. No cure, partly integrated with minimal Care. But everyone did its duty of feeding him and looking after him. I guess it's the best they could do

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#20

"Reuse Things": 30 Things Poor Countries Do So Much Better Than Rich Ones Ironically, a far lesser carbon footprint.

ClavicusLittleGift4U , Loïc Manegarium (not the actual photo) Report

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iseefractals
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The US accounts for 4% of the global population, but 15% of global emissions, with 30% of those emissions being generated by CARS. Most of the rest of the world either doesn't have the money for cars, or they simply don't have the need.

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#22

Better sense of community, resilience, and strangely enough, happiness despite having less. I grew up lower middle class in Manila, and despite not having a lot (our water was pumped from a deep well, inconsistent electricity, clothes that didn’t fit, etc…), I remember having a happy childhood.

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Theora Fifty-five Johnson
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sense of community in the US is all but gone. I miss it, but, of course, corporate profit comes first.

#23

Share with others

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Julius Zuke
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Rich or poor, no one leaves this world with a moving van following a hearse. Reading "The Tattooist of Auschwitz" by Heather Morris will forever change your perspective about the importance of sharing.

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#24

Live with what they have and still be happy.

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Julius Zuke
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Exodus 20:17--Thou shalt not covet. Lots of people like to downplay religion and faith, but this principle of faith keeps my family content while everyone else is trying to take the bait for all the ridiculous advertising that bombards us all day, every day.

#25

Prioritize important stuff

ctriis Report

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Julius Zuke
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Such as families, exercise, good nutrition, health, and strong communities ties. Not easy for people with fewer resources, but worth it.

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#26

Folk art. In rich countries, it's not cost effective to put a lot of time into decorative crafts, so the traditions die out pretty quickly.

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Julius Zuke
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A reflection of how little leisure time we have in "rich" countries.

#27

"Reuse Things": 30 Things Poor Countries Do So Much Better Than Rich Ones Being happy with less

long-da-schlong , Pixabay (not the actual photo) Report

#28

people have more sense of friendliness,
you can go and play football with random people on South African streets

Loli_Sniffer_02 Report

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Mohammad Ammar
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes and no. More culturally friendly and hospitable but also slightly unhinged. A lot of people here have undiagnosed mental health issues due to stigma, low awareness and lack of resources. These issues are exacerbated due to economic hardship and leak out in ways such as higher road rage,street crime ,domestic violence etc

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#29

Having a lower carbon footprint, creating less waste, using less animal products.

sumpuran Report

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Zaphod
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, but this is not by choice. They would like to live a first world lifestyle, too.

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#30

Growth

It's kind of very easy to grow when you have nothing

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