The article investigates how poor households in Sub-Saharan Africa manage their consumption, income, and wealth. By analyzing data from five countries, the researchers found that urban areas show similar patterns of inequality between income and consumption over a lifetime, while rural areas struggle more with consumption inequality. Rural households rely heavily on savings and help from relatives to cope with shocks like bad weather or illness. This suggests that rural households have a harder time insuring themselves against unexpected events compared to urban areas.