[atomicthumbs]

"Im from a totally normal middle class-ish family."

Maybe that's why you can't comprehend the idea of being poor in a fashion that doesn't let you escape, even working as hard as you possibly can and making all the right choices.

[phplovesong]

I have seen kids from poor families make it. Many have been highly successful in life, even we should not measure it by pay-check.

It usually boils down to alcohol/drugs, idiotic credit card debts and/or living way beyond your actual capability to sustain that lifestyle, and having zero savings, and possibly having children way too young.