A lot of times they make choices that result in them ending up poor, sometimes permanently limiting their options. Dropping out of high school, committing felonies, not learning to read, not leaving a bad area, not holding down a steady job, having kids outside a stable relationship, having too many kids, taking out bad loans, not paying bills on time, living beyond their means, not having at least some cheap catastrophic medical insurance, etc. Getting rich is hard, sure, but not being poor isn't. If you're young and poor, it's not your fault; you're still making your way in the world. If you're old and poor and you're not a recent immigrant or psychotically mentally ill, it's because you chose the poverty lifestyle.