I don't want to retype my entire post to someone else but those things don't assure a higher income. The example I was using elsewhere is that in 2015, the unemployment rate for new chemistry majors was 12.4%. Those are people with a STEM degree whole presumably worked very hard. The Comp Sci rate was almost 8% in 2013. Both of those are pretty high for degree choices that people claim are a path to general financial stability.
Now, assuming that you are landing employment in those fields, they pay very well, so there is that. And the unemployment rate at the PhD level is extremely low, which is great assuming you have PHD level ability.
But I don't think people understand just how much the requisite skill level for entry has changed in many professions.
But my larger point is that the current economy is a bigger driver of whether or not someone will remain poor than it gets credit for.
There will never be such a thing as 100% unemployment, but with the current obsolescence of most blue collar work, it's still a much smarter move to educate oneself as opposed to trying to find a lower skilled work as a long term solution.
-the economy, with respects to blue collar professions, has taken the biggest hit of all and automation makes it unlikely to recover in the long term.
http://www.esa.doc.gov/sites/default/files/stem-jobs-2017-update.pdf
-page 2 summarizes the findings of this paper
(STEM job growth, particularly for those with degrees are expected to be higher when compared to non-stem jobs)
--the truth is even some non-STEM degrees and certificates (JD, (M)BA, PMP) still hold their value in terms of life long earnings when compared to not having any post-HS education/certification.
In terms of the economic state having an impact as to someone increasing their quality of life, that is a given.
-but the economy is cyclic in its nature; skills/education > jobs > to spending/investment > growth > job opportunities(which require education to attain), etc.
Back to the original point:
the fact is good work ethic (especially with furthering ones studies, skill and education levels,( Masters w/experience seem to be the new minimum)) and adapting a more simplistic lifestyle to which one can live within their means is still the best recipe for success in the world.
(i.e. home ownership and investment ability, lead to increased wealth, etc.)
The OP was bluntly stated but fairly accurate as to 2 key parts of the formula
(increased income + lower expenditure can be attained with focused efforts and controlled spending habits)
-there are some obstacles certain groups may have compared to others; but the formula, albeit more difficult for some, still holds.
--Fact is, no one is going to nor entitled to "help you out" in any significant way and there has to be accountability to the individual themselves as opposed to a "system or entity holding them down."
One can scream and be a victim of whatever prejudice but the fact of the matter is you need to earn your money and budget yourself in order to attain any wealth in this world.
This is an interesting topic because you hear this type of hopeless mindset abundant in cities and also hear the instant refusal of college or willingness to invest in oneself(student loan) for an affordable(community) college.
-It's quite sad