People do well if they can

"Let's be honest: It's easy to judge what we don't understand. It's easy to look at people struggling with money and tell ourselves stories. They're reckless. They don't care. They should know better. But here's the thing: Most people actually do care. They want to pay off debt. They want to build credit. They want to save for the future, buy homes, support their families, and live with dignity."

"I grew up in a community where financial literacy wasn't part of the conversation; not at school, not at home, not even at the bank. I didn't learn what a credit score was until I had already messed up mine. And let me tell you, it took time to understand what mattered and what I could do to change my situation."

"So, I get frustrated when financial challenges are framed simply as laziness or a lack of personal responsibility or accountability. That framing is lazy. Let me say that again: That framing is lazy. Not the people. Not the effort. The framing. Because once you believe that most people are doing the best they can with the tools they have, everything changes. You stop asking, "Why don't they just fix it?" and start asking, "What's missing from the toolbox?""

Many people want to improve their financial situations but lack access to tools, education, and a clear roadmap. Financial struggles often result from infrastructure failures and unequal access rather than personal laziness. Growing up without financial literacy delays understanding of credit and effective money management. Framing financial problems as moral failings overlooks systemic barriers and prevents asking what practical resources are missing. Emphasizing skill-building, accessible tools, and targeted education can help people manage debt, build credit, save, buy homes, support families, and attain financial dignity.

Read at Fast Company