He didn't say it was a character flaw. It's just context in which to put their other financial decisions.

The financial risk analysis of college is very different when you're poor.

I'm not saying it's a character flaw. I'm saying they held onto a job that wasn't optimal based on their other available options. They could have been middle class had they chosen another job. Down right negligent honestly since they clearly had no healthcare that entire time. One illness could have thrown them on the street.