[AstralStorm]

There are levels of poverty. Once you are low enough, you are pretty much unable to afford extra time for either education or probably even proper food. Or time to cook. I personally know a few people pulling 16h of work daily to make ends meet.

What you describe as poverty would be called middle class in quite a few countries. No frills but not really poor. Especially if you managed to always pay all bills on time.