Being broke is a common phenomenon these days, in that the economic value of things has increased with demand, occasioned by looming inflation. Even those who have jobs get broke a week or two after their salary has been paid. It may be due to bad spending habits, bad debt, choosing luxury over assets, and so on.
However, laziness contributes to the lot too. Whereby one doesn't want to dedicate an ample amount of time to learn a trade or skill that will fetch money, instead they chose to relax and sleep or, procrastinate, for reasons they deem fit. Also when one has some money, even though not sufficient, the ability to invest a certain fraction for future or immediate profits is another.
A broke person has no friends mostly a friend who is wealthy. The rich avoid the poor for this same reason of myopic thinking.
If any one remains broke for not having the patience to stay consistent so as to reap reasonable wages, he/she will remain broke. Old age is not as long as one may think, and it comes faster where one doesn't have finance to keep up with times and trends.
In other words, being broke as an adult is like a choice.
Because as you grow older, you will find ways on how to alleviate your economic status.
It is true that you can always find your options how to generate income if you are being diligent about it.
It is not about where you came from, but how you fight for this life as you grow older.