I am now trying to reconcile or resolve Ennis running 'full throttle...money spending' and the story being at least in part about poverty. I guess I am not seeing a lot of evidence that Ennis (story or movie) is a big spender. Story!Jack, on the other hand, gradually enjoys a higher standard of living, especially after LD dies, and he gets his vague managerial . And we see Movie!Jack having nicer trucks and camping gear as time progresses.
So while I understand that Ennis does not have the ambition that Alma wants him to have (to go to work for the power company, etc.) I don't see the full throttle money spending either. He's concerned about paying his child support. Maybe it's just that there's never enough.
This post more likely belongs in the thread about BBM being about economics and poverty, but I cannot find it right now...too many political threads to sort through. If anyone knows offhand where it is, please let me know, or move it for me!