Not trying to offend anyone but...?

Why is it when people pray most of the time people are praying for God to bless them with something or to make their life better in some way? Why do people pray half the time for materialistic objects and for fortune? I don't get why people pray to a God who may or may not exist to grant them with things as if a genie in a bottle. People pray to be given things rather than working hard to achieve those things. Not to say everyone does that, but a lot do. I myself am an Atheist, but thats not to say I frown upon religion, I just believe I have the right to believe what I'd like and so does everyone else. I just don't see how so many can pray for themselves to be blessed when many already have a decent living and many others don't and are struggling. Shouldn't believers be praying for the less fortunate and not be asking to be blessed with a raise or with hitting the lotto? I just see that so many people are quick to pray for themselves to have good fortune and not others.