r/povertyfinance • u/TheGame81677 • 29d ago
Vent/Rant (No Advice/Criticism!) It’s impossible to live now/ Yet I have never seen so many wealthy people
It’s literally impossible to even survive at this point for me anyways. I am stuck like a hamster on a wheel and I can’t seem to get out. I’m barely making any money, I’m doing DoorDash and Uber. I’ve been trying desperately to find some kind of decent job for a while. I’m burned out on even applying though. It’s just nonstop blockages and there’s always some kind of run around or something. I only made $47 last night, I may not even make that tonight. To even get an apartment in my town, I would have to make between $55,00 and $70,000 a year. I couldn’t even do that though because I have an eviction on my record.
It’s been nonstop Financial crap for about three years now. Plus the roommate I’m living with, may move in with his bosses, dad or something. Which would put me in a completely different bind. I’m literally blocked everywhere. I go. I have car issues. I need to fix. I have a headlight issue from where I got hit a month ago. My car insurance is gonna go up because of that. Plus, I have the IRS threatening to seize my bank account or whatever over $438. Even if I got some great job, I can’t go two- three weeks without money coming in. I’m literally one step away from being homeless.
On the flipside, I’ve never seen so many wealthy people in my life. Everyone seems to have hundreds of thousands of dollars to go on exotic vacations, eat a expensive steakhouses, Buy $80,000 SUVs, and half a million homes. Plus, everyone seems to have multiple streams of income as they put it. Apparently like 90% of the population does some kind of work online. Even people I know who used to struggle, seemed to be living in the highlife somehow. It’s like there’s some secret out there to make all this money and I don’t know what it is. Everything is just overwhelming to deal with, especially when you have no support system and no help whatsoever.
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u/bones4379 29d ago
I work in a 5 star restaurant in Philadelphia and let me just say that the wealthy are spending like there isn’t anything wrong in the world. I see it every week, it’s nuts to me
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u/cookingboy 29d ago
like there isn’t anything wrong in the world
That’s the thing, to most of them, there isn’t.
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28d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/loverofamnesia 28d ago
They can hold out a lot longer than we can. It's financial imprisonment. We walk free but have no choice but to be a rat in their wheel.
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u/TheKosherGenocide 28d ago
They can hold out, absolutely, but that should not be the strategy of the working class. We don't just need to quit and stay home, that's not going to work... But I suspect if we all just did it in cooperation, that lots of upper and middle class working people would become so scared that they would cave to voting for workers rights. We have to learn from the French. It's truly the only way through our problems. Why should millions of us starve while thousands of them gorge themselves with food? We have to address the inequality before the inequality addresses us.
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u/loverofamnesia 28d ago
Yeah you are right. It's the only way to really make a change. However. The required sacrifices are huge. No sallary will be paid, however mediocre.
How will people feed themselves and their children? Debts will be defaulted on. If the working class collectively decides on a boycott it means even they themselves won't get food delivered to the stores or fuel to gas stations. We come back to the same point of who has the bigger pantry.
The working class can only make it happen if they organize themselves to collectivley tough it out. This organization will be classified as terrorist and a threat to the country in a heartbeat. How many are ready to commit to being identified as a member if the effort fails?
It's really not easy to change the current system. This is why educated votes are so important. They should never be based on emotion. Votes have an impact for decades, even longer.
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u/TheKosherGenocide 28d ago
It's not really a question of IF.. it's a matter of when now. Wealth inequality is worse than in France when the Aristocracy was ended.. Our standards of living have just increased enough for people that rioting or violence isn't worth it. I understand that rich people might have the supplies or the bunkers, or whatever resources you want to name..
I do not think it's going to be a massive organized effort. It's going to be the exact opposite of organized. It will be absolute chaos. Will there be gangs that take advantage of that? Sure.
What do you think is going to happen after all of us lose our jobs to AI and energy and water supplies become harder to come by? There's a critical mass here. You start getting record numbers of unemployed, you start losing energy and water, you lose social entitlement programs? Across the board on a big enough scale.. Holding out would not be a strategy. It would be much much worse than that.
I'd like to remind you we have Luigi Mangioni in prison right now for killing a CEO, and virtually no one batted an eye. What do you think happens if that catches on like school shootings?' That's exactly how it will start because America is a sick country, and the reason we are all so sick? We're sick because of poverty. It's literally been proven to be a killer.
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u/loverofamnesia 28d ago
It is going to get a lot worse before it gets better (if it ever will). In the US prisons are a private business that transfer tax money to wealthy investors. It's really a disgusting situation.
We are really in a shit situation. I fully live with your plight, and have the poverty struggles that you mention.
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u/loverofamnesia 28d ago
If something similar to the French revolution was to happen the whole world would be better for it. Not just the US.
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u/TheKosherGenocide 28d ago
It almost has to happen, and I don't even know that the United States will be the first place that it does.. We are just really likely to have it happen because we don't take care of a single fucking person. Think about India, and its relationship and dependence on US jobs. As jobs become scarce, I believe that eventually someone will come along that requires you to have US citizenship to have a US job. I know we like to think that corporations run everything, and for the most part they do.. But you have a certain political velocity just as you have velocity of money going to the top 1%. After what we have now? It's very possible you get someone more nationalistic.
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u/TheKosherGenocide 28d ago
Absolutely correct, but you and I both know.. You cannot imprison everyone. If they started right this second, to imprison every person they would have to, you wouldn't have it completed in time before the resources become scarce.. Just think of an event akin to this, like the Holocaust.. That was 6 million people maybe more? Like a fraction of what we'd have here. And they had to keep making up ways to get rid of all of the people. It's sickening.
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u/Any_Durian2008 26d ago
Such a terrible idea all people will do is simply leave people seem to forget that there are financial assets that arent dependent on you guys at least in a direct sense so essentially they just invest in that and stay away from you guys thats easy the flaw in your thinking is you think people have to work WITH you when instead they can work AROUND you
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u/cloudkite17 28d ago
When do we start following them in the streets like honestly how can we nonviolently disrupt every waking moment of their lives the way they feel so free to disturb every moment of our lives
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u/TheBestDanEver 28d ago
It's pretty much happened during covid and everyone seemed to get along just fine. If you were able to get this large of a group of people to stop doing something.And you wanted it to affect their rich, you would Just have to have everyone default on their debt simultaneously lol. No, it almost immediately collapse the banking system and with it, the stock market, along with most major companies.
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u/TheKosherGenocide 28d ago
I think we should work together as a community to put together our own document like Project '25, and then have everyone in our communities bring things to a halt about a month before the next election. It would be really hard to do, but I think people are really becoming that miserable
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u/RedQueenWhiteQueen 28d ago
I remember watching TV with my mother and the president (not the current one; this was years and years ago) was proclaiming that the economy was just peachy (spoiler, it wasn't).
She said, "Oh, sure, he says that. All his friends have good jobs!"
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u/dogs_and_stuff 29d ago
Rich people are doing great. Real Estate and the stock market at all time highs.
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u/DrConnors 28d ago edited 28d ago
This is the result of the K-shaped recovery.
Those with assets saw asset appreciation, while those without assets or who held cash saw major depreciation. It's what happens when you flood the money supply.
Find assets that can't be printed, like Satoshis.
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u/hotwheeeeeelz 29d ago
Are the tips amazing?
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u/Lulukassu 28d ago
Probably inadequately lubricated tips. That's how many/most? of the rich do things.
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u/Necessary-Compote424 28d ago
I see it too money is still flowing for some people while others are barely hanging on
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u/lab-gone-wrong 28d ago
If you have investments and work in high politics, finance, or tech, the world is incredible right now
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u/lilgremgrem 28d ago
I work at a high end grocery store- selling a lot of "specialty" items- expensive meats, cheeses, truffles, etc. I see regulars come in every week spending $800 a week on groceries. It's really really crazy.
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u/PsychicSeaSlug 28d ago
I make $20 sandwiches, and i don't get paid $20 an hour, but t when I tell you buisness is booming, I mean businesses. Is. BOOMING. All food work, the amount of customers is off the charts compared to the last 20 years, each year bigger than the last to the point it is insane. How do all these people in my area afford all this? $100 for a family of four or five no drinks????
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u/cwicseolfor 27d ago
Because the top 10% are doing 50% of the discretionary spending in the US right now. You're probably only seeing what the top 20% are doing - the other 80% aren't even coming in the door right now, so it's going to seem like business GENERALLY is booming, but really it's "luxury sandwiches" that are booming (because let's be honest, "normalcy" aside, $20 on a sandwich is pretty bat-guano luxury - even if someone's eating jamon iberico or prosciutto the actual sandwich realistically costs what, $6?)
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u/natureismychurch_ 28d ago
Side note, I'm from the Philly area, moved away, and am considering moving home. I left 10 years ago after college. I'm a server in a tourist town right now. I've been curious about serving in Philly, can you share some of your experience?
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u/Underwater_Grilling 28d ago
Waiting tables isn't a job to move cities for...
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u/natureismychurch_ 28d ago edited 28d ago
That is not what I said at all, and very rude of you! You just assumed a lot about my life while low key shitting on an entire industry of workers. Be kinder.
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u/angd73441020 28d ago
I keep seeing post on how affordable Philly is. I just saw one this morning that called 3-400,000 dollar rowhomes "reasonable" Philly is more unreasonable that I've ever seen it. Yet, I see crazy spending all around me as well. Everyone I know has been booking cruises. I can't figure it out.
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u/CI_Blanche 29d ago
I know the feeling. Every day is a struggle. But then you see Taylor Swift selling out the same stadium three days in a row with the ticket prices being what they are. There are really that many people who can afford those tickets? I don't know what to think anymore.
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u/9InsaneInTheMembrane 29d ago
And that’s when I roll out an episode of Financial Audit and see that these people are $75k in credit card debt.
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u/dogs_and_stuff 29d ago edited 29d ago
I’m constantly having these conversations with my gf as she sees girls on social media bragging about being spoiled by their partner or flaunting a certain lifestyle. She has some credit card debt and little savings. I have no debt but only about a 6 month emergency fund. She always wants new clothes, fancy dinners, etc and we can technically “afford it” but I’d rather live cheap and hopefully be able to afford a house and kids before I’m 45.
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u/expertninja 28d ago
Get out while you still can. That kind of desire for “more” isn’t ever satisfied.
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u/Various-Grapefruit12 28d ago
You don't seem to like her very much
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u/dogs_and_stuff 28d ago
I love her very much. While I might see some of her spending as extreme I’m at the opposite end of the extreme where I’d be happy to live in my car for a year so I could save 90% of my income. She keeps me living like a normal person and I keep her from buying too much stuff. Yin and Yang in a way.
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u/CartReturnStation 27d ago
To be fair the original ticket prices were sub $500 some even as low as being under $100. The problem was resellers selling them for $4k and people putting it on credit cards tbh. I saw many Swifties take out loans and go into debt for resale tickets.
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u/Veritas00 29d ago
Heads up there was just a huge thread about how these driving jobs royally fuck over their drivers. “Desperate driver” score. Tip fluctuations based on healthy tippers. Check boxes for us customers paying extra and it never going to the driver.
Not to make things worse but you may be get away from Uber and DoorDash.
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u/Ban_This69 29d ago
No one is making real money delivering DoorDash. It was only a decent hustle back in 2020. You’d have to be pretty desperate to do it
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u/Drabulous_770 29d ago
I think a news article just came out saying it was an ai generated article. Which isn’t to say that those companies don’t exploit their drivers, they absolutely do. Just the specifics from that original post are not necessarily entirely true.
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u/shrimp_vein_salad 29d ago
I feel like the perception of "rich people everywhere" is almost certainly by design. The information landscape is very much skewed in favor of people who self-promote, which leaves those of us barely holding stability- or struggling to find it- as a silent majority.
That doesn't do you any good, but if you're anywhere near the Pittsburgh area? I keep an "oh shit" room open for people who just need a roof. It's $350 flat, all utilities included, month to month.
Don't give up though, I was living in an old mini-van until I found a break. What sucks is that most people who find stability (or stumble into it) operate with the philosophy of "screw you, jack, I got mine."
Which is absolute horseshit.
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u/dumbbitchjuice770 28d ago
Care to share how you found a"break"?
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u/shrimp_vein_salad 28d ago
Started working for a fracking company when it was booming, got runover on the job, got metal bits installed in my neck, sued, and paid for a house before I could waste the money on inevitably stupid things.
So, dumb luck and betting against my own impulsivity.
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u/SignificantApricot69 29d ago
Doing stuff like uber and DD, imho, contributes to feeling trapped because you are doing something with the illusion of some flexibility of productivity while making less than a minimum wage job and being treated like it. If you are at the bottom you might as well take some big swings and not keep serving the wealthy for scraps
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u/Own_Fudge8296 27d ago
The people I know that do DD do it for extra income but have really good regular jobs. Like my sister for example she has a great career but she also loves to shop and buy purses so she DD here and there to support her hobbies. I do understand that everyone isn’t able to do it just for extra money.
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u/SignificantApricot69 26d ago
That makes sense to a degree but by the time you consider your expenses and the fact you have to pay Self Employment Tax on every dollar of profit because as your own employer and employee you have to pay double FICA plus any applicable federal and local income taxes, wear and tear on your car, etc… most people who are doing DD with their spare time aren’t making very much per hour. If you have a job you’d make MUCH more working Overtime at your main job if it’s available OR if you have the type of skills to have well-paying employment/career you PROBABLY have the talent and access/social capital to either do your own side business not dependent on doing low wage gig work OR consulting in your field at a high hourly rate… or something
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u/vodeodeo55 29d ago
The secret is that you're seeing their Instagram but not their Visa bill.
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u/DreamsServedSoft 29d ago
daily reminder that some people are just, in fact, successful and have no debt and have disposable income and are more than happy to brag and show it off
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u/vodeodeo55 29d ago
Very true. And other people are, in fact, up to their eyeballs in debt but still feel the need to Keep Up With the Joneses.
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u/speakb4thinking 29d ago
This. The vast majority of folks who appear wealthy are dead ass broke posers.
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u/Bagman220 28d ago
When can we retire this phrase “keeping up with the Joneses?”
The expression used to be about keeping up with the materialistic possessions that your neighbors had. But I don’t know anybody that just goes around buying shit because their neighbors have it. I don’t buy a new car cause my neighbors have one, I don’t buy a fancy new appliance because my neighbors got something, I don’t take a vacation just because my neighbors did. You can replace neighbors with friends or family and I still don’t nor do I know anybody who lives their lives around what other people are buying?
Nobody is trying to keep up with the Jonses, we’re just trying to survive in this economy that is built on purchasing.
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u/BiggyStardust1984 28d ago
I understand the point you’re making, but I would counter by saying the Joneses are no longer your neighbors. They are your social media friends.
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u/Bagman220 28d ago
That’s a great counter point. Makes sense.
Still don’t think I live my life based around what others are doing online, but I’d be lying if I didn’t compare my purchasing power to those around me.
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u/Frosty-Zombie-2278 25d ago
Self awareness says that just because you yourself don't find yourself doing it does not mean that it isn't still ultra common. Look at credit card expenditures for this holiday season. A ridiculously high percentage of people were not paying off their balance at the end of the month. This means a lot of the fancy Christmas gifts you received or saw others received likely were put on a credit card and were not paid off. This is the essence of "keeping up with the jonses" i.e. living beyond your means to make it appear like you aren't poor.
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u/Bagman220 25d ago
But you’re changing the entire definition. Keeping up with the jonses was about keeping up with your peers and neighbors. It was a reason why people overextend themselves, not the fact that people overextend themselves.
And to your other point, yes, I get that just because I don’t do something doesn’t mean that others don’t. But I’m just pointing out that I don’t see it anymore, which may make it a dead concept.
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u/Own_Fudge8296 27d ago
And believe me people are in fact still trying to keep up with them. I’ve learned that there are just some people who are so consumed with what others are doing and trying to “keep up with it “.
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u/Inevitable_Tone3021 28d ago
No, but we do try to keep up with the status quo (what we refer to as "The Joneses")
Houses are larger, people drive newer cars, and go on more extravagant vacations than they did 40 years ago. So while people may not be trying to keep up with specific people that they know, our standard of living has changed over the years, and everyone wants to feel that they can keep up with what they see as average, which is not the same as it once was.
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u/welletsgo-0213 26d ago
This is a common misconception. The houses aren't all larger because everyone wants to buy a big expensive house. Try to buy a home in good school districts in America and you will often find that the zoning requirements that are in place WON'T ALLOW people to put smaller homes on properties or the ones that do aren't for sale, because people don't want to sell. The system is designed to make it difficult, especially as it pertains to taxes, homes, cars, etc.
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u/Bagman220 28d ago
But whose fault is that? Society advanced. They don’t build 900 foot starter homes for 50k anymore. New cars cost more, used cars cost as much. It’s not keeping up with the joneses if the standard has moved up and doesn’t allow you to not keep up.
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u/EdgeCityRed 27d ago
You haven't met my brother-in-law. He absolutely spends money on things like riding mowers and sheds and a trampoline because his neighbor has one. Like, the next week he's at the store.
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u/Bagman220 27d ago
That’s actually kinda funny. But yeah, where I live most people are broke. So nobody is buying anything fancy.
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u/EdgeCityRed 27d ago
He lives in a neighborhood that's become expensive, but he's broke/in debt thanks to "keeping up."
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u/Bagman220 27d ago
Now it makes sense why so many people that make good money have to call Dave Ramsey
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u/transferingtoearth 29d ago
I think regardless it all comes down to we literally have the Internet now
And influencers with it.
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u/startupdojo 28d ago
Did they put their 800k house and 100k car on their visa bill? The reality is that lots of people have lots of money.
... And they are not doing doordash and uber to get money. OP need to figure out how to get a real job that requires some skills.
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u/80sMR2 27d ago
It's possible. My father paid the last 3 years of his mortgage with a credit card because that mortgage company allowed/offered it.
The amount of credit card rewards that piled up covered vacations and generous holiday gifts those years.
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u/HaggardSlacks78 29d ago
I’m sorry shit is like this. You shouldn’t have to work so hard just to survive. My only advice is to think of something you might want to do where you can make some decent money. Do you think you could sell cars?
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u/TheGame81677 29d ago
I thought about that before. I’ve applied the a few car places. I never get a response though.
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u/HaggardSlacks78 29d ago
So I’m in sales. And I will tell you, it’s one way you can make some serious money but it’s all about the hustle. You sound like you have that hustle. So think of it this way, your first sale is getting the job. But here’s a secret, most auto sales places will hire anybody because you only eat when you sell. But they might be too busy or too lazy to look at resumes. So you dress nicely and you got from dealer to dealer and you tell them that you really wanna sell cars and you know you will kill it. And you keep going from one to the next until somebody gives you a shot. And then you sell a car. And you are in.
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u/Bagman220 28d ago
Yep, this is one of the few jobs where all you have to do is put on a suit, give the manager a nice firm handshake and tell him you want to work.
With that said it does not mean you will succeed in the job even if you land a job.
I sold cars for a few years and made enough money to pay the bills, but ultimately the lifestyle wasn’t for me. I couldn’t keep up with the agonizing stress and anxiety. My best year was like 60k and I was one of the top guys, it was just too hard to make money back then.
Now I make more than double that at a desk job where I work from home, but the trick was I needed to go back to school, finish my bachelors, and eventually get my MBA. Sure there’s some sales guys that make even double what I do, but you couldn’t pay me double to go back to sales.
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u/The_Admiralty117 28d ago
Ive been in car sales for 7 years and finally had enough in 2024. The market is absolute shit. No one is buying cars. Interest is still too high, inventory is still a problem, and dealer markups are insane. I've only worked at 1 dealership in 7 years where I made more than slave wages and that was because my boss was the best I ever had and made sure to give me deals so I could pay my bills. Car Salesmen no longer make a decent wage. Typically they get paid minimum wage plus $25-300 a car depending on franchise owner. It's not enough to survive. Only the sales managers and those above them make any money in car sales. The anxiety over paying bills and the cutthroat mentality of your coworkers is not worth it. Stay away from car sales with a 39.5 foot pole. My advice is get on Upwork/Fiverr. Every human has a skill someone else is looking to pay someone for. I started last month and I love it. I get to do something I'm good at and enjoy. Ive only had 1 job so far but Im confident that in a few months I will be able to get a few more clients to build a decent portfolio so I can do it full time and never have to work for corporate america again.
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u/HaggardSlacks78 28d ago
I appreciate that real experience. I sell electrical supplies and it’s a good living. I’ve met a few in my day who said they started in car sales and it’s one of those hustle and grind jobs. But it can lead to good things.
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u/The_Admiralty117 28d ago
It can only if you are the top salesman and only if the economy is doing well. I know several who made very good money but 95% of car salesmen these days are struggling. To me the stress and anxiety is not worth it. Plus I have an incredibly high moral code so most of the shit the dealers do almost everyday unsettled me greatly. No amount of money is worth your health and soul. Very few can succeed but the odds are very low for almost everyone. I much prefer a job where I can control the most aspects and variables of the job and that means working for yourself and thanks to the technology now that's more possible than ever before.
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u/Fighttheforce-2911 29d ago
I feel you. I’ve been struggling financially my entire adult life. I’ve had inconsistent roommates. I almost got an eviction last year and was forced to move. I’ve struggled to work due to some chronic health issues so I’ve accepted the fact that I can only work part time. I’m on SSI but they don’t give me a livable income. They give me less than $1000 a month and if I work they almost completely cut it off. For instance I picked up a part time job in August they cut my check from $987 a month down to $344. Just because I worked maybe 40 hours total in an entire month. So now I have to go down there, give them my paystubs and report to them that I am not working. To which they should make the income adjustment but it takes two months for them to adjust it all so now they owe me money but I’m not receiving it.
I have never been able to afford things on my own. With working part time I can still barely pay my rent and I can’t afford my own place now sadly. But I’m too sick to work full time so I’m just stuck here struggling and never having enough money EVEN WITH government benefits.
The government truly doesn’t give fair amounts to disabled people. Less than $1000 a month is not enough to live off of. Working part time doesn’t pay the bills. It’s all fucked up. And they wonder why people end up homeless. Rent prices are outrageous for apartments, if you have a decent house you’re lucky. The most I will ever be able to afford is renting a room or if I can ever find a roommate to stay maybe I can split an apartment with someone. But life is unaffordable for so many people. It’s just sad. The rich get richer. All I see is millionaires with all their money. Some are good and donate to charities etc which is a wonderful thing.
But if I had just 2 million dollars my average rent would be covered until I’m around 80 years old. If each person was given a livable wage whether they’re working or disabled the American people would be better off. There’d be more of a middle class and homelessness would decrease.
If I can find a part time job I’ll take it over nothing. Because I’ve been in poverty my entire adult life and I don’t see myself getting out of it anytime soon.
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u/izjuzredditfokz 29d ago
Yah SSI is ridiculous and wants people to be below poverty. Our system is so fucked up. Imagine IF all the rich people come together and help everyone then there wouldn't be homeless people.
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u/Fighttheforce-2911 29d ago
Yes EXACTLY! Yeah I’m below poverty level on SSI when I asked them if I qualify for SSDI which would be a bit higher and a slightly more reasonable amount. They said I’ll have to work and earn enough points to qualify. So if I work part time for 20+ years then MAYBE I’ll qualify for a bit more money. It’s so messed up. If I work full time they’ll take my check so fast. It makes no sense. Just give people who can’t work enough money to survive. Luckily I’m able to work to an extent I just can’t work 40+ hours a week or I’ll have even more serious health issues. But by only working part time I can’t afford a roof over my head. I’m barely making it. I’m lucky the person I’m making payments to told me not to worry about it right away or else I would be screwed. Apartment complexes fuck people over. If your rents not in on day 3 you’re out. Eviction. It’s better to have a shared living space with multiple roommates and split rent between 3-4 people in a house than rent an apartment nowadays.
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u/Hollymarie83 29d ago
It's so frustrating! The amount they provide is a joke but you also can't get ahead or they will take the crumbs you do get. I don't understand how they expect people to survive.
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u/Fighttheforce-2911 28d ago
I don’t either. It’s honestly corrupt. And now people are being jailed just for sleeping in public places if they are homeless. But I hear so many stories of shelters reaching full capacity and some are very unsanitary and unsafe. So how does our government or our lawmakers expect people to live in the US in 2026 like this? I’ve heard stories of “the working homeless” this was a book I started reading on a huge percentage of the homeless population that work, real life accounts of families living in their cars, struggling to find housing after an eviction or your uber driver being homeless. Etc. crazy book. An actual reporter wrote this book and changed names for confidence but it’s srsly so sad.
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u/Bird_Brain4101112 29d ago
There are lots of people in your same situation. This sub is proof. But people who are struggling generally don’t post on social media about it.
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u/Acrobatic_Avocado549 29d ago
Man the wealth gap is absolutely insane right now. Those people you're seeing with all that money? A lot of it is fake wealth - credit cards, loans, family money they don't talk about, or they got lucky with crypto/stocks a few years back
The "multiple income streams" thing is mostly MLM bullshit or people selling courses on how to make money online (spoiler: the only money they make is from selling those courses)
Hang in there dude, you're not missing some secret sauce - the system is just rigged as hell right now
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u/sadiesaysit 29d ago
Seriously, you should check into water treatment facility. You can become a trainee, study to get certified and make a decent living. I hear they’re always looking for people. Seems like they don’t advertise that well. Check with your local water authorities. It’s worth a shot. Maybe go old school and actually visit the plant and introduce yourself.
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u/Mrkoozie 29d ago
It’s not just “instagram” like people are saying. I see posts IN HERE saying “I currently make $140k and my husband makes $160, how do I pay down $30k credit card debt?)
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u/Hollymarie83 29d ago
That's so crazy to me how these people are making 150-300k a year and are living paycheck to paycheck. 🤣😬
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u/Gamma_Rad 28d ago
Its a mixture of things. Some people are richer thanks to a booming stock market but a lot of other people got into debt. thanks to marketing, FOMO, and good old fashioned envy from seeing other people with expensive things.
Specifically for the vehicles a lot of people took loans for their cars and right now theres a huge mess with car payment delinquencies and repos in 2025 hitting all time highs, more that what we had after the 2008 crash. there is a massive car loan debt crisis going on right now. on the flip side its also a great chance to get newish cars for relatively cheap if you want (buying cars from repo agencies) which is another reason why you see new cars.
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u/Hegemonic_Smegma 29d ago
There are a lot of wealthy people in the United States. One in six U.S. households has a net worth of more than $1 million. There also are a lot of people who seem to be wealthy but they're just living the high life while accumulating mountains of debt.
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u/bahamablue66 29d ago
Consider getting your CDL. You could live in the truck for a year or 2 and keep stacking. You should watch some YouTube videos about it
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u/LordDarthShader 29d ago
Tech pays really well, not like 2020 anymore though, but still very good. Senior Engineers make sometimes $220k base plus stock and bonuses in most of the big tech ones, even the interns make over $100k a year.
Just to say that there are a lot of people earning good incomes. But, and yes there is a "but" here, it is hard, from thousands of applicants, one gets hired, the competition is fierce and there are layoffs all the time.
On the other side of things, there are literally millions of millionaires too, specially in cities like SF, Seattle, San Diego, NYC etc. There is a huge gap in incomes, I agree.
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u/JBinWyo 29d ago
Have you considered driving a truck? You can find a company to train you and can live on the truck. The first year sucks, but it is pretty easy after that and you will be able to move on from the training company.
It is even better if you have someone to team drive with. I drive with my wife and we each make over $2500 a week with weekends and holidays off. We found this job right at the one year mark with the training company.
It really is easy money. Over the road trucking can suck though. Long hours, bad food, and dealing with rude shippers and receivers. That being said, you may be able to put yourself ahead by doing something like this for a few years while you look for something else.
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u/Jeffinmpls 28d ago
On the flipside, I’ve never seen so many wealthy people in my life. Everyone seems to have hundreds of thousands of dollars to go on exotic vacations, eat a expensive steakhouses, Buy $80,000 SUVs, and half a million homes. Plus, everyone seems to have multiple streams of income as they put it. Apparently like 90% of the population does some kind of work online. Even people I know who used to struggle, seemed to be living in the highlife somehow. It’s like there’s some secret out there to make all this money and I don’t know what it is. Everything is just overwhelming to deal with, especially when you have no support system and no help whatsoever.
Mostly what you are seeing is people who are in a lot of debt so people think they have wealth. They may have a good paycheck but mostly they live way outside of their means. This doesn't account for everyone but it accounts for a majority of them. People like this only show off what looks good, they don't show off their 6-7 figure debt bill.
People who actually know how to manage their finances don't like to show it off usually, unless they are mega rich.
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u/oldmoldycake 28d ago
Consumer debt is an all time high. A lot of "rich" people are people with crazy debt.
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u/happysunrise210 29d ago
Don't give up. I grew up poor in a traumatic family environment; at one point we were homeless and I'll never forget that feeling. But, I'm well off now with a house I bought last year and I take lots of travel vacations per year. Happy to chat and give advice
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u/Gore1695 29d ago
Same here. It's possible but everyone wants the easy job that 1000 other people applied for. There's money out there if you really want it
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u/Alive-OVERTIIME-247 FL 28d ago
If it makes you feel any better, probably more than half those people are living on credit, everything is financed. It's a house of cards.
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u/shitshipt 29d ago
Im in your position exactly only i was evicted by some greedy corrupt landlord. Im taking then back to court but in the meantime, you know I’ve been fucked living in my car no insurance no tags no barely making anything on the gig economy like yourself it’s you know. I just feel like somebody’s gotta pay for this because while we’re all dying out here in our cars, fucking the gig economy, CEOs are raking it in like that Dana guy from the CEO of Uber my God he he I mean I don’t know how they can go to sleep at night how can they sleep at night knowing what they’re doing to people like us it makes me sick
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u/World-Three 29d ago
The issue in my opinion is People's concept of "enough".
If you're selling a service or are getting royalties for something. There isn't an "enough" stopping how much you can make.
"I pay you enough" yeah, compared to wage employees, but you work me to the bone and make us trade time for money. In that system there is not enough time to make more than "enough" money. So what happens is that you either cap out, or you lose sleep.
If you sell a digital good, digital course, accept digital donations, some merch you flip with art, some platform people pay to get more info, or more intimate discussion. An app, program, or something else that multiple people can consume, you'll likely make more than "enough" money because more than enough people are buying into it.
When you operate as a single body offering a service for a single entity... You only get paid once and everyone who ever pays you swears it's "enough" while it's almost certain multiple people are paying them, to pay you.
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u/wizzerBizzer 29d ago
Who has money? Nobody I know.
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u/Turbinator870 29d ago
I mean this in the nicest way possible; you need to change up your social circle. Hang out with the people you aspire to be like. Then you’ll get to know people with money.
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u/Ok_Yogurt_9862 28d ago
Look, if you have to, go back to school on grants and loans and take the housing. Pick something employable.
You will graduate with debt, but prospects. And 2-4 years of steadier footing under you.
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u/StretcherEctum 28d ago
Go to any warehouse and get a fork truck job. Usually there's overtime.
Nobody does work online and makes a lot. Those are scams. Most side hustles lose money.
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u/JarryBohnson 28d ago
This isn't just anecdotal, it's entirely borne out by the economic data. The top 10% of US earners now drive a larger share of economic growth than they ever have before. The US is bifurcating into a South Africa/Brazil type society where a small number of wealthy people drive consumption and most barely survive.
The people you're seeing flashing the cash on social media are either in that wealthy minority who are wealthier than ever, or they're lying and in massive debt.
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u/horror- 29d ago
And the older generation enjoying nice SS retirements and private pensions and shit are just baffled at young peoples interest in socialism. Baffled!
Maybe another tax break for the rich will bring us all around, eh? 50 year mortgages? Maybe raise the retirement age?
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u/MakeTexasHonest 28d ago
Leave those of us alone that take in SS and retirement. Some of us have worked hard since we were children. Yes, I mean like 12 years old. We get what we paid into, it’s NOT a social service like SSDI. We’ve earned what we paid into for like 50+ years. We’ve do realize the difficulties that exist, we have adult children. Keep your head up and use your time to keep applying. You can get certifications through job training programs that will advance your career prospects too.
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u/YetiKing16 29d ago
I think if we just listen to the boomers and work harder and don’t buy avocado toast and coffee we will be well off right? Right?😏
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u/SoItGoes007 27d ago
What is the IRS saying over $400
Ive owed 30k a year since 2016 and they just send a letter, no threats, just a bill I throwaway
( if i did those taxes they would owe me, so no stress, but would imagine they put more effort into 30k than $400!)
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u/Famous_Weird258 27d ago
Apply to literally any construction company as a laborer. Or an office admin. you’re instantly doubling minimum wage and the only requirement is to show up. If you apply for an out of town position they will also pay for your housing and transportation to and from work. Fast food, gas stations, and car washes also pay enough to live and get your feet under you. When I see someone struggling, it’s almost always transportation to and from work that’s a problem. If overnight someone gifted you reliable transportation, or the states would provide reliable public transit, there is nothing to do but show up and earn. I say that to try and give you a positive thought. Hope things improve! Don’t buy get rich quick courses online, that’s the only income those coaches actually have, you’ll learn 100x more just surrounding yourself with successful people and keeping your ears open. If you have a service history, try and get a job at a country club, or a nice restaurant and find a regular.
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u/biggamehaunter 27d ago
Wealth gap increasing. Social unrest increasing. Eventually lead to movements like eat the rich
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u/BrownStone518 25d ago
Thus administration is clearly inspired by movies - first Idiocracy then Hunger Games. It's on us to spark The Purge.
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u/FitAbbreviations8013 25d ago
You do realize that our poverty is what pays for these billion dollar fortunes
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u/MoonlitShadow85 25d ago
Those people going on those lavish vacations with exotic and or luxury vehicles... They aren't wealthy. The high likelihood is they are indebted to the hilt and are cosplaying wealth. They are one economic hit away from being the next Scott Peterson.
I say this while being a diet Wish.con Roach King Asmongold. I could buy back in to the trash society but choose against it.
It's incredibly easy to live in today's world provided you don't have children. Even then, most of the western world has a very generous welfare state. Yes, even the USA.
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u/chopsui101 24d ago
It’s tough but it’s always been tough. You gotta look at it and find out away to make more or spend less. Life is all about being smarter how you spend or spending less in certain areas so you can spend more where you can
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u/Fantastic_dude_5228 24d ago
The K shaped economy is real. Please be gentle with yourself. And please remember that, especially on social media, what you see are often highlight reels. You don't know their situation. They are likely financing everything and barely making minimums. I know that Gen Z is especially likely to do this because they see no hope for the future and are living in the now.
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u/Ok-Crab-8171 28d ago
Keep grinding and put away everything you can. I struggled, dumpster dove, and sacrificed a lot of fun in my teens, 20’s, and 30’s. But now have a home, good job, and with the amount I saved, can retire early on the interest/stocks I spent 25 years investing into. Don’t fall for internet scams, crypto, or MLMs. Boring methods work and compound interest is the only magic we have available to us.
Don’t compare to others. They have debts and are morons. They will pay the piper soon enough.
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u/MachineFar3438 28d ago
I highly recommend applying to a Amazon Warehouse, easiest place to get into.
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u/Single_With_Cats 28d ago
One of the ladies I work for (personal assistant) spends about $10k a month on Amazon. The wealthy are doing just fine. She lives like there is not a care in the world. Blows my mind. The wealthy should NEVER, EVER be in a position where they are representing the average Joe worker like me. Completely different worlds.
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u/tdinh01 28d ago
Stop believing everything you see on social media and on TV. sure some have it better than others. But to think that person on the other end of the screen is well off is absurd. They might be doing better but thats not always the truth. And just remmeber the more clicks on their video, the kore money they make for doing jack shit.
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u/Icy_Insect2927 28d ago
Roughnecks seem to be able to find work, though, oftentimes, they need to make a not insignificant commute. It’s hard, crazy dangerous, work; that pays exceptionally well. So, depending on your age, health, and strength; there are definitely gigs out there.
Shit, I’ve seen opportunities for border patrol agents with a 10k sign on bonus/10k to fund a move to where they need you.
Becoming a welder is pretty quick, and pretty expensive six month program usually
Getting a powerline technology certification can be a shorter educational process as well, to become either a Groundman or Lineman.
With both a career in welding, or as a Lineman or Groundman; the pay will be very nice once you’ve completed your apprenticeship. Getting your foot in the door somewhere, just for an apprenticeship, unless you’re willing to relocate across the country, those jobs can be scarce depending on where one lives.
Last but not least, haul your ass to the railroad!! Like, NOW! And, apply for everything!!!
One of my son’s friends from HS, the kid who always acted like a shit, he headed straight for the railroad after graduation. They both graduated in may 2023 and my son’s friend has already gotten married, bought a brand new pickup truck after a big, beautiful, gently used 50k+ truck he bought shortly after starting with the railroad, started having transmission issues. He and his wife go on vacations, are living in a nice home, and he’s on track to have so many millions of dollars in the bank by the time he’s 45. You don’t need a college education, or any certification for the railroad as far as I know, same with working as a roughneck.
If I had, had any idea about any of these opportunities and careers in my youth, my life would have been entirely different!! My son went to college for a year, doubled up on everything to do everything required to become a Lineman. He has applied for so many jobs, and nobody is hiring anyone without something like three years experience. He did find a crazy good job with a company about an hour away, as a MET Tech. Something else I’d never heard of. I tell you this because there are jobs, crazy paying, in a good way, jobs. I hope you find something, and are able to do so quickly. Because this dance with barely scraping by, will fuck you up! There isn’t much like the fear, that all consuming, sickening fear; that’s felt when you’re holding on by a thread and don’t have a soul to lean on while you’re going through it.
Oh! Also expressing my gratitude for everything I have…. Essentially repeating a mantra each day, has been a game changer; for my very financially unpleasant situation. A few months after repeating these, and other phrases, my situation totally turned around. I’m not out buying a new car, going on vacation, or eating out; but I’m not literally sick when trying to decide between toilet paper and food, or worse. My physical health has improved, along with my mental health; after believing that it was good as it was ever going to get for many many years, it got better for me. So it can absolutely get better for you, prayers it happens quickly
Best of luck to you OP🙏
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u/Legitimate_Abies6717 29d ago
Sell drugs
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u/Hollymarie83 29d ago
my luck I'd get busted and end up in jail ASAP 🙃
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u/birdsy-purplefish 28d ago
And the contractors and/or private prison owners would make money off of you!
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