• modus@lemmy.world
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    13 hours ago

    Societal expectations to move out of your parents’ house when you turn 18. It’s a scam to get you to become more profitable to corporate America. You’re an adult now. You need to buy a car you can’t afford, get a mortgage you don’t want, insure it all to protect the bank, all to go to a job you don’t want, but now need so that you can afford these “nice things.”

    But if you stay with your parents, even if you actually enjoy it, you’re a failure.

  • ImitationLimitation@lemmy.ml
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    20 hours ago

    The stock market. It’s not investment, it’s gambling. It’s also rigged by the power brokers and insider traders.

  • Wahots@pawb.social
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    17 hours ago

    Tax filing companies. Individual taxes are pretty straightforward in most cases. Our tax laws are just completely screwed up.

    Health insurance and tax information can easily be handled by the government.

  • greasewizard@slrpnk.net
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    18 hours ago

    Credit card “points” and travel miles. The only “points” that matter are the dollar. (or whatever currency)

  • sunbeam60@feddit.uk
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    1 day ago

    Car finance. It’s so prevalent, I think I’m literally the only one on our road that doesn’t drive a 1 year old, brand new, financed car. Literally everyone is like “but it’s only $499/month and I can just hand it back when I want a new one”. Well shit, yes, but try tallying up what you’ve paid for running all these new cars every three years.

    Save up instead and continue saving after you bought the car. Then you can afford a different car later.

        • boonhet@sopuli.xyz
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          6 hours ago

          You can also buy the car at the end of the lease, can’t you? Definitely an option in my country, a lot of people just choose not to exercise it.

          Car loans tend to have about 13-20% interest while leases have like 1.5-2% + 6 mon euribor, so a lease is preferable any day of the week, it’ll save you several thousand over the usual 5 year term.

      • sunbeam60@feddit.uk
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        23 hours ago

        Yes I get the point but I guess it depends on you considering a car a luxury or a requirement. Where I live, it’s definitely a luxury - we’ve got great public transport.

    • BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today
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      1 day ago

      It’s literally like renting a car at $499 per month. Nothing really wrong with that as long as the economics work out (there’s more expenses than just the monthly payment), because a car is going to depreciate anyway. You can buy it, but it will just get old and fall apart.

      Some people feel it’s worth $500 a month to always drive a relatively new car, rather than drive an old car for free.

      • SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca
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        1 day ago

        Some people feel it’s worth $500 a month to always drive a relatively new car, rather than drive an old car for free.

        Some people are broke ass in debt their whole lives.

        • BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today
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          23 hours ago

          Yeah, I’m not saying it’s economically wise, but it’s true, and who are we to judge what people prioritize in their lives?

      • JamesTBagg@lemmy.world
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        23 hours ago

        It’s going to depreciate!? Oh no! Often the people I hear talk about cars like that can’t or don’t change their oil. Change the fluids, rotate the tires, follow servicing time tables; same things you should be doing with your rented car you continue doing with your older car.

        • BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today
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          22 hours ago

          Obviously, you can maintain your old car, and make it last a long time, but it’s still going to look older, maybe dented and scratched, the finish is dull, the interior is worn, etc. Some people don’t want to go through all the maintenance, and would rather just pay to have a nice looking reliable car in the driveway.

          I’ve never been a car guy, so I like an older, paid off car, but I understand why some people would want to follow the other strategy.