I work in AV and recently worked a gala. They held an auction for various things, mostly getaways to a fancy summer home or chef dinner experiences. One of the chef experiences went for over $8,000. One of the other AV techs turned to me and said “$8,000 is a lot for one dinner.” I leaned in close and said quietly “$8,000 would change my life.”
give each of my 2 favorite niephews a $3000 investment for when they graduate high school (tbh, probably more for the older niephew because he’s 10 years closer to graduating, so has less time to accrue interest), and
give the rest to the student-run food pantry at my college
Not OP but I can think of a million ways $8k could be life changing. I could pay down loans/cards/medical debt, fill the fridge and pantry, maybe spend one or two solid months not waking up in a cold sweat because my family is one misfortune away from being homeless. Even without those things I could invest it in my wife’s garden and so we don’t have to worry about food, I could invest into my homelab and get rid of some subscriptions and even make some money if I wanted to. On that note you could buy a couple of vending machines and start brining in some passive income. It is hard to imagine once you’ve put the struggle behind you but even $800 would be a massive relief to most Americans.
Not OP, but I could pay off a good part of the crippling debt I have that’s keeping me from saving 2x as much as I spend on paying it off. I have nothing at the moment and am barely surviving paycheck to paycheck and it’s just hard… having some freedom now that I’m finally organized would he nice again. Working all the time and not having a dime to do anything all the time is a sad and stressful life.
At this time I won’t be out of this until the end of 2026.
For your particular case, it wouldn’t actually change your life tomorrow/next week, but would draw forward the day (by $8k) you’d have a changed life, right? I’m sorry for your situation. I truly hope it gets better for you. I was paycheck-to-paycheck for many years and know what thats like. I can tell you from the other side that all of your hard work right now is worth it. Post paycheck-to-paycheck is such a relief. Depending on how things go after that, it can get even better. I want that for you.
I worked for a nonprofit for people with disabilities right after college. Like boots on the ground, changing an adults diaper while they laughed and treated it like a game. But it was rewarding work, and I legit loved my groups.
Owner was a millionaire, paid us basically minimum wage and had shitty facilities and used it as a tax haven basically for their other businesses.
Every year we had a fundraiser (not a full gala) but it was at a Billionaire’s mansion. Not saying the owners last name but most Americans would recognize it.
We were expected to be wait staff for the event, run the auction, and basically be servants.
Fuck the rich.
Literally millions being thrown around in front of 20 something kids who knew first hand none of that money actually made it to the organization. People would bid 50k over what’s something was worth and we were supposed to break down in tears of gratitude even though none of that money would actually go to a good cause.
I don’t even think the men dreaming of the events (for the specific reason of finding a romantic partner) are enthralled by the pageantry.
In media, the trope is that the women at these things have no agency. Basically whatever man shows up to ask them to dance they end up ending up betrothed to, even if they have the personality of a wet noodle or an angry little dog.
I think that’s what is so alluring to these guys. They long for a medium where their trash personalities aren’t a liability.
It’s the same as it was back then…
Loads of the wealthy and powerful showing off for each and wasting a shit ton of resources.
2025 or 1725, I don’t give a shit how someone looks in an outfit that costs more than a house when people are starving.
Not having these wasteful events anymore would be a good thing.
I work in AV and recently worked a gala. They held an auction for various things, mostly getaways to a fancy summer home or chef dinner experiences. One of the chef experiences went for over $8,000. One of the other AV techs turned to me and said “$8,000 is a lot for one dinner.” I leaned in close and said quietly “$8,000 would change my life.”
That would be one of the cheaper auction items at the galas I’ve been to
I’m getting older and more out-of-touch I think, so I’m genuinely curious. If you were handed $8k right now, what would you do with it?
I’d
Tbh, I’m financially doing ok.
Not OP but I can think of a million ways $8k could be life changing. I could pay down loans/cards/medical debt, fill the fridge and pantry, maybe spend one or two solid months not waking up in a cold sweat because my family is one misfortune away from being homeless. Even without those things I could invest it in my wife’s garden and so we don’t have to worry about food, I could invest into my homelab and get rid of some subscriptions and even make some money if I wanted to. On that note you could buy a couple of vending machines and start brining in some passive income. It is hard to imagine once you’ve put the struggle behind you but even $800 would be a massive relief to most Americans.
Not OP, but I could pay off a good part of the crippling debt I have that’s keeping me from saving 2x as much as I spend on paying it off. I have nothing at the moment and am barely surviving paycheck to paycheck and it’s just hard… having some freedom now that I’m finally organized would he nice again. Working all the time and not having a dime to do anything all the time is a sad and stressful life.
At this time I won’t be out of this until the end of 2026.
For your particular case, it wouldn’t actually change your life tomorrow/next week, but would draw forward the day (by $8k) you’d have a changed life, right? I’m sorry for your situation. I truly hope it gets better for you. I was paycheck-to-paycheck for many years and know what thats like. I can tell you from the other side that all of your hard work right now is worth it. Post paycheck-to-paycheck is such a relief. Depending on how things go after that, it can get even better. I want that for you.
I worked for a nonprofit for people with disabilities right after college. Like boots on the ground, changing an adults diaper while they laughed and treated it like a game. But it was rewarding work, and I legit loved my groups.
Owner was a millionaire, paid us basically minimum wage and had shitty facilities and used it as a tax haven basically for their other businesses.
Every year we had a fundraiser (not a full gala) but it was at a Billionaire’s mansion. Not saying the owners last name but most Americans would recognize it.
We were expected to be wait staff for the event, run the auction, and basically be servants.
Fuck the rich.
Literally millions being thrown around in front of 20 something kids who knew first hand none of that money actually made it to the organization. People would bid 50k over what’s something was worth and we were supposed to break down in tears of gratitude even though none of that money would actually go to a good cause.
Man, you got me craving $8,000.
I could go for $8000 too, now that you mention it…
As a one night experience, or is this a marriage negotiation? I’ve got $8,000 and an unmarried cousin lying around somewhere…
Damn, I already got married for free like a sucker
If you got married for free you made out like a bandit.
I don’t even think the men dreaming of the events (for the specific reason of finding a romantic partner) are enthralled by the pageantry.
In media, the trope is that the women at these things have no agency. Basically whatever man shows up to ask them to dance they end up ending up betrothed to, even if they have the personality of a wet noodle or an angry little dog.
I think that’s what is so alluring to these guys. They long for a medium where their trash personalities aren’t a liability.