## Converting Capital into Cash

Gig economy labor is often not "earning" money, but rather a slow-motion liquidation of a vehicle's value into liquid cash.

### FAQ

**Q: Why does my Uber check feel big but my bank account stays empty?**
A: The Depreciation Trap. Drivers focus on 'Gross'—the $28/hr appearing in the app. But they rarely calculate the fact that driving 300 miles a week is stripping thousands of dollars from the car's resale value. When you account for the IRS standard mileage rate ($0.65/mile), which covers maintenance and depreciation, many drivers discover they are actually making $4.50 an hour. They are essentially 'borrowing' money from the future value of their car to pay for rent today.