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I have never cashed any of my SBD out. Instead I have bought Steem and then powered it up. I want to be in a good position when the price of Steem goes to the moon. Several friends cash out regularly. One friend in the Philippines bought his family a new refrigerator and another in the Venezuela used her earnings to buy a cell phone and more recently to take baking classes. She hopes one day to use her Steem dollars to open a bakery. I love seeing the difference Steem makes in people's lives.
I treat mine more like stock.

The crazy payouts are correct - you have to work it to get them.