Deciding What to Pay on the Scale

*

Deciding What to Pay on the Scale *

Pay More on the Scale if:

  • own the home you live in, or are able to afford market-rate rent or higher

  • have the ability to travel recreationally once in a while or multiple times in a year

  • can afford to treat yourself to the occasional splurge on a special outfit or a nice dinner or drinks out with friends

  • have investments, retirement accounts, or inherited money

  • can afford other out of pocket health care expenses

  • can be supported by generational wealth when times get tough

  • have access to family money and resources in times of need

  • affording services is a sacrifice rather than a hardship. A sacrifice is a tradeoff with another luxury expense that your surplus income could be put toward vs. a hardship which is a tradeoff with a basic need (like rent or groceries)

equitable not equal

*

equitable not equal *

Pay Less on the Scale if:

  • are food or housing insecure

  • you are supporting yourself or your family on a minimum wage

  • you qualify for state/government assistance (insurance, SNAP, etc) 

  • are chronically scarce and have more difficulty finding employment or earning higher income due to level of education, racial privilege, disability, gender, class background, etc.

  • paying for a service would lead to a severe economic hardship, such as not being able to put food on the table, pay rent, or pay for your transportation to get to work

  • are unemployed or earning a low income and do not have the safety net of generational wealth, the support of family or partner, or savings to fall back on