How to determine if you should pay regular or reduced rates

Apr 1

Written By Fauna .

PAY MORE ON THE SCALE IF YOU:

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.
can afford to treat yourself to the occasional splurge on a special outfit or a nice dinner out with friends.
are temporarily scarce, but have a relatively high degree of earning power and likelihood of employability due to level of education, gender and racial privilege, class background, etc., even if you are not currently using it.
have investments, retirement accounts, or inherited money.
can be supported by generational wealth when times get tough.
have access to family money and resources in times of need.
have the choice to work part time, or the choice not to work, due to the income of a partner or family support.
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).

are food or housing insecure
you are supporting yourself or your family on a minimum wage.
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 eligible for public assistance.
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.