Sliding Scale Pricing

Our sliding scale criteria is based on the educational framework and graphic “The Green Bottle: Where You Fall on the Sliding Scale” by Alexis J. Cunningham and Britt Hawthorne, with our own additions to language to further illustrate and account for the affects of systemic oppression and marginalization on access to financial means. Consider the information below to determine where to situate yourself on the sliding scale, and see the adapted graphic below.

  • This is a reduced rate for those experiencing financial hardship, or who have been impacted by systemic inequity. Please choose this rate if you are Black, Indigenous, a person of color, a member of the LGBTQIAP2-S+ community, live with disabilities, or otherwise know the full rate would cause significant financial hardship. (We got you, babe!)

  • Our Community Rate corresponds with Tier 1 of the Green Bottle scale.

    Consider whether the following statements from Tier 1 apply to you, and if they do or you have one or more marginalized identities that are impacted by systemic inequity, choose this rate.

    • I frequently stress about meeting basic needs (definition below) and don’t always achieve them.

    • I have debt and it sometimes prohibits me from meeting my basic needs.

    • I rent lower-end properties or have unstable housing.

    • I do not have a car and/or have limited access to a car but I am not always able to afford gas.

    • I am unemployed or underemployed. I qualify for government assistance including food stamps and health care.

    • I have no access to savings. I have no or very limited expendable income.

    • I rarely buy new items because I am unable to afford them.

    • I cannot afford a vacation or have the ability to take time off without financial burden.

    Definitions

    Basic needs include food, housing, and transportation.

    Expendable income might mean you are able to buy coffee or tea at a shop, go to the movies or a concert, buy new clothes, books, and similar items each month, etc.

    Statements by Alexis J. Cunningham and Britt Hawthorne.

  • This rate is the actual cost of our labor and resources for this offering. Please choose this rate if you are able to comfortably meet your basic needs with room for some expendable purchases. This is for you if you feel like this rate may cause temporary trade-offs for you but know it will not cause significant financial hardship. (We love a financially responsible hottie!)

  • Our Full Rate, which is the actual cost of our labor and resources, corresponds with Tier 2 of the Green Bottle scale.

    Consider whether the following statements from Tier 2 apply to you, and if they do choose this rate.

    • I may stress about meeting my basic needs (see definition below) but still regularly achieve them.

    • I may have some debt but it does not prohibit attainment of basic needs.

    • I own or lease a car.

    • I am employed.

    • I have access to health care.

    • I might have access to financial savings.

    • I have some expendable income (definition below).

    • I am able to buy some new items and I thrift others.

    • I can take a vacation annually or every few years without financial burden.

    Definitions

    Basic needs include food, housing, and transportation.

    Expendable income might mean you are able to buy coffee or tea at a shop, go to the movies or a concert, buy new clothes, books, and similar items each month, etc.

    Statements by Alexis J. Cunningham and Britt Hawthorne.

  • This rate is the actual cost plus the cost to supplement the reduced rate to make our community access possible. Please choose this rate if you benefit from financial support or systemic privilege that includes access to financial security, property ownership, or generational wealth. (Look at you being a community-supporting cutie!)

  • Our Pay-It-Forward Rate corresponds with Tier 3 of the Green Bottle scale.

    Consider whether the following statements from Tier 3 apply to you, and if they do choose this rate.

    • I am comfortably able to meet all of my basic needs (definition below).

    • I may have some debt but it does not prohibit attainment of basic needs.

    • I own my home or property or I rent a higher-end property.

    • I own or lease a car.

    • I am employed or do not need to work to meet my needs.

    • I have regular access to health care.

    • I have access to financial savings.

    • I have an expendable income (definition below).

    • I can always buy new items.

    • I can afford an annual vacation or take time off.

    Definitions

    Basic needs include food, housing, and transportation.

    Expendable income might mean you are able to buy coffee or tea at a shop, go to the movies or a concert, buy new clothes, books, and similar items each month, etc.

If you read through the criteria and determine that you are situated in between two tiers, be honest with your own financial means, consider whether the suggested rate may result in temporary trade-offs for you versus causing significant hardship, and find the sweet spot between your ability to financially compensate us for your work with the value you intend to receive. We do not verify income, and sliding scale pricing is an honor system.

The Green Bottle

Where You Fall on the Financial Scale

Graphic with three illustrations of bottles, one near empty, the middle filled halfway with green liquid, and the third filled all the way with statements on each bottle corresponding with sliding scale criteria. Text listed on site page.