Tier 3
I am comfortably able to meet all of my basic* needs. I may have some debt, but it does not prevent me from attaining my 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. I can always buy new items. I can afford an annual vacation or take time off.
Tier 2
I may stress about meeting my basic needs, but I still regularly achieve them. I may have some debt, but it does not prevent me from attaining my 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. I can buy some new items & I thrift others. I can take a vacation annually or every few years without a financial burden.
Tier 1
I frequently stress about meeting basic needs & don’t consistently 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 or have limited access to one, but I am not always able to afford gas. I am unemployed or underemployed. I qualify for government assistance. I have no access to savings. I have no or minimal expendable income. I rarely buy new items because I am unable to afford them. I cannot afford a vacation or take time off without incurring a financial burden.
Additional definitions:
*Basic Needs include food, housing, and transportation.
**Expendable Income might mean you can buy coffee or tea at a shop, go to the movies or a concert, buy new clothes, books, and similar items each month, etc.
This framework was created by Alexis J. Cunningfolk | www.wortsandcunning.com with additions from Britt Hawthorne | www.embracingequity.org.
