Exchange and Pricing
I don’t believe everyone should pay the same rate. At the same time, I am trying to compensate myself fairly as a small business owner who doesn’t have a savings, a trust, property ownership, or generational wealth to fall back on. Many of you who have supported this little business are friends and community. This concept of exchange is based on trust. With that in mind, please check out this information on sliding scale and see what seems like a fair and true discount code to apply to your order. I am providing education around this topic because I think there are some misconceptions with sliding scale- like some folks thinking it’s what they decide something is “worth” rather than honoring the person behind it with honest reflection about their access point.
Alexis J. Cunningfolk of Worts and Cunning Apothecary has a wonderful resource called the Sliding Scale: A Tool for Economic Justice. What I am sharing is based on that and I encourage you to read the whole post if you aren’t familiar with it.
Above you'll find a graph illustrated with three bottles (click to enlarge). Each bottle contains sentences that describe a person's current financial experience and class. The bottle on the far left is full of beautiful green potion representing the upper end of the sliding scale spectrum. Folks who identify most with the statements in the far left bottle qualify to pay for class tickets at the upper end of our sliding scale. The middle bottle represents folks who sometimes can pay for the upper end of the sliding scale, sometimes the middle, and sometimes the bottom half (depending on how many sliding scale options are available). The bottle on the far right represents the lowest end of the scale and folks who qualify to purchase class tickets from the bottom of our price spectrum.
The highest dollar cost (not using a discount code) reflects the true cost of the product or service. It is the cost that the practitioner/maker would charge all clients in the absence of a sliding scale. If you have access to financial security, own property or have personal savings, you would not traditionally qualify for sliding scale services. If you are able to pay for "wants" and spend little time worried about securing necessities in your life, you have economic privilege and power in our community- this price is for you. And by paying at this rate, or higher (venmo @HolySponge anytime to help offset access costs for those paying bottom cost or below- for products or dreamwork/mentorships, leave a note “offset” and amount will be applied to supporting this offering)- you are helping to create access for those in different financial situations.
The middle cost (DISCOUNT CODE: TENOFF, gives 10% off) reflects the practitioner's acknowledgement that paying the full cost would prevent some folks from being able to purchase, but who do not honestly find themselves reflected in either descriptions for the highest cost or the lowest. If you are struggling to conquer debt or build savings or move away from paycheck to paycheck living but have access to steady income and are not spending most of your time thinking about meeting basic needs such as food, shelter, medical care, child care, etc., you belong here. If you, however, can ask others for financial support, such as family members, partners, or friends, please consider using those personal resources before you use the resources of the sliding scale and limit opportunities for others.
The bottom cost (DISCOUNT CODE: FIFTEENOFF, gives 15% off) represents an honest acknowledgment by the maker that there are folks whose economic circumstances would prevent them from accessing products/services if there was not be a deliberate opportunity made for them to access services at a cost that is reflective of their economic realities. If you struggle to maintain access to needs such as health care, housing, food, child care, and are living paycheck to paycheck or are in significant debt, you belong probably belong here and you deserve a community that honors your price as equal an economic offering as the person who can pay the highest tier. Even when the lower tier is still prohibitive for service offerings (dreamwork and support), I will work with folks to offer extended payment plans and other solutions.
Typically, there is a limited amount slots for products, services, and classes offered at the middle and lower end of the scale. Please be mindful that if you purchase a price at the lowest end of the scale when you can truthfully afford the higher prices, you are limiting access to those who truly need the gift of financial flexibility. Being honest with yourself and your financial situation when engaging with sliding scale practices grows strong and sustainable communities. It also respects the work of teachers and creators, like myself, you have families to support and rent to pay. Additionally, when I am paid fairly, I am able to invest more time and resources to free and lower cost offerings.