Emily Walker, RSW, MSW
 

Image description: a white square image with 3 bottles drawn on it. The title reads "The Green Bottle - where you fall on the sliding scale". Written vertically beside the first bottle is "financial privilege", and written underneath all 3 bottles are the words "personal financial experience". The first bottle is labeled "Tier 3", and is coloured entirely green. The text over the bottle reads, "I am comfortably able to meet all of my basic* needs. 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 reliable access to health care. I have access to financial savings, family wealth, and/or resources in times of need. I have an expendable** income. I can always buy new items. I can afford multiple vacations of take time off for leisure." The second bottle is labeled "Tier 2", and is coloured green about halfway up the bottle. The text over the bottle reads "I may stress about meeting my basic needs but still regularly achieve them. I may have some debt, but it does not prohibit attainment of basic needs. I have daily reliable transporation. I am employed. I have access to health care. I might have access to financial savings. I have some expendable income. I am able to buy some new items & I thrift others. I can take time off either for sickness of leisure and am still able to pay next month's bills. I can travel annually without financial burden." The third bottle is labeled "Tier 1", and the bottle appears mostly empty except for a small amount of green at the bottom. The text overtop reads "I frequently stress about meeting basic needs & 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 or have limited access to a car and gas. I am unemployed, underemployed, or have been denied work due to incarceration history. I qualify for public aid, including food stamps & health care. I am supporting children, elders, or other dependents. 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 take time off without financial burden." At the bottom of the image, text reads "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 concern, buy new clothes, bokos, and similar items each month, etc. This image was created by Alexs J Cunningfolk | www.wortsandcunning.com with additions from Britt Hawthorne | www.embracingequity.org"