Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Common Meal Accounting

[Bitner/Stevenson (lilbert]

Elana wrote:

 We are divided into cook teams of approximately the
> same size, and on the day that my team cooks the members of my team divide
> the cost of producing that meal. Same with each of the other teams. No one
> pays to eat in the common house. The payment comes when cooking. We don't
> have to keep track of costs and do any complicated accounting or collecting
> as a whole community.

This is ,indeed, simple and easy. I'm glad it works for you. For our
community, I don't think it would work. There are people who really like to
put on an elegant feast here, who would be monetarily "punished" for it.
Also, income is an issue. Single people with no dependents (our elders on
fixed incomes) would pay alot compared to a big family. That would be very
nice, though, if you can consense on it.

As for Southside Park:
>>
>> Do you pay only at the end of the month?
>> Do cooks put out cash and get reimbursed at end of month?
>> does anyone use the prepay system where folks pay in advance and get
> credit
>> as they use it?

We pay in advance, once a month,theoretically, and use our credit as we go.
One member of the cook team buys the food on a rotating basis, and that
money goes toward their account.
>> Is there a big chart with everyone's name and a check mark for each
> meal...

Yes, but it's not big. We have a checklist to sign up for meals, and it gets
handed in by the cook team to the accounting person, along with cash
register receipts, after the meal.
>> or??
>> Do kids pay half or....?
>> What does your average meal cost?


Adults pay $2 and kids 4-16 pay $1. Children under 4 are free. We make more
than enough to cover expenses and buy staples for the kitchen. We have to
spend the rest in order not to make a profit. We are legally a "club",
separate from the HOA, so that we can remain a not for profit organization.

>> Has it been hard getting folks to pay up?  any tricks here?
>>
If people fall seriously behind in their payments, the accounting person
will talk to them, and if necessary, cut them off from meals. I have no ides
if this has ever happened, since financial matters are kept private, and our
accounting person is the soul of discretion. If it has, it hasn't been
noticeable


--
Liz Stevenson
Southside Park Cohousing
Sacramento, California