Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Paying for common meals, was: Re: [C-L]_Common House Sound Proofing

[Berrins (Berrins]

    At Pathways, we use what we call the "easy pay" plan and we also have a 
monthly staples fee.  
    For the "easy pay" part, each household has a running meals account that 
they pay into whenever they want.  People need to sign up for meals in 
advance; after each meal, the amount for each meal is deducted from each 
account.  Adults and older kids (13 and up) are $3, "middlers" (7-12) are $2 
and 6 and under are $1.  Cooks have the option of allowing last minute 
add-ons, but need to be sure those folks get their names on the sign-up sheet.
    We also have a staples fee, which is an additional monthly fee beyond 
condo fees.  Everyone is required to pay.  But, it's only $2 per adult and $1 
per youngun' (I think; it may be a buck each more...). This allows the common 
house committee to keep flour, rice, oils, etc on hand that are bought in 
bulk.
    As one of the regular cooks, I think the amount for meals seems just 
about right.  Most meals come in a little under budget but a few go over a 
little.  We can have the occasional slightly expensive item but not several 
expensive items and not too much.  Yes, interesting meals can be done 
cheaper, but as a cook I like being able to plan a meal without having to 
focus on cutting back every single possible cost. 

    Who cooks and cleans is a different matter.  Folks are supposed to sign 
up to cook or clean about once every 3-4 meals they eat, but it's purely on a 
voluntary basis and, in my opinion, not working very well.  Far too often 
meals get cancelled because, although plenty of people signed up to eat, not 
enough signed up to cook or clean.  We even have problems getting people to 
sign up to clean after potlucks.  We need a better system but inevitably 
someone has an objection to anything different.  Let's just say it's a work 
in progress.  At least the money part seems to be working well.

    Roger
    Pathways Cohousing
    Northampton, MA

        
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