Maybe the start of a discussion in the charity/giving threads but… I have a lot of thoughts about the Mutual Aid conversation as a less than median income earner. Some of it really rubs me the wrong way, even though I totally agree that most people are not really tuned into the power they have and the actions they could take with it.
edit: data on my area’s median is unclear and I think I am at or slightly over the median salary figure, but as a single person with my income making less than the US median
I’m a monthly donor to SPLC and I think they do important work within our legal system. In early 2020 I starting seeking POC-led organizations as well. Bread & Roses Community Fund is Philly-based rather than national, but I think they do incredible work funding & developing grassroots organizing capacity.
When we drank, we’d normally buy like 5-6 at a time. 12-24 if we found one we really liked at Grocery Outlet and we would stock up during case discount time. And in reserve, we’d have 3 “special” bottles at any one time. We still have 2 special bottles tucked away, although my husband is the only one who drinks now (and generally not at home).
I don’t drink anymore and my wife doesn’t drink wine enough on her own to not waste some so she drinks other things.
But when we did drink, it really varied because we also liked beer and spirits. Usually we’d have 6-12 (or the box equivalent) bottles on hand I think? We liked decent wine, but definitely not connoisseurs by any stretch. The fanciest we got was being members of the WSJ Wine Club for a year or so.
The only wine I have right now are vermouth and sake for cooking. Probably got like 6 or 7 various liquors and liqueurs though? plus copious beer and cider.
Hey, if it’s drinks that double as decor, you’re SAVING money. Plus if they get dusty, then you just drink them. Seems like you’re winning at frugality and efficiency over there
10-12? Most of two decorative racks, although they’re pretty much the same bottles of wine that I started the pandemic with since wine tends to knock me out so I usually buy and use them as host gifts and there haven’t exactly been a lot of dinner parties this past year. I have used up a couple bottles in cooking, I guess. And if you ask about bottles/cans of cider the answer will be different…
I have ~7 open boxes of tea? the shadowy one has ~40 500ml bottles of Coke Zero (they’re in the basement and I don’t go there because it’s mostly laundry and I don’t do laundry)
I consider our little family super rich in general. That said, I think the 1% holds more wealth than the other 99% combined and I read they could basically solve student debt, hunger, education crises, homelessness and STILL be way richer than everyone else. I think if someone knows they’re relatively rich it’s still valid to be angry that we live in a society that lets income inequality to become so out of control while so many peoples needs aren’t being met.
That said, I have had tons of conversations with people who are angry at “the rich” and include people like me without realizing they’re making twice as much as us and that’s always weird. Like yes, “the rich” are a problem but why do you recognize that we are part of that group but you don’t recognize that you are too, with a higher income and the same background and family support (this is coming from family).
ETA I see my comment is a bit out of context after some more conversation.
I have about 40-60 bottles of wine at home at anyone time. My cousin has worked at various wineries and as a result I get staff discounts and so I buy when there are good deals. And I need to stop doing this, because I end up with way too much wine.
Yeah this is where I’m at. My income is wildly high, the amount I will possibly inherit is much more wildly high, and it’s still a small fraction of a small fraction of a billion. Personally, I think a LOT about income and wealth inequality and how I can help address it, but my efforts are a drop in the bucket compared to what Elon musk or Bezos could do tomorrow without even noticing. So I’m mad at billionaires and the concept of billionaires even though I’m rich too.
