Top of the Scale (or the left bottle):

• 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 regular access to health care
• I have access to financial savings
• I have an expendable** income
• I can always buy new items
• I can afford an annual vacation or take time off

Middle of the Scale (or the middle bottle):

• 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 own or lease a car
• 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 a vacation annually or every few years without financial burden

Bottom of the Scale (or the right bottle):

• 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 and/or have limited access to a car but I am not always able to afford gas
• I am unemployed or underemployed
• I qualify for government assistance including food stamps & health care
• 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 have the ability to take time off without financial burden

* Basic Needs include food, housing, health care, and transportation.
** Expendable Income might mean you are able to buy coffee or tea at a shop, go to the movies or a concert, buy new clothes, books, and similar items each month, etc.