Traditionally, determining a reduced fee for clients has been established using a sliding scale. Clients are asked to provide information including their annual salary and household size. Providers then "slide" their fee along a "scale" to make services more affordable.

As society shifts and economic hardships become more nuanced, it has become unrealistic to look solely at gross pay and household size to determine financial need. The "green bottle method," developed by Alexis Cunningfolk, is an approach rooted in social justice that seeks to provide increased access to services by considering the client's overall financial experiences. Beyond looking at just a clients income, this approach empowers client's to consider their ability to engage in upward mobility, prepare for unexpected expenses, and fully engage in the small pleasures of life.