Since 2010, The Centre for Consumer Society Research (CCSR) has prepared reference budgets for the decent minimum standard of living for different types of households. The budgets consist of the commodities that consumers consider essential. Consumer group discussions and homework assignments reflect on the necessity of consumption and what a household can do to make ends meet, maintain the health of its members, and participate in society.
CCSR's reference budgets are set at a decent minimum standard of living and consumption, with consumption expenditure below the average level of consumption, but at the same time slightly above the low-income threshold.Reference budgets are used not only in research and surveys, financial and debt counseling and in households, but also the media, authorities, organizations and companies have used the calculations.
The next update for the reference budgets will be published in 2025.