Subsidies are the allotments of an individual's basic needs, providing them with furnishings, clothing, personal grooming, hygiene products for both home and self and daily dietary requirements.

Subsidies, such as food, clothing, or grooming, could be used to offset the cost of a higher-quality item or service in the same category. Cooperatives accepting subsidies used a standard unit basis for the subsidy offset in their category.

Food subsidies, in particular, were commonly pooled together when people met in larger gatherings and preferred to reserve space outside of the Culinary Floor.