What to do: Your roommate at school believes that all fixed costs are always avoidable

I had a good laugh when I read this weeks discussion prompt. I actually had a roommate that thought like this, ironically, that was also my last roommate (lol).

I completely disagree with the idea that all fixed costs are avoidable. It's true that you can avoid the fixed costs, but you may not like or be able to live with the outcome.

Rent and food are great ideas of fixed costs that aren't avoidable. There is a little bit of flexibility with the amount of the fixed cost of food, because you can find food assistance programs like Cal-Fresh (food stamps), local food banks, and free meal programs if you are diligent in your search - and not picky about what you eat. You can also garden, forage, or "dumpster dive" to reduce food costs if you are willing to put in the time, effort, and risk those methods require to eliminate/minimize the cost of food.

Rent however has far less flexibility in adjusting it's fixed cost.  Alternatively, you can move to a cheaper location or rent out a room, however, the rent still has to be paid. If you don't pay the rent, you will eventually be evicted by a court proceeding. That eviction judgment stays on your credit report for 7 years and can make it hard to find a new place to rent, and increase the amount of the deposit and advance rent you have to pay. That eviction may also result in your being homeless if you don't have another place to live.

Even during this pandemic where evictions are being limited or slowed, the rent is still due when the pandemic eviction moratorium ends.

So, I would tell that roommate they can avoid the fixed costs of paying the rent and buying food - if they are okay with potentially being hungry and/or homeless...

There's always a consequence for avoiding fixed costs - you just have to be willing to accept the alternatives when you do.