Comprehensive Overview
Making It Affordable to Be Alive in America Again
Common is a member-owned cooperative that groups families together to access the same pricing that large organizations have always enjoyed — on housing, healthcare, telecom, food, and insurance.
The premise is simple: individually, a family has no way to access group rates. But millions of families together represent something every company wants — committed, long-term customers. Common creates the relationship. The more families who join, the more everyone saves.
The Reality Facing American Families
Average annual spending reached $78,535 in 2024. Median household income was $83,730. That leaves just $433 per month between what a typical family earns and what it costs to exist — and that gap is getting smaller every year.
Median Family Income
$83,730
per year (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024)
Average Spending
$78,535
per year (BLS, 2024)
Monthly Margin
$433
between income and expenses
Emergency Savings
30%
of adults can't cover 3 months of expenses
Where the Money Goes
| Category | Monthly Avg | Annual Avg | Budget Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $2,189 | $26,266 | 33.4% |
| Transportation | $1,110 | $13,318 | 17.0% |
| Food | $830 | $9,985 | 12.7% |
| Healthcare | $580 | $6,960 | 8.9% |
| Insurance & Pensions | $680 | $8,160 | 10.4% |
| All Other | $1,156 | $13,846 | 17.6% |
| Total | $6,545 | $78,535 | 100% |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024 Consumer Expenditure Survey; U.S. Census Bureau; Federal Reserve SHED Survey, 2024.
Why Existing Approaches Haven't Solved This
Many programs help at the margins, but none address the full picture. Common is different because it works across every major cost category at once.
Rewards & Cashback Programs
Return 1–3% of spending — $785 to $2,356 per year. Helpful, but not enough to change a family’s financial trajectory. They operate at the individual level with no group scale.
Government Assistance
Programs like SNAP and Medicaid help families at the very bottom, but do nothing for the vast middle — families earning $50,000–$120,000 who are too stretched to build security but don’t qualify for help.
Debt Consolidation & Refinancing
Refinancing rearranges existing debt but doesn’t reduce the structural costs that created it. A family that refinances still faces the same healthcare, insurance, telecom, and grocery prices.
Single-Category Cooperatives
Credit unions, food co-ops, and housing cooperatives prove that group membership works. But they each operate in one area. No organization has combined this approach across all major cost categories until now.
How Common Works
Common is a member-owned cooperative. When families come together, they can access what no individual can access alone — the same group pricing that large organizations have always enjoyed.
Step 1: Families Join
Families sign up through a simple digital platform. Membership is open to any household. Monthly membership fees of $15–$25 (based on family size) fund platform operations and partnership development.
Step 2: Companies Partner
Common’s team works with providers across every major cost category — healthcare plans, mortgage products, telecom bundles, grocery and essential goods, auto and home insurance — to arrange group pricing made possible by the size of the membership.
Step 3: Members Transition
Members move their spending to Common-partnered providers at their own pace. The platform makes switching straightforward — mortgage refinancing, healthcare enrollment, telecom migration, grocery access, and bundled insurance.
Step 4: Savings Are Real and Documented
The difference between what members previously paid and what they now pay through Common providers is their savings — typically $900–$1,400 per month across all categories. Every dollar is tracked and verified against actual prior spending.
Step 5: The Value Grows
More families join because the savings are real. A larger membership means even better group pricing from providers. Better pricing makes membership more valuable, which attracts more families. The value of membership grows over time for everyone.
The Five Pillars of Savings
Common lowers your costs across five major categories simultaneously. No single category is revolutionary on its own, but combined, the impact is transformative.
Housing & Mortgage
$200–$400/monthGroup mortgage rates through credit union partnerships offer 0.75–1.5% below typical retail rates. On a $300,000 mortgage, that’s approximately $200–$400 per month in savings — and roughly $72,000–$150,000 over the life of a 30-year loan. Additional savings come from group-rate property tax appeals, homeowner’s insurance, and maintenance services.
Healthcare
$300–$500/monthThe average American family spent approximately $22,000–$24,000 on healthcare in 2024. Much of this cost comes from the 15–20% administrative overhead built into individual plans. Large employers self-insure because it’s dramatically cheaper. A membership of millions of families can access the same approach through Association Health Plans — reducing total healthcare costs by 15–25%.
Telecom & Internet
$100–$200/monthEnterprise-tier pricing on mobile phone, home internet, and streaming bundles is typically 30–40% below individual consumer rates. Carriers already offer these rates to large organizations. A membership of millions of families represents a group larger than most Fortune 500 companies, qualifying for comparable pricing.
Food & Groceries
$150–$300/monthThe retail markup on groceries ranges from 25–50% above wholesale pricing. The U.S. military commissary system demonstrates that selling groceries at cost plus a 5% surcharge saves families 25–30% compared to commercial retail. Common creates a cooperative wholesale purchasing network using the same proven model that European consumer cooperatives have operated successfully for decades.
Auto & Home Insurance
$100–$200/monthGroup-rated auto and homeowner’s policies are typically 15–25% less expensive than individual policies because pooled risk reduces the per-policy cost. At millions of families, the insurance pool is actuarially stable and large enough to access the best group rates available.
The Math: What Your Family Could Save
These are conservative-to-optimistic ranges based on the documented difference between individual and group pricing in each category. Every savings claim is verified against members' actual prior spending.
Monthly Savings by Category
| Category | Conservative | Midpoint | Optimistic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $200/mo | $300/mo | $400/mo |
| Healthcare | $300/mo | $375/mo | $500/mo |
| Telecom & Utilities | $100/mo | $150/mo | $200/mo |
| Food & Essentials | $150/mo | $200/mo | $300/mo |
| Auto & Home Insurance | $100/mo | $150/mo | $200/mo |
| Total Monthly Savings | $850/mo | $1,175/mo | $1,600/mo |
| Total Annual Savings | $10,200/yr | $14,100/yr | $19,200/yr |
Before and After: The Median American Family
| Budget Item | Before | With Common | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $2,189/mo | $1,889/mo | $300/mo |
| Healthcare | $1,833/mo | $1,458/mo | $375/mo |
| Transportation | $1,110/mo | $960/mo | $150/mo |
| Food & Essentials | $830/mo | $630/mo | $200/mo |
| Telecom & Streaming | $250/mo | $100/mo | $150/mo |
| All Other | $1,156/mo | $1,156/mo | $0 |
| Total Monthly | $7,368 | $6,193 | $1,175/mo |
For a family earning the median income of $83,730 with a current margin of just $433/month, Common nearly quadruples their breathing room. Dual-income families at or above median move firmly into positive territory.
The Compounding Effect
The initial savings are just the beginning. When a family suddenly has $1,175 per month that it didn't have before, several compounding effects follow.
Debt Disappears Faster
$1,175/month directed at credit card balances (the average family carries $7,000–$10,000) eliminates that debt in 6–9 months, freeing another $200–$400/month in interest payments.
Emergency Savings Materialize
Six months of saving at $1,175/month creates a $7,050 emergency fund — enough to cover three months of expenses and move a family out of the "one crisis away" category.
Mortgage Payoff Accelerates
An extra $900/month on a $300,000 mortgage at 6.5% reduces payoff from 30 years to approximately 13 years — saving roughly $240,000 in total interest.
Wealth Building Becomes Possible
For the first time, middle-income families can meaningfully invest. $500/month at a 7% average annual return grows to approximately $122,000 in 15 years and $260,000 in 20 years.
Why Companies Partner with Common
Common offers providers something valuable: millions of committed families, organized and ready to participate, at a fraction of the typical cost to reach them. The relationship works because both sides benefit.
Committed Families
These aren’t impressions or clicks. They’re verified families who have chosen to participate in group purchasing — real people, real spending, real long-term relationships.
Lower Cost to Connect
U.S. companies spent over $550 billion on advertising in 2024. Common gives providers a direct relationship with millions of families at a fraction of traditional customer acquisition cost.
Naturally High Retention
A family saving $14,100/year has a powerful reason to remain a member. For providers, this translates to predictable, recurring relationships with very low churn.
The Partnership Value
As Common's membership grows, the value of partnering grows with it. Companies that join early build brand loyalty with a rapidly expanding member community. The more families who participate, the more attractive the opportunity becomes for every provider — and the better the pricing becomes for every family.
This is why the model works for everyone. Providers get committed, long-term customers they don't have to spend billions to reach. Families get pricing they could never access alone. Common facilitates the relationship.
How the Provider Marketplace Works
Common uses a tiered marketplace structure with an annual review cycle. This ensures members always have access to strong pricing and multiple options.
Recommended Partners
1–2 per category
These providers offered the best rates, broadest coverage, and most favorable terms. Common recommends them as the default option. They receive the majority of member activity.
Alternative Options
3–5 per category
Additional providers for members who need specific doctor networks, live in regions with different coverage, or have unique needs. They offer strong pricing and meaningful options.
Annual Review
Every 12 months
All providers can submit updated offers each year. This keeps pricing sharp and gives new companies the opportunity to participate. Better value for members is always the goal.
Geographic Optimization
No single provider has the best network everywhere. Common's platform dynamically recommends the best option for each member based on their location, existing providers, and specific needs. This means a family in Texas and a family in New England can each have the best-available partner recommended for their area — maximizing both savings and quality.
The Flywheel
Common's growth model is a self-reinforcing cycle where each element strengthens the others. The same dynamic has powered every successful cooperative and membership platform in history.
Members Share Results
Families saving $1,000+/month tell everyone they know. Word-of-mouth from a neighbor who saved $14,000 last year is the most powerful invitation there is.
The Group Grows
A larger membership means Common can arrange even better group pricing with providers across every category.
Pricing Improves
Better pricing increases the value of membership for both existing and prospective members.
More Families Join
Greater value makes the platform more attractive, naturally growing the membership.
More Companies Partner
A growing membership makes partnering with Common increasingly attractive for providers, bringing more options into the ecosystem.
Everyone Benefits
More options and better pricing improve the member experience, further strengthening the value of membership for everyone.
The Mortgage Acceleration Layer
When a family reduces its non-housing costs by $850–$1,600 per month, that freed-up money can be directed at the single largest debt most families carry: their mortgage.
| Scenario | Standard | +$500/mo Extra | +$900/mo Extra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original Balance | $300,000 | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| Interest Rate | 6.5% | 6.5% | 6.5% |
| Monthly Payment | $1,896 | $2,396 | $2,796 |
| Time to Payoff | 30 years | 18.5 years | 13.2 years |
| Total Interest Paid | $382,633 | $232,128 | $142,917 |
| Interest Saved | — | $150,505 | $239,716 |
A family that directs $900/month of their savings toward extra mortgage principal transforms a 30-year mortgage into a 13-year payoff, saving roughly $240,000 in interest. Combined with the rate reduction from group mortgage products, total mortgage savings can exceed $300,000 per family.
Policy Alignment
Common does not require government funding. But the platform naturally aligns with policy goals across the political spectrum.
Reduced Safety-Net Dependency
Families with $14,100/year in additional financial margin are dramatically less likely to need government assistance. Each family that achieves financial stability saves an estimated $8,000–$15,000/year in public assistance costs.
Increased Economic Activity
Savings flow back into the economy as increased spending — generating additional sales tax revenue, supporting local businesses, and creating economic activity without a single dollar of government appropriation.
Reduced Foreclosure Risk
Families with $1,175/month in financial margin and accelerating mortgage payoff are far less likely to default. This stabilizes property values and protects local tax bases.
Works Across the Aisle
A market-based solution that reduces costs without government spending, empowers families, and creates economic stimulus through private-sector efficiency. Common is designed to work regardless of the political environment.
What Makes Common Different
Common is a new kind of organization — a member-owned cooperative that works across the entire family budget, not just one piece of it.
How is Common different from rewards or cashback programs?
Rewards programs return 1–3% of spending after the fact. Common reduces the price of spending itself by 15–30% across major categories before the transaction occurs. The difference is structural, not incremental.
How is Common different from Costco or Sam’s Club?
Wholesale clubs operate in a single category — retail goods — and save families $500–$1,500 per year. Common operates across every major cost category and is designed to save $10,000–$19,000 per year. The scope is fundamentally different.
Is Common a union?
No. Traditional labor unions work with employers on wages and working conditions. Common works with providers on pricing. The organizing principle is the same — people coming together can access what no individual can access alone — but the application is entirely different. Common does not engage in labor disputes or employer actions. It is a family cooperative.
Member-Owned. Member-Governed.
Common is organized as a member-owned cooperative, meaning its members are its owners. The board is elected by members. There is no external shareholder class whose interests diverge from the membership. If Common raises fees or reduces quality, members vote out the board.
This is the same structure used by REI, Navy Federal Credit Union, Land O'Lakes, and thousands of other successful cooperatives. The incentive alignment is structural: the platform serves its members because its members own the platform.
The best protection against an organization losing its way is structural accountability — not good intentions, but governance design.
Honest About the Challenges
Building something this ambitious comes with real challenges. Here's how we're thinking about them.
Building provider partnerships takes time
We’re launching with categories where group pricing is most established — telecom, insurance, and grocery — and using early results to demonstrate the value of partnering to additional providers.
Regulatory complexity varies by state
We’re beginning with a single-state pilot in Arkansas to establish legal precedent, and structuring healthcare offerings carefully within existing regulatory frameworks.
Reaching families at the start
Initial growth is targeted through employer partnerships, community organizations, and faith-based networks. As members save real money, word-of-mouth becomes the most powerful growth engine.
Data privacy and security
SOC-2 Type II compliance from day one. Minimal data collection. No sale of member data. Independent annual audits. Privacy as a fundamental right.
The Bigger Picture
When millions of families keep more of what they earn, the effects ripple outward through the entire economy.
Annual Savings Delivered
$70B+
at 5 million member families
New Spending Returned to Economy
$56B
per year at scale
Families Stabilized
5M+
moved to financial security
Mortgage Interest Saved
$250K
per family over life of loan
Estimated Indirect Jobs
500K
from increased economic activity
Mortgage Payoff Accelerated
15 yrs
fewer years of payments
A significant portion of the savings flows back into the economy as increased discretionary spending, creating a cycle of economic activity that benefits businesses, local communities, and government revenues alike — all without a single dollar of government appropriation.
Data Sources
Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024 Consumer Expenditure Survey) · U.S. Census Bureau (2024 Income Report) · Federal Reserve (2024 SHED Survey) · Kaiser Family Foundation (2024 Employer Health Benefits Survey) · Defense Commissary Agency · Winterberry Group (2024 U.S. Advertising Spend) · Bankrate (2024 Emergency Savings Report). All dollar amounts in 2025 USD. Savings estimates based on the documented difference between individual and group pricing, validated against existing cooperative and employer-based purchasing programs.