Be more creative, not stress about surviving (dependent on what the UBI is per month)

Buy some land , buy a multi level mobile home or two and offer academic tutoring services based on tips (love offerings)

My answer is the same every time someone asks this: the same thing I do now but with less stress. I like captioning. I like providing that help to people, and also just the mechanics of doing it play nicely with my brain. But I'd probably do part time and try to stick to shows I *want* to work on.

Pay my medical debt, go to the dentist, pay for my HRT

I'm lucky so I would be able to give mine back, but most of my theater/film peeps would use it to live in a dignified way while working on creating lovely things.

At the current moment? I wouldn't be doing anything different because my retirement income functions as the equivalent of UBI. Before retirement? That's a harder question. While it would have been nice to shift to being a full-time author earlier, I really enjoyed my job and considered it valuable.

I would crack some major user experience design problems and publish detailed specifications under a Creative Commons license — strong meta-data based file / object organization truly integrated email + calendar + task + notes

See a dentist more than once a year and get my mouth back to normalcy. Actually travel places that aren't within driving distance. Have a proper savings account.

Pay for the hometaker care I need that is not offered by my health insurance company.

Cat Cafe and book store...

I'd focus on my art. Having basics covered would let me put money toward things like a "real" camera, editing software, commission visual artists, etc. I could not worry about whether deliveries are going to pan out & have more time to work on stuff. Not to mention less stress = better health.

This knot in my stomach that gives me the cold sweats every time finances need to be talked about would go away. That's been there since 2008ish. I'd go to the dentist. Haven't done that in 20+ years & I have a broken tooth. It would grant a feeling of security & I would still make & sell my art.

I would continue to work at my part-time job at dog camp which I love, and maybe even take on more hours, but I would quit my factory job and focus a lot more on my podcast.

This is always so hard for me to answer. If I wasn’t perpetually burnt out, I would pay bills, travel to the places I want to live, and do creative shit all the time. Give myself space to not do anything when that season comes.

Work very part time at my job to keep me exposed to people and ideas, use that money to pay people to help me with my chores/to do list, models for life drawing, art supplies, and stuff like that. Probably attempt to save money for nice things and travel.

basically what i'm already doing, without the stress of ever-shifting economics looming overhead.

We’d both pull the “early retirement” trigger now and our mental and physical health would immediately begin to approve. I would write and do art, maybe even for money. He would do music and electronics. We’d both find things to learn. But we’re both too tired and stressed to do much now.

start a cooperative web publication about film and culture

Probably actually look into what's wrong with my back. After balancing our budget, finally, instead of relying on a fortunately-timed inheritance.

Dental surgery desperately needed. Possibly my back, too. Probably a lot of medical stuff.

I would make sooooooo much more art and spend more time with my family and friends 😭 or shit maybe I would finally go to school. There are so many things I could and would do I don't even know where to start listing

Not have to play financial Tetris every month just to be able to make sure I’ll stay healthy and sane.

Finish my PhD. Get a couple more degrees. Save it. Invest. Create generational wealth for my kiddo. A

Go to all the schools I can

I would still want to work in public service, but definitely part time so I could have time to be more involved in community projects.

I would be doing exactly the same thing, except I'd have time for a social life and actual savings income I could use to afford a house in the half-a-million market, all on less stress

Same shit More Commissions, food, maybe buy more furniture (I desperately need more). Have more confidence in moving out, more donations. And just more financial stability. It’s fun to dream

I'd pause to process. Routine 60-100 hour weeks since 19, from emergency medicine to "making art" for a living. I don't stop because I can't stop. I’ve been in a constant state of excruciatingly productive burnout since my mid-20s. I'm 34. So I'd rest, live for a moment, and then get back to work.

I might actually do work that I care about without having to worry about income. I might *even* write a book.

Finally be able to throw some money at my mental health the way it deserves. Truly care for my physical health. Take classes.

I would go back to school and get an MFA. Take language classes. Study abroad.

Help pay off a bit of my debt that is holding me back from thriving. And hopefully, with that extra income, support others mutual aids.

I’d keep doing what I’m doing, and I’d do it with a lot more focus because I wouldn’t be worried about what happens if and when some bean counter decides to get rid of my frigging job.

i’d start a small business

My life quite literally would not change. I would keep teaching and finishing my doctorate. It would be spent on bills so my work income can go into savings (and also buy lil treats bc spending is generally good for the economy etc etc)

Open a Coffee + TCG/Game store

Fund solar installations to build up community power. Advocate for getting rid of tipping in restaurants. Invest in housing the homeless and building cooling centers. I dunno, maybe sub to FF11 again.

I would relish the freedom of not thinking about how much everything I consume or use costs. I'd be able to dedicate more time to art and writing and community and LEARNING. There are so many things I want to learn! I'd be able to support fellow creators! It'd be such a huge weight off my shoulders.

I'd enjoy the new cool things made by people who are no longer forced to only survive.

Depending on the amount, I would go all in on LARP stuff: writing, propsmaking, catering, running a venue, you name it. Either that or open up a little combination coffee shop and meadery where I make custom brews for people.

Trabalharia uns 3 dias por semana e tentaria me dedicar a música. 32 anos já se foram mas, se eu correr talvez ainda dê.

Estudaria desenho de verdade. Agora eu até gosto de desenhar e fazer meus quadrinhos com meu traço tosco. Mas eu queria evoluir mais e preciso me dedicar de verdade a isso pq a visão da indo embora e quero ter mais pra apresentar ao mundo

Eu ia ser um dos maiores especialistas em invertebrados do brasil

Viveria do futebol americano e de narração sem ter que ter um “trabalho principal”

Adoraria viver de ter hobbies. Semana um curso de marcenaria, semana dois curso de ourivesaria, semana três curso de sapataria artesanal, semana quatro build your own hat, imagina poder fazer coisas legais sem ter que vender seus hobbies pro capitalismo

I’d get reading and research resources for my class, take them on field trips—though I imagine a gov’t that would provide UBI would also fund education adequately.

I wouldn’t do anything differently (I need the money I’m currently earning). I would just enjoy the decrease in my ambient economic fear levels.

I assume taxes are honestly still a thing in this world. I'd love to help people navigate them, like a sort of library reference desk but for tax questions. Trying to do that for pay in the real world feels...off...but as a hobby in a world with UBI? I think I would love it.

Last call to quote or drop your take! It’s been encouraging on my side to read all of your responses! 🙏 I’d like to see if we could get a discord video going soon!

This is also why universal basic income is such a good idea. Not only would it save money on the high costs of poverty, but it would grow GDP and reduce the costs of healthcare by reducing stress and improving physical and mental health.