>>96005568
I have conflicting feelings about it. On one hand, I like injecting a little bit of realism into an otherwise perfect power fantasy.
On the other hand, however, too much of it will turn it into a slog of wageslavery interspersed with beating up villains.

Further, I think that the secret hero/villain identity thing required for maintaining civilian life is and always will be a severe weakness.
Not only do you have civilians that you care about, but you also value your civilian identity, both of which could be threatened or used for blackmail.
Civilian life is a vice, no different from drugs and alcohol, and just as intoxicating.
Do too much and you will lose your edge, do enough and you won't be able to do your job at all.
It's best to keep a company of supers, at least they aren't as helpless as an average Joe.
There's little to gain by trying to live two incompatible lives, you'll only end up hurting yourself and the people that care about you.
Go full retard and go all-in on the life you chose over normality.
If you really wanted a normal life, you wouldn't be doing any heroing in the first place. If you can't take your life of a super anymore — quit it.
There's never any in-between — you're either the one being saved, or you're the one doing the saving.

As for paying the bills, in a setting where "hero" is not a job title, one could still find ways to monetize one's power.
Emergency services would appreciate anyone who can control or create elements, has super senses for search and rescue, and so on.
Those capable of healing can have their own private practice and earn more in a month than a wagie can earn in a decade.
Construction work, disaster relief, humanitarian aid, even the fucking entertainment industry. Hell, you could just put a few logos on your tights and make money off of advertising!
And before you say anything, earnings above the "make ends meet" level could be going to charities, so there IS a reason to keep fair prices.