$21 per week food stamp challenge - Page 3

carlitasway · 09-07-2007, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TommysMommy

Our family falls into the category of Working Class Poor. We have very little luxuries outside of cable tv and internet. We live paycheck to paycheck. I cannot work outside of the home because we don't qualify for nursing care for Tommy. He does get a state check every month because he is disabled. It goes towards our housing expenses every month. I buy all of our clothing second hand, and we own our vehicle outright. (also second, probably third hand) We do get food stamps...barely. Our family of five only qualifies for $140 a month. I have to be very frugal with that amount. We also get WIC. Thank goodness because milk here is nearly $4.00 a gallon. My husband was able to work overtime this month, so he took it. It helped us pay a few bills on time instead of juggling them around. Guess what...It happened to be our review month for the food stamps and now we may lose them based on a few hours of overtime. We are stretched to the limit as it is, and now we may lose the only help we get. I don't buy anything name brand at the grocery store and I am only able to buy hamburger and chicken in bulk. Thank goodness my kids like ramen noodles for lunch. There are two sides to every story. I don't abuse the system, and yet, my kids are paying the price for trying to just survive.

Omg, sweetie! What a load! My thoughts and energy are with you. ((HUGS))

jen4 · 09-07-2007, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TommysMommy

. My husband was able to work overtime this month, so he took it. It helped us pay a few bills on time instead of juggling them around. Guess what...It happened to be our review month for the food stamps and now we may lose them based on a few hours of overtime. We are stretched to the limit as it is, and now we may lose the only help we get.

I hope this doesn't happen to you! That is terrible!
It's like being punished for working hard and taking
care of your family! That sucks!

periwinkle · 09-08-2007, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spoodler

Well...I think that if the government (the taxpayers) is footing the bill then yes, they have the right to dictate what you can and can't buy with your foodstamps (no liquor, beer, wine, tobacco, etc.) or the amount you are allotted for them.

Nobody is saying that these people shouldn't buy healthy foods...the point here is that you have an obligation to keep it within the given amount when you are not paying for it.

In our state they wont cover toilet paper or cooked chickens or "health/energy" drinks like sobe water etc let alone beer and tabacco. It may differ from state to state though.

As for the amount, if they run out before the month is up, thats their problem and their responsibility, they arn't taking any extra money from the goverment, they just have to user their own or starve, and that is their problem. So if they want to fill their cart with $8 peanut butter then they can go ahead, its no skin off my back. I have alot of freinds on another natural living board, who get food stamps, and buy what some here would consider to be expensive foods that people on food stamps shouldnt get, but they make the food choices they do, and they make it last the month. Just because you receive assitance it doesnt mean you should be shamed and judged because of your nutrition choices.

It not even about the middle class women trying to do it on $21 a week, its about the general attitude that is out there in the public world about how people who receive goverment assitance should act and eat. It really annoys me.

When my dh was unemployed we had to rely on WIC, foodstamps and food pantrys, thank god I had food stamps, because what my WIC would cover I couldn't use, because of my son and my personal allergys and they refused to offer substitutes. So we stopped getting WIC. The food pantrys really annoy me, one particular one EVERY time we used them, and when my fil still occasionaly does use them, the bags are filled with dented expired cans of food, or partially opened or expire boses of food, and a huge pile of candy. What, just because we are low income and have to rely on charity of other people, it means I have to risk getting botulissim from a dented damaged can because thats all you think we are worthy of?

its the general attitude that beggers can't be choosers, so you should take what you get and shut up. But that is not fair, and its not right. Low income familys are people to, and have rights to their personal food choices and personal nutrition veiws, it is not a sense of entitlement, it is the simple right to be an individual human being.

BabeInTheMoon · 09-08-2007, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by periwinkle

I have alot of freinds on another natural living board, who get food stamps, and buy what some here would consider to be expensive foods that people on food stamps shouldnt get, but they make the food choices they do, and they make it last the month. Just because you receive assitance it doesnt mean you should be shamed and judged because of your nutrition choices.

<snip>

what my WIC would cover I couldn't use, because of my son and my personal allergys and they refused to offer substitutes. So we stopped getting WIC.

If I did qualify for food stamps, and the combination of what I received and my own budget got us up to $21/week/person in our family of 4 I could afford to eat healthier. I want so badly to do it.. I just can't on this budget. When apples are $1.50/lb, and green leafy lettuce is about the same it is just difficult. kwim?

Also, did you try having your doctor write a Rx for the food alergies?? My best friend's foster son was way overweight for a 15m old (he was wearing a size 3T) and his doctor said he was to be drinking 2% milk, when convention for that age is whole milk. The doctor wrote a Rx for 2% milk only, and WIC had to change the vouchers. Later on, they suspected an actual alergy to milk, and the process was done again.. this time they were changed to soy milk & cheese. (p.s. after healthy eating he for just over 3 years, and a lot of love from his now adoptive parents this little 5 year old is wearing a size 6.. not because of his waist size, but because of his height!! He even does situps with his father who is in the army.. boy oh boy does that little one have pecs!!!

)

periwinkle · 09-08-2007, 01:36 PM

yeah, our WIC wouldnt cover a substitute even with a drs note unless it was formula.

vioburn · 09-08-2007, 01:37 PM

My mom received WIC and food stamps when I was a kid. Although some people have to completely count on the WIC and food stamps for their entire food budget, I don't believe that is really the intent of food stamps. They were originally supposed to supplement your food budget, not be your food budget. In other words, you were supposed to use the food stamps in addition to your own money.

I could be wrong about that, but that's what I've heard.

I know I could feed our family of 5 easily on the $21 per person per week. And still eat mostly organic, healthy foods.

deemom · 09-10-2007, 07:48 AM

There are so many people out there abusing the system that it makes me sick. I've seen people use foodstamps then have cash for cigarettes and beer

.

periwinkle · 09-10-2007, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deemom

There are so many people out there abusing the system that it makes me sick. I've seen people use foodstamps then have cash for cigarettes and beer

.

foodstamps are intended to be supplemental, thats why they dont cover toiletries. they expect you to use your own cash for other things. it is not abusing the system.

aleise02 · **Sorta a Spinoff - $21 dollars a week food stamps**

Amber03 · 09-10-2007, 11:48 AM

My family does get foodstamps ($177 a month) and WIC, I shop sales, sometimes go to Aldis and the only deserts I really buy is mostly Ice cream. I do have a wheat intolerance so I buy wheat free noodles and other food at Wal-Mart or Meijers. I am not proud to be on them, but I have worked from the age of fifteen until this Feb. , so about ten years. I have paid for others to have foodstamps (taxes), so why shouldn't I be able to use them if we need them? I agree that some people abuse them, I try to use them wisely and I do not drink or smoke. I will not use them forever and I drive an 89 Oldsmobile, which I am happy to have a running car

My hubby does drive an 2003 Blazer but he got it awhile before he knew me and had children and we plan on paying it off with our next tax return. There are people who do not abuse it. Also, I think that FS are supposed to be supplemental and you use some of your own money for above and beyond that and you pay for your non food items yourself. There are those that cheat but when you fill out the paperwork you are supposed to put the cost of all your bills, assets and savings and include the make, year and model of your car. Every 6 months you have to update your information and note any changes in income.