I think most people here are "judging" by the numbers given in the article and what they have seen with their own eyes in the grocery store. Had the writer used an example of someone inyour situation, I'm sure this thread would have a much different tone. No one is denying that there aren't real cases where people, like you, really need more help than they can get, and who are working their tails off just to make ends meet, and who are frugal and careful. Don't you think that you would resent it a bit if, after spending 90 minutes in the grocery store counting every cent against each item, the person ahead of you in line had a cart full of chips, soda, and frozen pizzas, and they cheerfully whipped out their food stamps to cover it all?

I'm so sorry you have to go through what you are right now. I can feel your pain. While we don't quite qualify for assistance, even WIC, because of DH's income, we have so many monthly payments to make that every week is a struggle. This site has been awesome for me to learn how to stretch our meager dollars. I hope you stick around. We are not going to judge you poorly.

__________________
Trust God. Whatever risk there is in doing so, the risk of not trusting in him is far greater. - Spurgeon

What I see here is a lot of personal stories and experiences. Real people with real stories. The article did have a bias. It showed us examples of struggle on assistance that many of us see as unnecessary. It is as unrealistic to paint everyone on assistance as unworthy as it is unrealistic to paint everyone on assistance as needing more help.

Mommysavers is full of hardworking people. I suspect that many here have been hungry and have learned to be more frugal and improve our lives without any assistance. I know I have and I probably learned my lessons better by doing it that way. We have so much to offer those that struggle. So much more than mere money. Remember the adage about teaching a man to fish? It is true.

Cathleen

Sarah, I would agree with you people are stuggling.

I have heard of people who "work the system", but think about it - do you really want to live like that?

Lastly, the government finds it much less expensive to have not-for-profit agencies administer their programs. Those agencies are small and can pay less. Small not-for-profits make up much more of who is administering government programs. They still have to provide the services and they are still audited by the government, but their overheard is often much lower. Would a government worker with a college degree work for 20K a year? A small agency can not offer the benefits than the government worker is expecting. Unfortunately this also causes a higher turnover for workers because they are doing the same job and earning less money. Are these small not-for-profits perfect? No, but then neither are government agencies.



Barb C

*edited to add, that second paragraph question wasn't aimed at Sarah.......but at anyone reading this.

"Don't you think that you would resent it a bit if, after spending 90 minutes in the grocery store counting every cent against each item, the person ahead of you in line had a cart full of chips, soda, and frozen pizzas, and they cheerfully whipped out their food stamps to cover it all? "

SarahM, honestly I don't pay attention to what other people are doing, whats in their buggies or even how they pay for it. I turn my head when it comes to people paying.

I've had frozen pizzas, sodas and chips in my basket because I was working at my uncles restaurant and I couldn't eat there-(everything was cooked with meat or pork and he had no salads)-and I had to buy something for myself and my daughter to eat. At one point she was going to the restaurant with me and so I had to have something quick for her while she sat in the restaurant and I had to have something quick for me in case a customer came in. Then she was home alone all day, we're talking 13 Plus hrs and I needed something she could just microwave while I was working there.

People probably thought the same thing about me but you never know until you're in someones shoes what and why their doing it. I know for me having only $15 foodstamps, that means that I have to take my money and spend it on food, which means I have to either scrimp on a bill or pay it and go without. And then I'll have a bill out of the blue, I have two water bills because I live on the border of two cities so I get two separate water bills, one for sewage-(one city)-and the water-(another city)-and they're different amounts, so I have to pay that, and it throws me for a loop or my daughter comes home and needs something for school or needs $10 for something and I get thrown then because when you don't have it, $10 can break you. I'm now selling things on Craigslist for extra cash, some of the things we have found on the street like a table etc. I live in a nice home, I rent, and I am trying to buy veggie plants for a garden so that we can have veggies this summer and take a load off of me.

My mom often helps me and she shouldn't but she knows I'm trying very hard. I had an interview today and yesterday. I go on them all the time but get no response, like my friend with the Master's Degree, she puts in for other jobs all the time and gets no response...theres too much competition for that one position. My mom just bought me vegetables today at the farmers market, she helps me buy groceries, she's even bought me shoes because I've walked around with my shoes nearly torn up hoping no one can see it, to get to work and back, just to get my check and have nothing left or have it and have to save it because of gas prices.

I'm not telling you this for a sob story. I thought my life would be differently, that's what I went to College for, so that my life would improve and I could provide for my daughter, and I have been on frugal websites since she was 4, but things happen and you do what you have to, to survive. And I know that people judge but its very sad that they do, because they could be one pink slip away from being in my shoes. No one wants to struggle, no one wants to be humilated or treated as if they're scum but alot of people do it. Somedays it has hurt me dearly when the cashier has a smirk on her face when I use my foodstamp card or she shoots a look to the person behind me. I would love to get my dream job so that I could NOT use that stupid card but things don't always work like that. I lost my job two weeks ago after working their nearly 2 yrs to make room for someone newer-(and cheaper)-and so hopefully my foodstamps will go up from $15 to something else next month, so that left me an entire month having to get by on $15. Thank God for my mother, thank god she helps me out. I am grateful for my home, I am grateful for my old car, and I am grateful for my family...thats what matters, not what someone else does.

You can tell you are trying hard. Keep your head up and keep a positive attitude your day will come. Just think someday you could be the manager to that very same cashier giving you smirks. Most of the places I have gone to shop haven't given me smirks and if they did I just ignore it, I feel bad that you have had to go through that. I too went to school to try to better mine and my chidren's life. Just don't give up, keep on trying and know that someday you won't have to worry about not having enough money.

__________________
Philippians 4:13 (New International Version)
"I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
"Hate the sin, love the sinner."
Mahatma Gandhi
http://www.bargainbabymomma.blogspot.com/

Thanks. I'm planning on being here in Michigan just two more years and then I'm moving to where theres better jobs. Everyone's moving from here, its a shame but its hard here. I never planned on staying this long but my mother is here and we came back from Tennessee to take care of her. SHe had cataracts for 10 months and was completely blinded by them right after we moved back. SHe can see now and in two years before my daughter goes to highschool we're moving back to Tennessee or back out to Colorado where my sister lives, not sure yet which one. My mother says she'll move with us in three years, so for one year she'll be back here by herself again. That worries me but we are staying longer here than we should already.

I'm about to open up an online store selling my original folk art paintings. I know a woman who is now a full-time artist selling her artwork off ebay. She's sold them worldwide and she said I have talent and to hurry up and set it up. As soon as I can I will to sell my artwork and maybe oneday I too will be a full-time artist, completely self-suffficient.

I live in Michigan too. Sometimes it's a struggle. Sounds like you have a good plan with some goals in mind. Don't give up

__________________
Philippians 4:13 (New International Version)
"I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
"Hate the sin, love the sinner."
Mahatma Gandhi
http://www.bargainbabymomma.blogspot.com/

I assure you that in 2010 SS will not be insolvent and it would be in a lot better shape if it wasn't used as a slush fund for things like wars. Let's not play pretend and say the reason that is in the shape it is in isn't because of the fact that the President and Congress use the money as their own personal piggy bank to raid. As of yet there have been more people putting in money then taking that money out, it would have been fine if that money had not been used had been kept for its purpose and used to fund future Social Security recipients. As it is if they tweak SS, lock it in the infamous "lockbox" and remove the cap that SS will be just fine. As for Medicare and Medicaid, I blame that fiasco on the knuckleheads that decided to use the programs to give a kiss to Big Pharma, not recipients.

This thread has literally made me sick! Im a new member, just joined today. I receive food stamps and no i am NOT ashamed of it nor will I ever be. My son is also on Medicaid. My son is a very sick child and is usually in the hospital for weeks at a time. He has severe breathing problems. My sons father recently was killed by a drunk driver so we are out that $1000/month. I dont have family around and my son can not goto daycare or a school. Something as simple as a common cold can kill him and almost has a few times. I get $217/month on food stamps a month. It is more than enough for us even when I am buying him soy milk(allergic to regular) twice a week for a half gallon at $5. I shop at aldi's first and get what I need and if another store is having a good deal on a "name brand" product and i have a coupon and can get it super cheap yes I will buy it. I can't work out side of the home due to my son's medical conditions, but I do work what I can from the home. I usually make around $200/2weeks from my work. there are SO many people out there that truly need the help and shouldnt be made to feel ashamed because of people on their high horses. No my son doesnt wear name brand clothes unless I can get them at a thrift shop or a garage sale for cheap. yes i have seen many people with food stamps at the store who buy ONLY name brand food and drive the newest model of cars and wear ONLY name brand clothes, it makes me just as mad and sick as the rest of you. Grouping everyone on food stamps into one label is not fair. Some of us arent "abusing: the system. I just pray that those of you with the harsh comments dont ever have to feel what it feels like to have to stand in line and get nasty comments made about you or someone saying the things you have said about "food stamp" people.

I don't think anyone is saying that everyone using food stamps is lazy, or abusing the system. Food stamps are there for a reason. My family has received them in the past. The examples in the article are very poor examples of people who are probably not managing their food money to the fullest.

__________________
~Happiness is a large family~

Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. James 1:19

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24