How does everyone know who has food stamps and who doesn't? Their card looks just like a debit card. Also, I think you people are paying way too much attention to what others are buying! Heck, there are days I go just for snacks for the month and my cart is loaded with junk. I hope no one is judging me by that. Other days I buy all "good" stuff.

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Well said, Happymom! Gosh, with 2 kids and my mind whirring with my own business, I could care less with what others are buying or how they are paying. I don't know them. And even if I did, it would be rude to even notice.

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I agree as well! Well said happy mom! I am way too busy making sure my 2 year old isn't trying to stand up in the cart if we don't have a car cart. Even if we have a car cart I have to make sure Noah isnt grabbing stuff off the shelves and carrying it around. Half the time I have to give Noah bites of cookie or crackers or whatever kinds of samples they have at that store at that time on top of trying to shop. I think a person could walk by me with a cart full of vodka and condoms and cigars and I wouldn't even notice.

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I think the woman with the 4 mo. old should be able to make it fine. SH emay not be able to get brand name food or fresh veggies everytime. With 280 and what she gets from the other program i seems that two people could eat for a month- jsut watch what you get. Make meals that last and be thrifty. Smart shopping goes a long ways. I have feed a family of 4 on less than that a month! not easy task but no one went hungry and we had meat and veggies!

The lady with 4 grown children needs to do something - like make them get a job and help her with the bills and food. She should be able to do something if she can volunteer, she shoudl be able to work doing soemthing. The kids she shouldn't even be able to claim!

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One adorable, and spoiled rotten little girl! What do you expect she is the only one! (7mos)

You may only be one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person!

We get food stamps but only get $110 for a family of 4. If we're lucky that's a trip to the store that may last a couple weeks. They don't count all the bills you pay and only a small portion of your rent is counted in your case. And we are on HUD which made them go down since we pay less rent.
I do have a 18 and 20 yr old sons but they are in HS and the 20 yr old has ADD & Tourette's syndrome so he can't work right now. I stay home a take care of my husband and can't physically work right now either. I haven't noticed people treating me different because I use an EBT card but I don't care anyway. They are not in my shoes.
I figure it's none of my business what people buy with their cash or food stamps but I for one only buy cheap store brands because I'm cheap....

I think you can make your money stretch by freezing food, growing your own, using coupons, making your own food, going the Salvation Army soup kitchen, maybe getting together with others. The thing that bothers me is people start WIC and food stamps and get use to it. Some don't want to go get a job. I really think that people should be limited on how long they are on govt. handouts,like these programs. Maybe 6 months on 6 months off. That way they have to TRY to get a job.

I just wanted to add that we had to apply for help when my husband lost his job unexpectantly last May. If it wasn't for the $220 we receive in food stamps, we don't know what we would do (we are a family of 5). I now sit down each month and plan out our dinners. It has helped us stay within the amount we receive and it helps alieveate the "whats for dinner" question. We still can't really afford fruits and veggies, but I try to figure in a few nights that our main meal is a salad topped with chicken or steak slices (leftovers). The amount we receive is only used for dinner meals, the kids get breakfast and lunch at school, and most times, my husband and I go without B & L to save. I hope I am not judged by what I put in my cart or that I have to use the card, although I do feel like I am sometimes. We have been through way to much over the last year and a half. We lost our 5 day old son unexpectantly in April 07, and a year later, just as we were getting our life back on track, bam my husband looses his job. People shouldn't judge others, they don't know the reason behind the need for the extra help.

People like you aren't the problem. People in your situation are the ones that the system is supposed to help.

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Why? People on FS aren't entitled to the same rights as everyone else?????

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I just read this thread today. Ironic, since we just decided earlier this morning that we finally had to break down and apply for food stamps. We been struggling for 2 years and it's finally come down to it. I thank God it's there and we won't need it for more than 3-4 months. Dh got his hours cut at work by 20% and we were struggling before that. Work will pick back up in April or May and then we will go off food stamps even if we still technically qualify. I don't feel guilty in the slightest partially because we have been paying self-employed taxes for years (which are double what most employees pay for SS, Medi, FICA).

I agree with the other mommysavers that no one should make a "lifestyle" out of government assistance. I read every post and I think that is all anyone was trying to say. Too many do take advantage of the system and take financial assistance and respect away from those who truly do need the temporary help. I think the main problem is that some (not anywhere near all) people start to enjoy it and get used to it, and while they "could" earn their own way it is so much easier to just walk to the mailbox for their check. So they start to mold their life around getting the assistance and they make major decisions like when to marry, how many kids to have, and where to live based on how it will affect their free money. Please don't misunderstand, I am not saying this about anyone who has posted, but these kind of people are out there and those few rotten apples are the ones that I object to. (And I do know a few examples firsthand.)