Okay there are a lot of things you need to know about most people on food stamps. Maybe not all of them do these things but a lot do.
My dh has worked in grocery most of our married life and the stories he tells!!!

First off they eat much better than we do. They don't think twice about buying shrimp, steak, etc.... I don't know about you, but we don't eat those things very often because they cost lots of money. My dh has seen it all. He checked some people out one time that even had a lobster!!! I have never had lobster!

Second, they know how to get around it. Before the link card they use to send their children in with a dollar food stamp each and have them buy the cheapest candy they could find, get the change and keep having them go back until they had enough cash to buy their alcohol or cigarettes.

They have figured out the link card to. Say the link card holder will find person A who will give them a grocery list. Link card holder goes in buys what is on the grocery list, then person A will give the link card holder cash for the grocerys. But not dollar for dollar mind you. They will get a discount of what ever they have worked out. Then they are all happy. Person A gets cheap groceries and the link card holder gets cash to buy all those things that they can't purchase with a link card.

There are lots of other ways they get around the system. But it is really hard to feel sorry for people who take advantage of the system. And the sad thing is, is their children are the ones that suffer and their children learn from how their parents are.

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gourdlady




"I do not regret the things I have done, but those I did not do"

[quote=gourdlady06;630272]Okay there are a lot of things you need to know about most people on food stamps. Maybe not all of them do these things but a lot do.


I know there are people who do this. But to say that most people on food stamps do this? I just can't assume things like that. I think the majority of people who do that, probably work under the table somewhere, or possible sell drugs, or don't say the father lives in the house.
People who genuinely need the money aren't doing this, unless of course they have some addiction. They are probably going to food banks for thier food.
Those aren't the people they are talking about in this article. There are seriously people who can't make ends meet, even using their foodstamps honestly.
I feel bad for all the people going through the checkout line that are getting started at thanks to others who abuse the system. No, I don't think people should be eating lobster. I have been on foodstamps before, and I have never bought lobster with it. I did use coupons, watch sales, and get some steak on clearance for a treat. I always felt like a heal when I went in to get some party food for a birthday(pop and chips whatever brand was cheapest that day, oh and icecream) knowing these people think that it was probably a regular grocery trip. But I had healthy food at home from my regular shopping trips.

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"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies."
-- Groucho Marx

I think that the food stamp office should investigate a bit more before they issue foodstamps. I know that some people need foodstamps to get by but there are others that do not. I know a family of 5 that are getting foodstamps. The dad works and the mom doesn't and there is nothing wrong with that but the mom has told me that she would get a job now that all the children are in public school but they would stop their foodstamps if she did. My Dh and I both work to make ends meet. I think that if there are means that a family can provide for themselves without assistance then they should. They live way better than my family. I do my grocery shopping and errands after work so that I don't have to drive back into town and waste gas, She goes into town 3 and 4 times a day just to pick up something. I clip coupons, watch for sales,etc while she just goes and gets it.

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ALABAMA MOM

Ok, I am feeding a family of 5 for around $250 - $275 per month. We eat fairly well because I am a smart shopper. I spend about an hour every Tues or Wed. night going through my local sale papers, organizing my coupons, and making a list. I plan menus based on whatever is on sale and I stock up on very cheap items and always buy things that are free even if we don't need them. I can always find someone or some organization to donate the items to.

Maybe there should be a mandatory class for people using food stamps to show them how to shop smarter and how to read labels to make sure they are buying the most nutritious food possible within their budget.

I have also seen these people at my grocery store and I have found my self feeling a touch angry. I see the name brand kids sugar cereals they are buying, as well as numerous pre-packaged processed foods, meats, milk, and juicy juice.
Some of those items my children would love to have, especially the juicy juice brand of juice and name brand cereal, but it's just too expensive. We buy the store brand alternative that is just as good, only the box isn't as colorful. I think states should mandate some sort of standards, instead of buying the $4 name brand cereal, they should have to buy the 2.50 store brand like most of us do. After all, isn't it my money they are spending?

I don't know but I was thinking that I feed my family of four on $200/month. I live in the Bay Area and it is very expensive here but I can still make this last the month.

You're assuming that the people who are on food stamps have never held a job. If they have ever paid taxes then at least some portion of the amount they receive is something that they have paid for. We don't pay taxes specifically for other people to benefit from our work. We pay them to fund programs like these that, if we needed them, would help us out as well. Consider it a form of insurance.


When it comes down to this, we don't need to have an "us" vs "them" mentality. Not everyone with a low income is a bad person/mother. We should not be so quick to judge people before we even know their story.

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If I really tried I could feed our family of 4 on $200/month. I'll admit we usually go over that b/c we like to eat out once a week. However, my sister in law feeds her family of 5 on $200. She always has very healthy food and somehow always has plenty to invite people over (her husbands a pastor). she said when they fist got married she had about $70/month for groceries. They could easily qualify for aid but she said her husband won't accept it b/c they are able bodied. Instead he's a pastor and also works for Keebler making deliveries. My aunt on the other hand, has no problem accepting aid...along with two of her kids. My mom said at Easter they offered to bring the ham. My mom told her she didn't have to b/c she knew money was tight...my aunt said "oh, it's not a problem, we'll use our foodstamps". Her and her boyfriend go out of town all the time, eat out all the time...drives me crazy.

I realize there are people that need aid. I have no problem helping people who do their best and still need help. I would hope help would be available to me if I ever found myself in a tough situation. It just seems there are more people out there taking advantage of the system than there are people who really need it.

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Jenny, wife to Brad, mommy to two crazy little kids with one on the way!

There is no reason a family of 4 can't survive on $500 a month. Yes I know there are people out their that need assistance and it should be there for those who truely need it. I get tired of people who have money for cigarettes, booze and rag sheet magazines but don't have money for food. It's called prioritizing. If I don't have money for something I buy something cheaper. I am not judging people who truely need the assistance. There is just too many people out there abusing the system imo. That needs to stop. It gives the people who are down on their luck and need the help a bad name, and those people don't deserve it. (I mean they don't deserve the negative attitutudes, not the food stamps)

Food stamps Hit a Nerve with Me as Well.

I Worked part time in grocery Stores for Yrs. and I Will say About 9 out of 10 families who use them- do not Just By Food to Fill their poor empty Kids stomachs.

Alot Of stuff that shouldn't be Bought is bought-

I Saw the lady in the Article who Says she skimps on Food So Her Baby can eat.

I Have No Sympathy , Cause I Have been there. Big deal- thats part Of Being a Mom I Think.
we never qualified for Food stamps , but you Better believe we have had high Bills and Only a small amount For Groceries some weeks, So Who Do you think eats Less? Of Course mommy.
I Never Gave it a Thought though.

I think People on Food stamps are Lucky to have that Amount given to them.
And I Have Met People who are so Grateful for what they Get. - Not Always complaining its Not enough.
And if you know You only Get say 400.00 per month.
get with it , and start looking For Ways to Make cheap meals and Make your Money go further.
Obviously If you want to eat and you are ONLY getting a Certain amount you gotta Make it Work.

I have a friend who gets food stamps. She is a single mother, works part time and goes to school full time. She also gets WIC and housing assist and something for child care. She gets $165.00 a month for food stamps and we figured out about 200.00 with WIC (for formula and baby cereal). She said this is more than enough. Her monthly income in a little less than 800.00. She said it can be done, but as many of you have said it requires a little work: with ads and coupons. She has two months left of school and is thankful for the programs she has qualified for. It makes her sad to that some people abuse the system.. it only takes one bad apple to sour the whole batch.