Food stamps and still hungry - Page 3

Cookie2 · 05-07-2008, 10:51 PM

What really ticks me off about the article is the timing. The Farm Bill for the Department of Agriculture, which is what funds food stamps, was just passed. Instead of raising the amount of money people receive - above the cost of living increase - it changed the poverty level limits so more families qualified.

Yes, food prices are going up - for all of us.

taylyn · 05-07-2008, 11:19 PM

Yes Food Prices Are going up for all of us.. You are right, We all have to Figure out what to do.

I Know ALot Of People Are thankful and Make Food stamps Work ,
I Have seen My Share Of those people as well.

I Guess I Think That anyone who actually gets a Set Amount Of Money for groceries every Month is Pretty Darn Lucky.
At Least they can Plan and Work with what they Have.
Now How Many Of us Here have had to Steal from the grocery Money , in order to Pay another Bill ??
You Made it work right?

I can remember those 40 Bucks For groceries Weeks.

Not Fun , Not easy, But its Food , You Really Can Eat Less and survive. I was thankful I Actually had some money.

bhcassidyjj · 05-08-2008, 01:13 AM

I have a family of 4 and my husband just began working again after being laid off for four months. We were receiving unemployment, but after paying all our bills (no splurges-rent, utilities, car notes, etc.) we were left with just over $100/month for groceries, household items, AND gas. We got by, you just have to learn to live within your means.

I truly believe that there are people who need the assistance and do not take advantage of the system. But I still am in favor of LOWERING the benefits and putting the extra money towards mandatory classes to teach these families how to stretch things further. Classes teaching people how to cook from scratch or to shop smarter would be a better investment b/c its something that is more likely to help them get off food stamps and keep them off. I'm not saying everyone who gets aid is wasteful, but I do think that many are naive as to how to grocery shop and cook in a more economical way. And its just human nature to not be as frugal with money you didn't have to work for.

desertmom · 05-08-2008, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hsue12

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 think this is a good idea. Heck, I need one of those! However, after my mom was dx'd w/diabetes, a nutritionist came out and gave her classes (yes, more than one) on how to handle her diabetes. She still chooses not to really pay attention. It's the ol' "lead a horse to water" scenario.

It makes me kind of mad because that's my mom she's messing with!

BlueSky · 05-08-2008, 04:30 AM

You know how it is in WIC that you can only buy what it says in the voucher? I think food stamps should be like that too. People should be given of what they can buy using that money. You guys are right some of these people abuse the system and the buy the "name brand" and of course its expensive. Your family can eat fruits (limited amount) frozen veggies, meat, cereal, and other limited things. That's it these people should not go overboard of buying unecessary things like candy, ice cream, magazine etc.. none of that stuff. They should be given a grocery list and the people that works in the store should check to see if they are getting the stuff. You can't cheat the system by doing that. They might not like what they are getting but its food right? I mean some people really need food stamps however these are the people that are incapable of working (medically or anything that hinder them from working) its okay you can depend on the food stamps but some people refuses to work or bring in another income because they rather have the government giving them "free money" to buy their groceries. I mean how about the rest of us who stays home and have our husbands works two or three jobs just to make ends meet? Honestly, food stamps should be distributed wisely. They should be given an "approve grocery list" of what they can buy to feed their family.

Daisymum · 05-08-2008, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satsukirebel

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.

I totally agree!! Although I am sure there are people out there abusing the system, not everybody is.

Amber03 · 05-08-2008, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by liamsmom

I see both sides here. It is sad to see people who are already feeling desperate affected by rising food prices; the example of the Mom trying to feed her family of 4 on $135/month is dispicable. That needs to change.
However, Happymom is right about the maximum payout of $500+ dollars. If you are being a wise shopper, you can feed a family of 4 on that. Maybe your produce isn't always fresh, but frozen is just as good for you and there is nothing wrong with eating clearance meat. This is how many of us normally eat.
For example, the Mom who was going without, so her daughter could eat....I don't understand. They state that she is getting $280/month in food stamps and $65/month from another program that I am assuming is something like WIC. That is enough money to feed one adult and one child, even with diapers and formula (and I say this living in one of the most expensive areas of the country). I just don't get those numbers.....

I didn't understand either we were getting 276 a month and WIC for three kids and two adults and eating pretty well. We bought some food with our own money but we never went hungry. I am thinking how much does a four month old eat. My almost 7 moth old eats cereal two times a day and a jar (size 2) for lunch. I am wondering if that is a misprint or something it doesn't seem right. Furthermore food stamps aren't meant to cover all or your food costs but to help with them.

Amber03 · 05-08-2008, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by momofezl

If I read correctly, the mom of 4 with $135/month has 4 GROWN children!! Also, I am not trying to be rude, but we are a family of 5 with way less grocery money! And, the mom I am talking about that takes food stamps and volunteers at a soup kitchen - Can't she get a JOB instead of volunteering?? It sure would make sense seeing that she can work; she just chooses to work for no money and get free grocery money from the government.

I was thinking the same thing. Why can't she get a job.

Amber03 · 05-08-2008, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gourdlady06

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.

Not everyone is like this. We got foodstamps and got generic food and we didn't buy lobster and shrimp. We bought very little junk food and mostly stuff for meals. I have been working since I was 15 so I believe I have paid for others to have food stamps so if a time arises where I need them I don't see anything wrong is getting them.

Amber03 · 05-08-2008, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhcassidyjj

I have a family of 4 and my husband just began working again after being laid off for four months. We were receiving unemployment, but after paying all our bills (no splurges-rent, utilities, car notes, etc.) we were left with just over $100/month for groceries, household items, AND gas. We got by, you just have to learn to live within your means.

I truly believe that there are people who need the assistance and do not take advantage of the system. But I still am in favor of LOWERING the benefits and putting the extra money towards mandatory classes to teach these families how to stretch things further. Classes teaching people how to cook from scratch or to shop smarter would be a better investment b/c its something that is more likely to help them get off food stamps and keep them off. I'm not saying everyone who gets aid is wasteful, but I do think that many are naive as to how to grocery shop and cook in a more economical way. And its just human nature to not be as frugal with money you didn't have to work for.

They do have a class to help budget food stamps it is a free program but not mandatory. I started taking it but then I started working and getting less food stamps so I figured I didn't need it anymore. They need to improve it though because one day I was supposed to make something from a recipe. I know how to cook I just wanted to learn how to find the best deals at the store which I new a little about but wanted to learn more. My mom said that it is for people who get 500 dollars and all of it is almost gone by the second week.