I was reading an article in the newspaper today about a store in Chicago that opens at midnight, so the customers can get in to buy groceries for the "new" month, since their foodstamps don't cover the full month. I went on to read the article...... the one woman depicted was a single mom with a one year old and a three year old, who gets $312 a month. Wouldn't she also get WIC??? Where is the kids' father??? Did she ever even marry the man??? I know, I know, none of my business really, but, when these people are relying on tax payers' to pay their food bills, I think it becomes my business. Another person depicted had a 2 or 3 year old, and a 14 year old. She got $288. These people are saying it doesn't cover the month.

Well, Food Stamps were not meant to cover your entire food bill. Also, I think that is a pretty decent amount, and even without couponing, I could do it.

What is your take on this??? I know a hot button issue, but, it really peaves me!!!

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

I'm with you. I think for those that need food stamps, it's fine but I guess my definition of needs and other peoples would be very different. I feel doing without everything you want doesn't constitute a need for food stamps. I think some people truly need them, others abuse the system. JMO.

I think it's a little weird that grocery stores would open at midnight to *help* people who need to wait until the "new" month to make purchases...doesn't that mean they'll have the same problem at the end of the following month - running out of food stamps? Seems like a way to perpetuate a vicious cycle. Sounds like a store that is making a profit based on the weaknesses of others...

We're a family of five - we can easily make grocery ends meet on $75 per week ($300 per month), and that's with 2 adults. I'm figuring that the lady with the infants could feed her kids and herself for way less than that if she tried. Even if she fed them the freshest organic produce and bought a good deal of "convenience" food for herself, I think it would be EASY to stick to the limit of $312 a month.

No matter what, though, issues like these open up cans of worms...there are lots of people who feel that they are entitled to the assistance, and that the assistance should come with no strings attached. In other words, we're not supposed to have an opinion on what should or should not be purchased with those food stamps that our taxes help fund.

I am with you all the way! I get very mad when I am in line at the grocery store, with my coupons and sale ads, trying to save every penny on shopping and the people who abuse the system are in line in front of me with a carriage full of junk food and not using coupons. I remember one time there was a woman in ftont of me with her nails done, jewerly on every inch of her, designer purse etc. paying for the bill with food stamps. Then i saw her getting into her new SUV! I was needless to say irate! DH and I both work full time, and scrap to make ends meet!
I so support people who really need the help, but these people who abuse it really have some nerve!

Wanted to go back and add this point, myself. You said it best!

There are plenty of families who need this assistance. I am sure we can all agree that things happen and people may need to use food stamps to get them through a crisis.

My problem is when a family depends on this for years and years...and then their children depend on it, and it goes on from there.

It's a can of worms alright....and just keeps getting uglier.

Just some quick math on my part...assuming for the mom with a one year old and a three year old...

I use four gallons of milk a week for four kids (me and DH don't drink it) so I would half that and say two a week. that is ten a month. I pay $4.35 a gallon. That alone is $43.50 per month.

Formula is quite expensive, if the baby is just one year it would be getting off of that.

I can see where it would get over quite quick...

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She wouldn't have to use her food stamps for milk and formula, she would have WIC, probably about 6-8 gallons a month of milk and formula until the baby was one, if she was not nursing. WIC would also give her about 10 bottles bottles or frozen cans of juice a month, probably four boxes of cereal, eggs, beans, cheese, etc.

So food stamps would be IN ADDITION to all that.

JUST REMEMBER WHICH PARTY PROMOTES AND SUPPORTS THESE TYPE OF ENABLING PROGRAMS WHEN YOU GO TO THE POLLS.

I am sure this thread is going to get ugly.

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Raising my baby RIGHT!!!!!!

All the cool babies are wearing cloth!

I think there is a program that supplies formula and some other items for babies called WIC. But, actually, it really doesn't matter to me if someone is on welfare or food stamps or how they spend their allotment. It's like I always give to strangers because I can't judge where they have been and there for the grace of God, go I.

We have been blessed so far in our lives to not need foodstamps or welfare though there was a time when I thought we might have to and instead of being happy that there was a program that would allow me to feed my four children, I was worried that I would be judged about what I bought, when I bought it, how long I had recieved welfare, etc. We didn't have to have foodstamps after all as my husband did not lose his job during the last big recession and I didn't have to worry about the judging people inspecting things in my cart, looking at my purse, judging what my kids were wearing or what they got for Christmas.

I don't worry myself about things like who is buying what where, and though I know it is my taxes that pay for those people who may cheat the system, I am more worried about my tax dollars being spent on things that don't support Americans who are struggling, the war instead of education, etc.....Things that really make a difference to me.

But this is my opinion and your mileage may vary.

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I think when people apply for assistance they should also have to take a budgeting course.

I am very fortunate that I do not have to watch very carefully how much I spend at the grocery store. I have been known to go and spend $350.00 one week to go back and spend another 150.00- 200.00 the next week. Not because I am out of food. I meal plan but I like to have alot of food in my house. I think this stems from not having much when I grew up. If that makes sense. Anyways. I use coupons and I watch sales. But there are alot of people who just don't know how to do that. I actually think I myself would have a very hard time going from what I spend down to a set amount. Could I do it? Yes, but I would need help learning how to cut down that much.

Also I don't judge people who are on assistance by what they drive or what they wear. I don't know anything about those people. They may have been well off at some point and bought those things before and something happened in their lives to put them in the position they are in now. Maybe they were lucky enough to be able to keep their things. I don't know. I agree that those who abuse the system should be punished. Maybe they should audit peoples spending every so often.

I think 312 dollars is not enough money to eat for an entire month. Maybe it depeds on where you live, but for a family of 3 we spend easily 500 to 600 a month on groceries.

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Usnamom, very well said.

More than that, it was very thoughtful.

In my opinion, it comes down to this...in this country we should be able to, at the very least, see that people aren't hungry. This is done by a government program that provides a way to get food to hungry people. If this isn't working, perhaps our energies should be spent on finding a way to help make it work. We are a country of creative minds that, I'd like to believe, could find a solution to almost any problem. I think the key is to stop pointing fingers and honestly ask ourselves if there is something we can do to help. The program we have now is far, far from perfect, but it is what we have, and, to an extent, it seems to get food to people who may otherwise be hungry. I think we could probably do better, the question is, how?

I totally agree.

To paraphrase another poster: JUST REMEMBER WHICH PARTY SUPPORTS WAR INSTEAD OF EDUCATION WHEN YOU GO TO THE POLLS.

Vote blue

I have clients who are old and cant get food stamps and really need them. I had one fellow that I bought groceries for for along time cause he made 3.00 to much a month to get food stamps .he was the one who i found mixing cheap canned dog food with hamburger meat to make it go further. but then I see people in the grocery store dressed to the nines, using food stamp cards. getting tons of name brand stuff when they could make it go further if they got store brands like alot of us do. I believe that if the gov.is going to provide them to these folks, they should give them a class on how to make them go further and stretch like alot of us do to make them last. you dont have to eat steak 2-3 times a week. hamburger will last lots longer and you can make lots more things outa it than a 10.00 steak.

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Everything you stated is what I was thinking. Well put.

Where I work, people on medicaid have a $3 copay for their medicine if they are over 18 and no copay for the children. I cannot count the number of times that the person says they cannot pay that copay or if a medicine is not covered that is otc and maybe around $4.99, the parents say no they will not pay for it. Then when I walk up front to do something, the same family that didn't want to pay for their medicine or child's medicine is buying a pack of cigarettes or bottles of pop that are at least over a $1. I don't even buy bottles of pop like that b/c it is too expensive IMO. Ok, my rant is over.

I saw that same article in the newspaper. There was a photo attached of a single mom with a young toddler in the cart. On top of the groceries was a huge bag of NAME BRAND charcoal. I can't even afford STORE BRAND charcoal cause it easily adds more money to the bill. I don't even know if you can buy charcoal with food stamps, either.

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I agree that if you get foodstamps, you should have to do some sort of budgeting class. I could easily feed my family of 4 (2 adults and 2 kids) on $300 or a month. Is milk expensive? Sure but my in-laws didn't have a lot of money when my DH was little and they used powered milk more often than regular milk because it's a lot cheaper. They watered down their juices and drank a lot of water. My DH is 6'4" so not having real milk often didn't stunt his growth. I don't think most people know how to make their money work for them. They buy based on impulse or how easy it is to make. Most "easy" foods (ie: boxed or ready made frozen) are not the best way to stretch your dollar and those are the types of foods I often see in carts of people ahead of me who use food stamps. I just think a lot of people in general were never taught *how* to shop. That is the one gift I can never think my mother enough for and one I hope my children learn well

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

Yes, exactly, so how can a person NOT be aggitated by this??? Of course I care about things like the war (as stated above) but, honestly, WHAT do you think you can do about that?? Different issues for different folks, I guess. I donate to the food bank when I can, and when I do, I wonder......am I truly helping someone, or enabling them to stay in the same boat?? Budgeting classes would be great, and restricting them from buying certain foods with their food stamps. I think many people don't want to sacrifice. I've had powdered milk........and prefer the stuff in the bottle, but, you better believe if things got really tight and I needed to buy powdered, I'd darn sure do it. Those of us not on foodstamps are tightening our belts as food prices rise, why shouldn't we expect the same of those on food stamps??? Just because they get food stamps doesn't mean those of us not on food stamps have an endless food budget.

Education I believe is the key. I think it would be wonderful to see a grass roots mentoring campaign taking a welfare/food stamps recipient under a person's wing and mentoring them to show them how to stretch their money/food stamps, and possibly even get off of public aide. Just my little pipe dream.......

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

I agree with usnamom, Keowa and sewhandy.

You haven't walked a mile in their shoes, therefore you don't know what brought them to their current circumstances. And, yes, the system is really screwed up. Or, at least it was when I was on foodstamps 20+ years ago. Yes, I was a stupid teenage from a disfunctional family who ended up an unwed mother at 17. Not everyone is afforded the same opportunities in life. We didn't all grow up in the same happy home, raised by the same loving parents. Who would you be today if you were raised under the same circumstances they were raised? In the same neighborhood they were raised? If you were raised by their parents, with the same values (good or bad) they were taught? When I worked at this dept. store in Bloomington (IN) in 1994/95, I would see families come in the store to steal. Mom and Dad with their 2 small children (3-6yr olds). Who are those children today? Are they using the values their parents taught them? Hopefully they learned better vaules from someone else in their route through life.

20+ years ago, as a HS drop-out 17-yr old unwed mother of a 5-mo old, on assistance (if I remember correctly) I received $170 AFDC (wellfare) and around in $300 foodstamps (I think). It was very hard to find a decent place to live for $170 a month, especially one that included utilities. And since I had no car and couldn't afford a telephone, it made it very difficult to get a job. (And, yes, I tried!) I ended up doing odd jobs that paid cash (babysitting, painting motel rooms) but any income I reported would be taken out of my next AFDC check, which I needed for rent. So, how do you get ahead like that? I felt trapped. $300 a month in foodstamps was a lot back then! I could afford to routinely buy pretty much whatever I wanted to eat. (steak, shrimp, etc.) I don't ever remember running out of food. With food stamps, I could buy all the soda, ice cream, cake, candy and chips my heart desired. But, I could not buy vitamins, soap, toothpaste, toiletpaper, sanitary pads, or any other necessity. That was the screwed up part! Thankfully, back then soda came in the refundable glass bottles (6pk? 8pk?) and I would return the bottles for cash. (That added a few bucks each month.)

I hate to say that I regret the hardships in my life. Because, although I hated when I was going through them, they are what has made me the person I am today. (strong, caring, considerate, opend-minded, integrity) And, I'm happy with that.

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When I was young, I remember having food stamps & my mom scrimping and saving to make the meager amount stretch as far as it could...

Now I have students who bring in name brand goodies, and brag how food stamps bought them (a week or two later- they come in hungry and say they have nothing at their house to eat). I feel so bad for them, and at the same time hope they break the cycle. The other day I was at wal mart and the lady in front of me had 2 birthday cakes, and a ton of various junk food that she used food stamps to buy. I am all for her child having a birthday party, but come on. She could have budgeted better than that!

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AKA: Airbornearmywife

I'm glad you wrote about your perspective. It reminds me of what is RIGHT with the system.

There is a lot of abuse of the food stamp system (as many of the above examples from different posters point out), and there are a lot of kinks in the system (as you pointed out...no toilet paper/sanitary supplies/toothpaste!!). But if the system generally works for the people who need it most, then I, personally feel less judgemental about it.

I really am grateful that you shared what you did. It meant a lot.

Can any low income child under 5 years old get wic or just the ones with low iron? Years ago they did blood test and if the iron was high enough they didn't get wic.

Sorry, but I disagree. If you have been "well off at some point" and have fallen on hard times, I don't think you should be able to keep your fancy cars, expensive jewelry, designer clothes, etc. during the "hard times" while the taxpayers pick up your slack: sell some of your stuff and pay your own way.

I don't know, but, you may be able to find some information here:

About WIC

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

The point I was trying to make is that the people in the article are complaining that it isn't enough money. Well, where do we draw the line?? No, I have not walked in "their" shoes, but, you don't know where my shoes have been. Because these people can't or won't make good food choices and budgeting choices, should we throw even more money their way at the expense of those who do make good food and budgeting choices? And how about the whole single mother thing?? Since when did it become someone's right to have children and expect the rest of the country to pay to raise them? When is it enough??

As far as not being able to buy tp, soap, and toothpaste, no, of course not, they are FOOD stamps. Is a non food an essential??? Not really. Nice to have, of course, but, you won't starve to death if you don't have tp.

I think what it really boils down to for me is people not taking responsibility and expecting others to cover for them (not referring to ALL people, of course).

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

OT:

Allinaugust, I love your siggy!!!!!
Everytime I read it, I love it more and more!

usnamom, it won't let me give you more rep.

Frankly, I assume that MAYBE 12 cents of my taxes go toward food stamps. If I can't afford that for someone else, then I have problems. Seriously, I can't believe how much people complain about this - as if they're paying out thousands from their pocket every year for food stamps. Only 9% of the entire federal tax budget went to social programs. If you REALLY think you're paying big bucks for someone else to eat, well, really, get real. Most of your money is going to defense, social security, health care (which I'm sure some of the same people b!tching about food stams probably hate helping [even minutely] out with cause goodness knows we shouldn't help those in need), and the rest goes to "other".

Yes, I'm caustic in my reply but I'm just so sick of folks complaining as though they're really paying big bucks for this. Get a grip.

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I don't consider this with JUST foodstamps, but with any program.

It seems like some folks completely abuse any government system that they can get their hands on, while some that are truly struggling and trying to make it for all their worth - can't.

Whether we put in 9 cents or 900 dollars - what difference does it make? Wrong is still wrong.

Too many people have a sense of entitlement - they're due X amount of handout just because. Until the majority gets tired of this type of thing instead of poo-poo'ing it, it'll just continue.

Not a good state for our future generations.

I was from a family on foodstamps. Do you think MY Mother cleared out half the snack food/junk food aisles when she went shopping? Absolutely NOT. If she wanted us to have some kind of a treat/dessert, she'd buy a cheap store brand of cake mix/frosting and make some cupcakes. That's about it. The only brand name thing she bought was Miracle Whip because I think back in the 70's - early 80's they had no competition. She used it to make a type of baked chicken a couple times a week.

I remember what my Mom did on foodstamps and she MADE it work until the end of the month. Why can't everyone else? Can't? Or won't?

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I have always budgeted and couponed, but when DD was born, she had a digestive problem and she needed Alumentum, it cost me over $100 a WEEK just for formula! I did not expect that expense for a whole year, that killed the food budget, even after trying to trade for checks and buying it on sale. I used the WIC program just for that mainly, but it came with the other things, cereal, cheese, etc. We only ended up using it for about 6 months, but how easy would it have been to keep getting them for milk, and all of the other stuff, it would have saved a bundle! No one checked, no one bothered, they have too many other important things to worry about.


I think like everything there are people who abuse the system and there always will be. ANd hopefully it helps more people than abuse it.

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"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

Personal Responsiblity seems to be such a buzzword lately. Shall we monitor overweight people by checking their carts, looking at their food, telling them to get their priorities straight? People who have too many children, get a vasectomy because they are using too many resources? To cast the first stone we must be perfect. I know I am not.

Not to argue but I find it hard to believe that the majority of people recieving assistance are having steak dinners, lobster and the expensive cereal topped with out of season fruit on it. I believe that if they could find a way to be self reliant, they would. Not all, but most. But lets look at how that could happen. A woman gets HUD rent for 70, food stamps for 330, an aid check for 400 and health care for her babies. She barely makes ends meet but if she went to work, she would put her baby in day care for 150 a week, her rent would be 500 per month and then try and eek out food. The job she would most likely get would have to be one that is fast food or the service industry because most of the high paying factory jobs no longer exist in America. So minimum wage.....40 hours at 7.00 per hour is about 280 per week minus taxes she now pays she is clearing about 1000 per month. Her rent and her day care aren't covered, much less food. I am not a rocket scientist, but I think the choice is pretty easy. The system is set up that way now. Unless the personal resp. starts at the top, with the PTB seriously wanting change, this will continue the cycle of poverty. We, as a country need to demand that our administration and the PTB accept their Per responsibility and fix what is stopping this country from growing....why we don't have high paying jobs, factories, why kids don't have insurance, why so many kids are undereducated, why we have kids going to bed hungry at night. It may be the real responsiblity of a parent to provide it for their family, but if it isn't available, they can't provide.

It doesn't help to point fingers at those who are in the grocery line. We don't know what brought them to that place. Perhaps the car they get into outside doesn't belong to them or they are living in it because the payment on it is lower than rent. I don't know their story just as they don't know mine. I believe in grass roots, but I also believe that we should hold our leaders responsible for their part in not looking at the situation in our country. Sometimes, you have to take care of your own home before you can clean someone else's home.

Again, my opinion and I am sure that there will be those who don't agree....I see what you are saying and have been saying. Part of being human is compassion. Compassion for those who might be less fortunate than ourselves. I have quite a houseful of kids and I taught them that it is their Personal Responiblity to not judge someone until you walk a mile in their shoes, and try and understand what their story is.

YMMV

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Well yes this mom would get wic & should have no problems IMO I mean it states she goes 2 weeks with no money for food & has to make do with whatever?? Maybe they should have cooking classes & things for those on foodstamps because I see alot of it working in a grocery store the first of the month they come in & fill 2 carts with expensive foods around here at least maybe if they did more scratch items they could stretch it farther & yes I agree its not my problem to pay for thier food if they are capable of working sometimes they may have real mental problems though who knows

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mom of 3 greats girls

I thought maybe a weekly amount, instead of a monthly amount....sort of force a person to budget a little better that way? If you only have to wait a week until the next money comes, it is a bit easier.

I know it's not a perfect thing, but, with all the "help" agencies, I don't understand why so many need so much??? And, as stated above, some of the ones who truly need can't get it.

I saw a segment on the news the other night that said how far we could help, if every time we went grocery shopping we bought just ONE extra item, and put it in a box. When the box is full, take it to a shelter, or some kind of food pantry. I think gov't is just too big to adequately address this issue. Grass roots is the way to go, IMO.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

Which one, top or bottom??

I try to live by them both

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

So, the party with a heart is one we are supposed to be voting against? Please, if wanting to take care of those really in true desperate need, while letting a few "cheaters" get through in the process (those type of people will cheat at every opportunity--irregardless of who or what party is "in charge") makes me a bleeding heart liberal on the wrong side of the fence, just pass me some tourniquets and point me to the ballot box!

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Have the courage to be yourself.

I know there are problems with the system , but I for one would never want to pass judgement on someone receiving assistance. At least the kids are eating. Goverment waste too much money in other areas , crazy retirement amts . for the fat cats, etc., than to try and get rid of a program that actually puts food on peoples tables. For all we know the kids might be doing without if it wasn't for food stamps. I'm also thinking the moms buying the name brand and convenience stuff just doesn't know any better. Not everyone knows how to price match and use coupons. What is that saying? Something like I would rather help someone and find out later that they didn't need it, than to not help them and find out later that they really did.

It's possible to put everything into such shades of grey that we avoid actually thinking about the problem, or how it might be fixed. It's probably better to be judgmental and actually get something achieved than to be so afraid of causing offense that we don't question where our money's going, or whether that's the best use of it.

OT, but, when I was living on a Navy base, I signed up for a week of classes, taught by a nutritionist, on how to cook healthy foods on a budget. At the end of the week, we got a bag full of groceries ! We learned about healthy snacks, good food choices, and made a few tasty meals. I remember one was tuna with apple chunks , and the other a sorta chili on top of cornbread. Anyhow...I think just a simple class like this would help people on FS.

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Live, Love, Laugh

As someone who has gotten FS and Medicaid in the past, we were told its to supplement period not to get you through the whole month. In Va we get a EBT card that works like a debit card and even though you see someone with one of those cards its not necessarily being used to access FS, they load AFDC, General Relief and Child Support onto these cards and you choose which you are accessing FS or the cash benefits. So that person in line in front of you dressed to the nines and driving a new car may just be accessing their child support.

Trust me I have been in line behind those who I know are using FS because I would see them mid-month at the Non-Profit I used to volunteer at looking for food help. I taught a couponing/budgeting class at the non-profit and I had some clients who are getting FS thank me because they didnt know they could use coupons with FS, others well you try to help them, like I have been known to do in line by giving them coupons for their purchase and I get the stupidist statement I have ever heard "Why should I use coupons I get this money for free" Hello you can make that money stretch further with coupons, sales etc. so that when or if you become slef-sufficent you can say look I know how to budget because of coupons and can pay it forwards. Up until DH's raise in 4/07 we got $88 a month in FS and many months I had some left over because of how I shop.

I think they should have mandatory budgeting classes, nutrition classes and a class on stretching your dollar with sales and coupons. I know the non-profit requires it of certain clients to keep getting assistance from them. I know one state was trying to make it mandatory along with Drug testing for any one getting state assistance but it never passed in their "congress" or whatever it is called.

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Originally Posted by ohhgodd
OT:
Allinaugust, I love your siggy!!!!!
Everytime I read it, I love it more and more!

OK, which one of you wisecrackers threw a ball in my yard.

This subject is addressed in the "Tightwad Gazette", as some of you know , I recently re read. It states in there what many have said on this board, that the food stamps are meant to supplement the food bill, not be the food bill. Also, the lifestyle Amy promotes would only use a fraction of the food stamp money people are getting, even by todays standards. She does not think coupons are worth it, because most products are convenience foods, and most people on stamps load up on convenience foods. Maybe if they inveseted in some bulk flour, rice, pasta, bought veggies in season, or better yet, planted a garden and learned to make casseroles and home made breakfasts, like oatmeal and muffins and pancakes instead of buying frozen french toast sticks, they could stretch that dollar pretty far.

Maybe the reason their food stamps aren't lasting until the end of the month is because they've been using them to buy food for someone else in exchange for "non essentials", like "tp". Maybe they feel they've offended so many tax payers already by receiving food stamps, that they don't want to offend anyone else by stinking up the grocery check-out lane with their unwiped behind. I don't know, I haven't walked in their shoes. But I, as a tax payer, would rather pay for their tp, toothpaste and soap than their candy, cookies, and chips! That was the point I was trying to make about the screwed up system.

And, as far as the whole single mother thing.... I'm sure you've heard the expression, "Babies having babies". Even when legally considered an adult at age 18, many teenagers are still immature and irresponsible. Sh!t happens! The seed has been planted. What do you suggest be done about the unplanned child about to be brought into this troubled world? Abort it? Put it up for adoption? Do you have any idea how many unwanted and orphaned children in the US never get adopted? (Isn't that supposedly why adopting a chinese baby girl is so popular now?) Do you know how much harder it is for the undesirable children to get adopted? The children which obesity runs in their family, bi-racial children, children born of drug addicted mothers? Yes, I'm sure there are some women on welfare who pop out babies left and right just to get more money. But, for the greater majority of them, I believe welfare was the last thing on their mind when the seed was planted. Personally, I grew up in a disfunctional family (alcoholic a-hole father) and truely felt unloved. And, when I was 16 and my 25-yr old boyfriend told me he loved me, I believed him. Hence, I said, "I was a stupid teenager". I can't speak for other unwed mothers, I haven't walked in their shoes. All I know it that my DS was the only thing that kept me alive when I was young. I believe I would've taken my life if not for him. And, that's why I believe he was part of God's plan for me. And, no matter how hard a life I may have had, I know there are people out there that have had it much worse. God bless them! My father is still an alcoholic a-hole, but my family (mother & siblings) and I have become extremely close over the past 20yrs.

I do agree that food stamp recipients should be required to take a class/course on nutrition/shopping/budgeting. And, I assure you, if the government stops taking your money to pay for welfare assistance programs, they'll find another reason to get their hands on it. That's a promise!

Sorry to be so crass, no hard feelings.

.

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No outfit is complete without cat hairs!

~~~MsMiser

I remember being stuck on food stamps when I was 18.Husband left me for another girl 1 month after baby was born.Ya,I was stupid for trusting him and marrying him and letting everyone talk me into marrying him.I had noone to help me with anything.My car died.The nearest store was a convenience store so I had to use my foodstamps there to buy food because any other store was too far a walking distance and with ADC your lucky if you can afford the poorest apt in the worst part of town,So walking 2 hours to a store in a bad part of town with an infant in your arms was not an option.The ADC check covered rent and that was all.I was fortunate that the convenient store was an Arab store that would buy foodstamps or I would have had no money to buy anything.I was a very light eater so I could usually make my foodstamps last despite what I traded for cash.But I could not afford to buy a Sunday paper for a few coupons ,nor money for a bus or taxi to grocery shopping at a real store.Its not easy starting out,especially if you have absolutelty noone to help you in anyway.The worst part was doing all the washing in a bathtub by hand.My hands were nothing but blisters from wringing out diapers and clothes everyday.I went off Welfare as soon my son was able to go to school.I rode my bycicle to and from work. Its not so easy as everyone thinks it is.Being on welfare was the last thing I ever had on my mind.
My parents paid taxes all their lives into the system so I feel I was covered for the time I had to be on welfare.Myself, I have no problems with anyone being on welfare and foodstamps for any reason.

My So gets $162 foodstamps a month and that is all he gets in any way of assitance. Trust me ti does not feed the 3 of us in our houshold but using smart deals and my coupons it does cover quite a bit of it. Right now the problem is I am not getting good deals on meat.

A budgeting class would be helpful but the one I just took did not cover coupons at all!!! Worse yet when I found out about the program I offered to teach a class for free and was not taken up on the offer. Let me say this was not thru the government, it was a church.

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Laura
Please visit my blog
http://mylifeinlaurasworld.blogspot.com/

A typical Democrat response..try to SHAME people into doing what you think is worthy or right.

I do not think government is the answer. Taking away from others to give to someone else. You do not realize the problems others may have that you are taking money away from.

I do think organizations that want to help should be able to and people can chose freely to give to those organizations. Your money (resources) would be better used. Once the "big" federal government becomes involved it is always mishandled.

I try very hard not to judge... We've paid our taxes, are honest and upright citizens but, if we were scraping the bottom of the barrel, who knows what we'd resort to. It is nice to have the system in place and we'd never abuse it.

I have to say though; even if the food stamp system was revamped and tightened up as some of you have suggested, there would always be someone who would figure out how to abuse the new system... in all honesty, some people make scamming other people and the government their livelihood instead of going out and getting a *real* job. But at the same time, many people who faithfully look for work can't get a job! It's a vicious cycle during recession times.

As others have stated, it's the *abuse* of the system that is bothersome.

Just my opinion for what it's worth...

OMG THANK YOU FOR THAT!!!!!!! The only one that can judge us is God....no matter where my tax dollars are going.

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Shauna

Yes, usnamom's posts have been very well stated.


NOTE: "John Bradford (1510 - 1555) was a prebendary of St. Paul's. He was an English Reformer and martyr best remembered for his utterance, "'There but for the grace of God, goes John Bradford." The words were uttered by Bradford while imprisoned in the Tower of London, when he saw a criminal going to execution for his crimes." ~Wikipedia

[quote=MsMiser;2995207]I agree with usnamom, Keowa and sewhandy.

You haven't walked a mile in their shoes, therefore you don't know what brought them to their current circumstances. And, yes, the system is really screwed up. Or, at least it was when I was on foodstamps 20+ years ago. Yes, I was a stupid teenage from a disfunctional family who ended up an unwed mother at 17. Not everyone is afforded the same opportunities in life. We didn't all grow up in the same happy home, raised by the same loving parents. Who would you be today if you were raised under the same circumstances they were raised? In the same neighborhood they were raised? If you were raised by their parents, with the same values (good or bad) they were taught?

Thank you for this as well! That's exactly why we should stay out of others business and worry about ourselves. Life is so short so why get yourself all in a huffy over others??

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Shauna

People can be "concerned" at misuse of a system, without being "huffy". People can also be concerned and compassionate at the same time. All of those are not exclusive emotions.

That being said, don't these programs involve all of us in one way or another, either by paying into them or using them? Doesn't that sort of make it everyone's business when there is abuse of some sort? People pay taxes for schools - does anyone expect to be told "You pay taxes for education, but it's none of your business how our teachers's teach." That would go over like a lead balloon!

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What I'm saying is that it's none of our business what kind of purse someone is carrying and why someone on food stamps nails are done. Who cares it's not our business. For all any of us know, its a FAKE bag they bought for $20 and their friend or family does their nails for free. It's all so meaningless for any of us to worry about.

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Shauna

I find it funny how so many are saying "who are we to judge???" and yet, they do that very same thing in other posts. I don't get that.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

I think that there's going to be a lot more people applying for food stamps now as they watch all their money going into the gas tank. And I also think that food stamp eligibility requirements should be adjusted so that more working people can receive them(for now), so at least they can eat after paying for gas.

Up 17 cents in the last 2 weeks. Unreal isn't it....

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Shauna

I read the same article on Saturday at my parents house.

The part that made the most sense to me was where the DSHS employee stated that it was meant to be a "supplemental fund" - not supply the entire amount of food for the entire month.

We have only gotten food stamps twice.

One time was when we were living with DH's dad and about 12 other people when we were first married and had a young child. We got them for one month.

The second time was after that huge storm that hit the Northwest in December. We lost power for 101 hours. And lost absolutely everything in our deep freeze and refrigerator.

We were told that everyone in the county could go to the DSHS office and get a one time only food stamp (EBT) card to make up for the food lost. I think at least 50% of the county did so.

I felt guilty at first, but I just figured it is my past tax dollars that paid for all of it.

Those are good situations - situations where people are truly in need.

I will never be able to figure out why there are not regulations for Welfare or food benefits. There should be a maximum amount of years/months that a person can be on them, along with massive job training and free daycare during the training if need be.

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"Yesterday my life was duller, now everything's technicolor!"

i wasnt going to put my 2 cents in but being someone that has been there i will.
My husband worked for his dad for 15 yrs as a subcontractor for electrical/heating and air.some weeks not making any money but then some weeks bring in as much as 1500 depending on the job etc.
now thinking his dad was going to retire and my husband was going to tak eover the business and make more money he never went to school to become certified. well a little over a month ago his dad up and retires closes all accounts and shuts down business not even a word to my husband he is going ot do this(many people are shocked this happenewd but they have never had a father son relationship just work)anyways. my husband was out of work for 1month we applied for unemployment but because he was self employed through his dad they had to do an investigation to be sure he truely was unemployed.during this time my husband of course looked for work.got to be where he looked anywhere even to jobs that wouldnt pay near enough but just to at least pay our bills that were fast approaching.3 weeks go by and we finnaly get a letter in the mail from unemployment stating he would get 255.00 a week until he found a job ,but by then we of course found one.so he was unemployed for close to 4 wks but because he wasnt unemployed for the time period of one week after they submitted the information not from the time he applied but from the time they finally filed paperwork he wont get anything.ive said all this to get to here.because the system is so screwed up many people have (unlike my husband) decide not to get jobs cause if they do they get penalized for doing so.why go out and look for a job why not sit at hiome on your a** for a few weeks to get a check you deserve.No back pay for the time you were unemployed not even half payment.they (the government ) make people want to be unemployed.i too get frustrated by seeing people with thier new cars and sy=uch i dont have a new car but bought mine used my kids wear name brand clothes but i buy them on clearance.ive got brand name clothes same thing clearance i use coupons etc so what some people seem like they are saying because someone has had to go to the system becasue of hard times they should sell all thier belongings and wear rags heck ive seen jeans at walmart cost as much as the ecko jeans my son wears i paid 15.00 for them they cost that much for wranglers at walmart.dont judge me or anyone else by what they wear judge me for the person i am for what ive learned and my compassion for my fellow human.i happy you havent fallen on hard times great for you but i pray you never will cause that is the worst feeling in the world when your child is used to living one way then you have to start living completely different because you get screwed by your boss or in our case my childrens grand parents.so before you lump every person into one catogory rememebr we are individuals and there may be someting you do that they dont like either.

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i'M THE TYPE

OF GIRL WHO WILL BUST OUT

LAUGHING ABOUT SOMETHING

THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY

A family of 5 eating on 75 bucks a week?!?! That doesn't even make sense to me how anyone can do that. It cost my husband and i just for a few things for the week that we need and this isn't even dinners 165 for a family of 6. I buy sale items mostly. I really don't see how a family spends only 75 bucks a week on grocerys.

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SAHM of Bailey 12, Tyler 10 , Emily Ann 6, and Ryan Matthew 4 yrs old.

Oh PUHLEASE. If I were trying to shame people, I'd have mentioned that this whole damn thread throws the whole WWJD bull right out the window. This has nothing to do w me being a democrat sweetheart. It has to do w/ me having compassion. Try it one day.

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"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? " ~Epicurus

Okay Pandora!!! LOL -JK

Ignorance has a play in a lot of things that upset people. I am not saying that everyone on FS is ignorant however obviously somone who spends over $300 a month should have enough food to last the month. I bet a lot of them are buying convenience foods. And I know that many of them think they deserve "treats" for themselves and their children not realizing that it would be a better treat to give them good wholesome food and feed them all month.

I also see that many people (even those who are not or ever will be on FS) have no idea how to make a list, shop, cook, plan meals, etc.

I think the welfare office should require people to take a cooking, shopping and nutrition class. It can only benefit them and us in the long run. Maybe they have volunteers come in. I would be happy to "mentor" a young mom who wants to learn to budget, cook, etc.

And I have to agree about having a different way of doing this. People who are paying their whole checks for rent, gas, utilities, how are they going to buy toilet paper, etc?

I don't think we should give people an unlimited free ride however we must keep a compassionate way to help people down on their luck.

On a bigger note if the damn govt really cared about the health of us and our children they would ban HFCS from foods. They would ban all the crap that is making people sick and when we went to the store you could really trust what you are buying.
At the very least they should be warning people that the breakfast cereals, pasta sauces, cheap bread, sugar and fat laden snacks should not be eaten. The food companies have too much power and money. And these days it's not a bunch of little food companies it's four or five corporations that own all the food.
If we want to solve these problem we have to work together.
Maybe you could anonymously send them a copy of "You On A Diet" or some other book that explains how the food you eat affects your body and mind.
Maybe you could write up a meal plan and shopping list and say this is an example.
I once saw a young mother in the store and we were going through the aisles so I kept seeing her. She was looking over her list on each aisle and the baby was crying. I suggested that she make her shopping list in sections and showed her mine with labels Dairy, Frozen, Package, Frutit &Veggies, etc. She was dumbfounded. "Why didn't I think of that".
Sometimes just pointing something out helps a lot.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I don't see that it would be that hard to feed a family of 5 for $75 a week, if you "know" how to shop(coupons,sales). I could probably feed that family of 5 for $30-$60 If I planned properly, And I know that some of you gals here could pull it off too

question/.......................

why is it that it seems everyone is so "concerned" about the welfare of world.and saving whales and the poor polar bears and you shouldnt fight dogs or feed the children of africa.(not that all these things arent important) but what about the child in your town that is going to bed hungry or doesnt have a bed to go to?
before america can "save the world" we need to save ourselves.just my thoughts.

__________________
i'M THE TYPE

OF GIRL WHO WILL BUST OUT

LAUGHING ABOUT SOMETHING

THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY