Food stamps blues

**pkellyc** · 12-15-2006, 09:01 PM

I have fed a family of 4 on less than what she claims to have had. Never have we gone hungry. I still don't buy chips or frozen pizza and I still could feed all 4 of us as adults on $189.00 a month not in 1994 but now in 2006.

**ewokgirl** · 12-15-2006, 11:50 PM

Seems a little ungrateful to complain about $189 (1994 dollars, no less!) in free food. That seems like a perfectly do-able amount to go on, and that's speaking from 2006. Sounds like the woman in the story only had 3 mouths to feed. She complains that all the food has to be prepared. Well, um, yeah. That's what people do when trying to save money. It's all the pre-cooked and processed stuff that costs so much! Get over it! While I can see how it could be hard to deny your kids what every other kid has, there are times when you just have to suck it up and deal. You can either feel ashamed that you don't have all the name-brand junk food, or you can feel proud of the delicious homemade snacks you make. It's all about attitude.

That does seem a shame, though, that the food stamps didn't cover all household necessities, such as toilet paper. Our church has been helping to stock the shelves of the local food pantry, and I know that TP, paper towels, and napkins were things they were desperately in need of. I guess that helps explain why.

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 12-16-2006, 07:04 PM

That is obnoxious. Someone is *giving* ya $189 for food...for doing nothing? People whine so much these days... It's not the government's job to feed us.

We have friends who are on WIC (she is pregnant and has 2 daughters). They get more milk, cheese, cereal, etc. than they can eat in a month...that's feeding her husband and their frequent guests, too! You can make over $40,000 a year here in AK and qualify for WIC with 2 or more kids. I know...we know 2 families that are currently in those positions and receive from that program. They could get by without it but they use it anyway (which, I admit, makes me have a bit less respect for them...for anyone using a program they could easily get by without).

I don't like the hand-out programs. It used to be that churches would fill in the "gap" between paychecks if someone was hurt or too sick to work. Now people expect it...like it's their right...and straight from Uncle Sam!

Kinda makes me sad to see what much of society has come to.

**Bargainmomtoo** · 12-17-2006, 01:29 PM

I have to hold myself in check on these things, too.

A family member recently went through a rough time -- hospitalization, separating from h, etc. and is now receiving food stamps. She gets almost $400 a month for 3 people. She also has gone back to work, p-t, but makes $55 / hr.!! Her finances are so messed up though, she'll probably be filing for bankruptcy again. There are so many problems with this situation.

Anyway, the other night we were given a couple of boxes of food. Our business has been slow lately (self-employed). We haven't asked for help, but our church leaders are aware of our situation, and have told us to ask for help if we need it. Well, we got this food and there were some things that we don't eat (prepacked stuff), so I offered this family member to come and get what they would like. As I was offering, I remembered the food stamps, but I went ahead and still offered. I had mixed feelings.

We struggle, and try not to take handouts, but want to be sympathetic and helpful to this family member. It's such a tough stituation sometimes.

**littlemotherhaywood** · 12-18-2006, 01:09 PM

It's an interesting perspective from all sides. I liked hearing all of the different views. As a child I know we were on food stamps and honestly, if my mother hadn't had her "habits" we could have gotten by without them. In any case, I remember being the kid that wanted the soda or chips and being in awe that we could buy them with food stamps. It's funny now that I'm an adult I could take it or leave it. I rarely buy chips or soda. If I do it's usually an off brand and I have a certain amount I won't go over. I just don't find any value in those items and my kids don't seem to make a big deal about it. If the people have a genuine need and they're making wise choices I don't begrudge them small treats once in a while. If I had to get by with $189 a month for groceries I could and there would still be room for a few small treats. You know, my kids appreciate the treats I make a lot more than any treats they can get at the store. Fiction or not, that story seems to be written from the poorest perspective imo. It had a very "poor me" vibe and those are the people that really bug me. We've all created our own situations. I realize some things are just beyond our control, but how we handle what happens to us is really on our shoulders. It would seem the fictional character could have made better choices and she could have changed her attitude and her outlook and I'll bet her circumstances would have changed as well.