Food stamps blues

**Shell** · 12-14-2006, 11:11 PM

http://www.labyris.com/sppfsb1.html

It really makes you think!

**sunshine** · 12-14-2006, 11:35 PM

It raises some valid points-- BUT. . .. some of the things she says just rubs me the wrong way.

Like not buying chips -- I don't buy chips and we're not on food stamps, but we can't afford them anyway. . . and baking bread --- UHM, yeah -- I do that to save money too. What's wrong with them doing that as well?

And I found when I got food stamps -- I had more money for food than I have now. I lived on food stamps for a year ( what she claims the politicians couldn't do) and we did better than we do now, as far as food goes. You have to be able to budget your money -- watch and shop the sales, etc. Not live high for the first week or so, then starve at the end of the month. Maybe if she'd not made the quiche with all that cheese, she'd have had sugar for the oatmeal at the end of the month.

I'm not saying it's easy-- but I've been there, and it's possible -- and I can promise you, I wasn't complaining about it. I was THANKFUL to have the help, glad when I didn't need it any longer. . . and careful no matter what with my food $$$.

**sunshine** · 12-14-2006, 11:37 PM

Sorry-- my post came across more bitter and angry than I'd intended. . . .

**fernykins** · 12-15-2006, 01:10 AM

Well I think its just how you shop.......... I don't buy chips and alot of other things. I know someone who gets over 300 for 2 people.......... She never has anything left at the end of the month........... She buys TV dinners....... She doesn't cook. I feed 6 people on about 400 a month. So if you know how to shop and make ends meet. Thats great
Fern

**jkelstaten** · 12-15-2006, 02:01 AM

Food stamps are just messed up in general. When we lived in Georgia (low living expenses, DH made $10/hr) we qualified for over $300/mo for a family of three. Then we moved to Maryland (extremely high living expenses, Dh made $12/hr) and they said we made too much money.We weren't asking for them 'just because'. We lived off Ramen noodles & Peanut Butter/Jelly (literally) until God blessed him with a new job. When we actually had money to budget for food I spent $250/mo. for a family of 4 and that included sodas, chips, all the junk along with all that we needed to be satisfied health wise. I'm sorry, but if she can't make that money stretch she needs to learn to be more frugal. Not meaning to sound harsh (My mom is a single mom and for many years we lived off food stamps, but we never went hungry) but life is what you make of it. And money is what you make of it.

**malice** · 12-15-2006, 05:29 AM

"I'd like to see them self-righteous folks look into my kids' faces and tell them they can't ever have potato chips, not even once a month like we do, or ice cream, or any of the things they see every day on TV"

She could solve this one easily by just not having cable tv. I got rid of ours years ago, and you'd be amazed at what my dd doesn't even realize she wants until she goes to her dad's for the weekend and sees those %(*&#% commericals!

**favesis37** · 12-15-2006, 07:55 AM

i would give anything for food stamps. i know a family of 6 that gets 500.00 a month and they alwasy run out. man what i could do with 500.00

**nuisance26** · 12-15-2006, 08:19 AM

~Oh boy is this womans additude messed up. The theme of her life is "I don't get enough". "I don't get enough stamps","I don't get enough support","I don't get enough hourly". Gosh, with a 14 year old she should have worked her way up into the $-teens by now, educated or not. What a brat. Complaining her ex shouldn't have kids he can't pay for. WELL NEITHER SHOULD YOU!!! I'd gladly look her in the eye and tell her not to buy chips. If her 14 year old wants them he can get a job. Many people still hire boys for yardwork and errands. Urg.~

**cherrie79** · 12-15-2006, 09:56 AM

Im assuming its a pretty old blog, because she talks about counting out her food stamps, which they haven't done for more then 5 years(everything is on cards like debit cards). Plus she talks about making really good money at 7 or 8 dollars a hour. I don't remember when that was considered good money. Anyways, what I'm trying to say is I hope she has grown up alittle since this was posted. She should be thankful for what she gets. If you are careful with your money, you can make the money she got work. It all depends on what you buy. About Chips... I could go to the SuperMarket and pay $3.00 for a bag of Lays, but if I am wise I would go to Save-A-Lot and spend 79 cents for a bag of off brand chips. Just because it wasn't her money, she should still be wise at how she spends it.

**Amanda W** · 12-15-2006, 11:31 AM

Sunshine, I don't think your post came across as bitter or angry.

**slv_squared** · 12-15-2006, 12:13 PM

Not to be obnoxious or anything...but if you guys click on the homepage link at the bottom of the post, it takes you to a screen where this article is labeled Fiction: Food Stamp Blues.

So I think it's not written bya real person, but a work of fiction to convey the feelings of those on food stamps? Just a thought.
Sandi

**Sari** · 12-15-2006, 12:13 PM

In another part of the website, it says that story is fiction.

**YankeeMom** · 12-15-2006, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by sunshine

It raises some valid points-- BUT. . .. some of the things she says just rubs me the wrong way.

Like not buying chips -- I don't buy chips and we're not on food stamps, but we can't afford them anyway. . . and baking bread --- UHM, yeah -- I do that to save money too. What's wrong with them doing that as well?

And I found when I got food stamps -- I had more money for food than I have now. I lived on food stamps for a year ( what she claims the politicians couldn't do) and we did better than we do now, as far as food goes. You have to be able to budget your money -- watch and shop the sales, etc. Not live high for the first week or so, then starve at the end of the month. Maybe if she'd not made the quiche with all that cheese, she'd have had sugar for the oatmeal at the end of the month.

I'm not saying it's easy-- but I've been there, and it's possible -- and I can promise you, I wasn't complaining about it. I was THANKFUL to have the help, glad when I didn't need it any longer. . . and careful no matter what with my food $$$.

I agree with you Sunshine.
I've been on Food Stamps. Back then we got nearly $400/month for two people. Shoot, I spend that or less a month now for SIX people.

**MOMMYDEAREST** · 12-15-2006, 01:52 PM

this lady surely needs a wake-up call.......enough said!!!!

**ironmaiden** · 12-15-2006, 04:58 PM

I was on a charity board at work for a while. We were taken on a tour of a place that had a soup kitchen, family shelter, used items store, AIDS house.
It was explained to us that the poor as poor planners and poor money managers. So when they would get a pile of food stamp money at the beginning of the month, they'd blow it on all sorts of stuff - steaks, junk food, convenience food and then at the end of the money they had nothing - no food in the pantry, no money. These people didn't know how to manage their money and space it out over a month, never mind use it to get ahead.

The family shelter would have daily meetings with the adults of the family. Helping them to plan realistic goals and defining the steps that they needed to do to reach the goals. And then every day ask them what they did to reach their goals and plan tomorrow. Their kids would either go to public school or this place's daycare/preschool program. For some of the kids it was the only routine that they ever had.