$340 monthly food stamps

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offroad

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Was just reading an article that some people try to survive on $340 per month for food stamp benefit. EBT it's called.

So people spend that little on food? And then make due with no food?


Sorry it's $130 per month for many.
 
Different states have different income requirements. In MI a single person with Zero income gets less than 200$ a month, with kids it's more of course. If you do have an income, it drops significantly, I'm on disability and get $15 a month, and yes indeedy I spend it every month and not ashamed to either!
Most people use EBT as a supplement for a regular food budget, but I knew a person who sold their food stamps too, different strokes for different folks I guess
 
Margie gets $189 (Az max for 1 person...was $200). That amount covers about 3 weeks of our food. I qualify for about $60, which I need to re-up since it ran out a few months ago. That amount would put us up to zero out of pocket.
Our habit is full plate breakfast, sandwich/left-overs lunch, and a full plate dinner. We shop wise, and are able to include some goodies/snacks also.
 
$340 for 1 person? That seems like a lot and that would be plenty enough. That's probably an amount for a small family. With growing kids, that would be tough.
 
I don't think I spend more than $30 a week on groceries for myself. Now if they would just offer supplements to pay for pet food. Not that they're not worth every penny. :heart:
 
I get 189 .....I make sure to buy mostly all staple food.....up here they also match you dollar for dollar at the farmers market so that helps a bunch on the fresh veggie's....and the food bank here has frozen meats so they load me up with fish & chicken
 
You can get 25 pounds of Walmart's Great Value flour for $8.26, 10 pounds of Great Value sugar for $4.98 (online prices). Basically if you cook from scratch you buy food for a fairly low amount of money. But, of course, almost no one cooks from scratch anymore.
 
decodancer said:
I don't think I spend more than $30 a week on groceries for myself. Now if they would just offer supplements to pay for pet food. Not that they're not worth every penny. :heart:

Found that the local pet shelters will give you food for your pet if you are poor. they do it so pets dont suffer
 
I'm not on food stamps but spend less then $189 a month. I eat a lot of rice, oatmeal, buy bulk soup bases, etc.

I think they changed "food stamps" to Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program or SNAP. The new name always comfused me as it has nothing to do with "nutrition."
 
6 dollars a day is the budget and you can only buy cold food. It can be done. Even without a cooking facility AND being gluten free, it can be done. Just eat a ton of raw produce and peanut butter! Canned beans too! Shop wisely. Cool part about EBT is with every transaction you get your balance on the receipt... And of course the free food is rad. What's not so cool is the stigma behind it sometimes. Uncle Sam has really pulled through on this one for me. I don't always need/take them, but when I do it sure is appreciated.
Do I think it's strange that our government gives away money like that? Yeah, I do. But it's nice because not everyone is born with the same privelages and for some it's more of a struggle. And if you can prove it with some paper documents they hook it up. Take advantage of that but don't abuse.
 
That's actually a benefit because cooking takes time, mess, effort, energy, and water. You can take all that and put it into areas of your life that need it right now to reduce stress.
Decodancer,
Cheap pet supplements can be bought in a 4" X 4" bag at a farm store. Tractor Supply has a powder that you mix in the water, etc. is $6.25 and has lasted me over 3 years for one dog. I found out about it, because I actually know a friend who takes them himself. I bought a bag for myself, but it was a little too salty for me. But, if you decrease salt in your diet in another area, it could easily be done. All the ingredients and vitamin amounts are listed on the bag and it is made in the U.S.A. under an optional FDA label. Tractor Supply had about 4 options to pick from.
 
decodancer said:
I don't think I spend more than $30 a week on groceries for myself. Now if they would just offer supplements to pay for pet food. Not that they're not worth every penny. :heart:

Greetings!

Are you aware of the fact that many areas offer free pet food for low income people/families?

Worth checking out. I no longer have a furry friend to travel with, but I sure do enjoy those of others, and I always keep treats for them.

Cheers!

The CamperVan_Man
 
Luckily the campground is preparing for the summer season now and lots of work so the long dry spell is over. Nobody went hungry and credit card companies have been surprisingly understanding. All of them offered to remove the late fees since I've always paid on time. I learned my lesson about staying the winter in a summer resort area. As much as I enjoy the snow, the cost of propane really kills you. I've got my Amazon Christmas season interview today and if that works out I won't have to struggle next winter.
 
decodancer said:
I don't think I spend more than $30 a week on groceries for myself. Now if they would just offer supplements to pay for pet food. Not that they're not worth every penny. :heart:

Lucky you! I eat out twice a day and spend about $22.00 per day. Maybe when I'm full time I can cook and save some money.
 
You could be "banking" those dollars:
I work full time and cook ALL of my own food. $22 day is crazy. $660/mo.??????????? I still own a house and could live on $660/mo. 66788, just even buying the largest size of everything and taking a single serving of each to work in a dollar store container or baggie is WAY cheaper, and that's no cooking. Lean meats, canned ready to go meats, 1 or 2 spices with a vegetable, few slices of bread or crackers in a baggie, and 1 piece of fruit and lunch is made.
 
66788,
I see the majority of people at work everyday eat out. I understand. All we ask is that you consider something else in life because the rewards could be even greater:
Negatives:
1. Not have the time.
2. Rather, on your little bit of time off, be lazy and not have to shop, prepare, cook, and clean.
But, this could be your life:
1. Saving dollars!!! This equals earlier retirement or emergency savings.
2. Eating healthy and avoiding the fat, salt, and sugar you can't totally control eating out. What's the matter with a simple yogurt and fruit instead of an unhealthy breakfast? This can lead to extra pounds on over time. Keeping the pounds off is less time at the gym and more time for what matters in life.
3. Being so hungry at work that by the time the food comes, even if the order is wrong, you have a headache and will eat almost anything. On your way home, you can keep a snack right in your vehicle like a sandwich or cheese so you don't overeat on your ride home. This gives you power over the temptations as you drive by them.
4. It takes time to go to restaurants. I use this time at work for ME to distress, exercise, or my favorite, take a 15-20 minute nap.
It's like at work people never think they will get hungry again. Hunger will come. Plan for it. Instead of paying $1.25 for that soda pop out of the vending machine, you could have your own brand name soda pop or healthier option in a little frig. by your desk, or in our case, in our 12 volt frig. in our vehicle!!!!!
 
Food stamps were never meant to provide a person's or family's entire diet. They were meant to subsidize low wages or other inadequate income sources and to provide healthier nutritional choices than might otherwise be available.
 

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