Starving on $280/month

[tabbycat31]

Here's something that does not get mentioned on this thread. The availablity of food differs by area (urban/rural/suburban).

Within a 5 mile radius of me is one of the "ghettos' of the area (a city that wants to revive the "glory days" but has a long way to go) and one of the richest towns in the area. Keep in mind, many people on foodstamps live in inner city areas (I wouldnt call this one place an inner city, the state calls it a city, but I'm guessing population of 20K). Many people in the cities do not have a car to go to another place to go grocery shopping, and do not have access to the groceries that suburbanites have. The food available in this city (aside from the up and coming restaurants that have sprouted up) are convenience stores, Popeye's, and McDonald's. There's an Aldi's in the neighborhood, but my one experience in there saw rotting produce and a bunch of processed foods.

Contrast it to a town 5 miles south. While it's a very small town (1-2 square miles), there's a health food store in the town, as well as the restaurants. However most people here have cars, and can access the grocery stores (the ones that don't are senior citizens).

Let's take the $280. In a convenience store, you wont be able to stretch it. You can get milk and eggs there, but not much else in terms of healthier foods. Maybe a banana or two. Meats at most convenience stores are hot dogs and the like. Maybe (prepared) bacon at breakfast in the form of a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich.

At a traditional supermarket, you have much healthier options and the prices are more reasonable. I'm single, and don't sepnd that in a month on food, so I'd love abudget like that.

[LuxLiving]

LivingAlmostLarge - it would appear that there isn't room in their family budget to pay for Angelfood ministries and still fill the rest of the grocery list that would be needed to feed them for the entire month.

tabbycat31, that's exactly what I've been talking about - the food deserts, where there aren't enough affordable shopping places for many - either they can't get there or there are none available.

[aukxsona]

Living Large I have looked at those, but like Lux said there's no room. I have cut it to the bone. Plus it would be difficult to get it from the distribution center. Because it is just as far away. Same thing for the food pantry, haven't got a ride.

[savingmama]

I want to say something in defense of aukxsona. Yes, her friends giving her food they bought with food stamps is probably illegal (tried to look up online, but could not find any rules on donating food stamps items, but I assume the programs purpose is to have the food go only to the family members signed up.) However, to me this is a definite distinction from those who use their surplus food stamps to trade with others either for money or rent or some other service or goods. This even bothers me less than those people that use all their food stamps to buy ice cream, soda, chips and tv dinners. To me this is more what the food stamps program should be encouraging. Which is
1) Aukxsona’s friends are living within the amount allotted on food stamps and even finding ways to be more frugal and 2) they are giving back by sharing with others. Now while #2 is the part that is considered “illegal”, that is the part that I actually like about the situation. Mostly people get food stamps for falling into a certain income bracket but then nothing is expected of them (I believe some or most are required to be working or in school), however they aren’t required in any way to give service or give back for what they are receiving. (Correct me if I am wrong- someone with more experience in this department). Other things I like about the situation are that two families in need are provided for and they are doing it with the amount they would provide for one family.

Now Disney Steve mentioned aukxsona should go through the proper channels to get the help if she qualifies. My issue is that maybe the problem isn’t what aukxsona is doing but what the system is doing. Why is it that the system, set up to help those in need get enough food to eat, is discouraging the truly needy from signing up, and second why is the system not willing to cut back on the amounts they give to those if they asked for it. I have friends in need that get food stamps that feel guilty with how much money they get offered to them. They were told that it is a set amount and you can’t change (I have never heard before about the money leaving the card after three months.) So what do my friends do to help alleviate their guilt that they have more money than they need? They make meals for families that are in a tough situation such as a family member in the hospital. Now this is probably “illegal”, but I think this is more healthy behavior to give and share their bounty than to just learn how to use every penny that is given to them just because it is available. Now if there was a more clear way to give the money back to food stamps so that it could help more families, that definitely would be the best option, but that still doesn’t address the fact that the system is discouraging some who truly need the program from getting them help they need.

One other thing- I just wanted to thank Tabbycat for bringing up the issue of transportation, and how for some people receiving food stamps they may be limited at which stores they shop. It makes me more understanding for those that may have difficulty getting by on their food stamps allotment if this is their situation.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I've lived in the inner city (ghetto) area when we first moved to New England. And there were grocery stores within walking distance. They were easily reachable within the bus line and T-stop. SO please don't tell me they are too lazy to walk a couple of blocks????

Our cars got "lost" shipping from CA to MA, and we were without transportation for 1 month. DH and I fortunately rented on a bus and T stop about 1/2 mile. We walked with groceries and shopped without problems.

We are different because DH lived in a city without a car for a year in Canada, and I went in Southern CA for 3 years of college without a car. And 2 years of grad school without a car. So it's possible. NOT enjoyable, but possible.

Moving where we moved to and living in the ghetto area (and we lived between martin luther king blvd and Malcolm X blvd) and in LA I lived in a not so nice area as well, I gotta say, no there are supermarkets in those areas. For sure in CA and in MA. I shopped at those stores and while they had poor produce it was walkable and I made the effort to go and put groceries in my backpack and walk home.

So there are no excuses, people in other countries walk a lot to public transit and carry their groceries. It's not hard. And the food bank was walking distance to our rental which is how I start volunteering.

[LuxLiving]

LivingAlmostLarge, I think you would possibly allow the excuse that not everyone, most especially the elderly or the disabled, may not be able to walk to shop.

And you are right, the crime element in many neighborhoods prevents people from walking to some stores.

Now, think of an elderly person who has to walk the crime riddled streets and do you still think walking in their instances is such a good idea?

We have such a locale in our metro area. An in-law of mine owned a grocery on the fringe of this tough neighborhood. The shoplifting got to be so bad that he closed his store for good. Other groceries have gone out for similar reasons. Now people who live in that area have to drive probably 10-13 miles to get to a grocery. Uggghhh, urban sprawl, supercenters & crime!

[aevans1206]

Originally Posted by LivingAlmostLarge

I've lived in the inner city (ghetto) area when we first moved to New England. And there were grocery stores within walking distance. They were easily reachable within the bus line and T-stop. SO please don't tell me they are too lazy to walk a couple of blocks????

Our cars got "lost" shipping from CA to MA, and we were without transportation for 1 month. DH and I fortunately rented on a bus and T stop about 1/2 mile. We walked with groceries and shopped without problems.

We are different because DH lived in a city without a car for a year in Canada, and I went in Southern CA for 3 years of college without a car. And 2 years of grad school without a car. So it's possible. NOT enjoyable, but possible.

Moving where we moved to and living in the ghetto area (and we lived between martin luther king blvd and Malcolm X blvd) and in LA I lived in a not so nice area as well, I gotta say, no there are supermarkets in those areas. For sure in CA and in MA. I shopped at those stores and while they had poor produce it was walkable and I made the effort to go and put groceries in my backpack and walk home.

So there are no excuses, people in other countries walk a lot to public transit and carry their groceries. It's not hard. And the food bank was walking distance to our rental which is how I start volunteering.

I live in a "ghetto" area of Chicago, and there is NOTHING within walking distance other than a Walgreens and shady corner stores. This is the same as my stepdaughters who live in another "ghetto" area and have nothing but corner stores--NOTHING within walking distance. Also, imagine how hard it must be to be a single mom with a four month old baby. It mustn't be easy lugging all those groceries AND your tiny baby. Empathy, or sympathy, whichever, is all that is asked here I think.

[sweeps]

That's a good point that I forget about too. Many people don't have a Super Walmart or Costco or Aldi available to help them keep food prices down.

They may have to go to Walgreen's or Whole Foods or a mom-and-pop corner store, where prices can be a lot higher.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Walgreens actually has good food deals. Better than many would expect. Since you aevans have internet access I would check out Hot Coupon World and see how many people are rolling in the dough at walgreens.

She eats only 60 meals for $280/month. Lay off the potato chips and fast foods. Rice and beans will last a month for that much.

And at least at stop and shop they have delivery. Also for people who are elderly and disabled, I know social services shop and delivery WIC for them. My grandmother volunteers at the elderly social services which does so. It also picks them up in a transport van and allows them to shop at such stores. She schedules their pick-ups!

I've lived in CA where a lot of illegals I saw on the bus all the time lugging groceries and their babies. I am guessing they didn't qualify for food stamps so shopping with a baby and transporting them was a NECESSARY and there were little luxuries.

I am also guessing in LA, many illegals couldn't afford to live in nice areas and they shopped at bodegas and still made do on less. And they made an effort to save money and send it home to Mexico.

At least from friends who were in school with me and their parents had come over the border told me so. So explain how these people manage on little money? And lived/worked in not so nice neighborhoods and without food stamps?

[LuxLiving]

I know being hungry is nothing to laugh about BUT, the seafood mentioned in this thread jumped into my head the moment I saw this picture:

Redneck Sea Food

[aevans1206]

[quote=LuxLiving;170514]I know being hungry is nothing to laugh about BUT, the seafood mentioned in this thread jumped into my head the moment I saw this picture:

Lux, that's the funniest dang thing I've seen in a LONG time. Reminds me of the stonehenge I made one time out of vienna sausages and overly soaked rice!

Livingalmostlarge, I have nothing more to say on this issue. You will not convince me to NOT have understanding and empathy for this woman and for individuals who struggle period.

[LuxLiving]

@aevans1206, I know I'm a redneck because the second thing I thought of was at my house those octopusses would be coming up out of the Red Sea of ketchup!

[aevans1206]

Originally Posted by LuxLiving

@aevans1206, I know I'm a redneck because the second thing I thought of was at my house those octopusses would be coming up out of the Red Sea of ketchup!

You just made my day, Lux! Maybe I'll make the little man a couple of octupusses next time he asks for hot dogs...in the Red Sea of ketchup!

[DRAGONFLY6984]

i've been reading all the comments on this thread and alot of people have good points.i remember when my husband fractured his spine at work i went down to sign up for food stamps for a family of 6 4children 2 adults and the worker told me i was elligable but for only 12 amonth (because we had $800 in savings) you have to understand that would of lasted us 2 months or less because our rent and bills i told her this then she said i could get more if me and my husband were not together ( his workman comp took 8 weeks to come in) i left really pissed off and on my way out the door i watched a women get out of a brand new car wearing really nice name brand clothes and walk up to the window saying she was here to see her welfare worker,,i just couldnt understand he worked alot and i use to also pay taxes and when the time came for help we would of gotten $12 thats crazy....another thing i know a store down the street from me who buys food stamps from the druggies and alcholics what they do is say like they have 150 amonth they go to this store and the store pretends they bought 150 and give them 75 in cash,,,,my sister made a complaint to food stamp fraud line now that was in jan 2008 and to this day this store still does it. oh by the way i live in mass they call it the wealthy state..wealthy for who?