Food Stamps

The problem is NOT those on the program to be punitive -
Rather the program is SNAP - the N - stands for Nutrition.
Thus the food bought should be nutritional.
Soda, candy, ice cream, ect is NOT nutritional.

Four years ago - I was out of work (week b4 Thanksgiving - till Jan 15)
I was extremely conservative with the way I spent my money
and the meant no soda, candy, - I cut my Cable, kept the heat down,- conserve my driving - to save gas, ect, ect, ect.
You should not be spending money you don't have.

 

I would say pretty much none? We went apartment shopping for my daughter and getting utilities included was really rare and cable TV was NEVER free. She gets free wifi at her dining table thanks to being close to the lobby but otherwise, no wifi, no cable and no phone. Those are always extras.

 

I would LOVE to see nutritional counseling and cooking classes included with SNAP benefits. I would hope that most people could benefit and use the ideas that they would get by doing these things. It really helps to know how to make a sauce, roast some meat, cook plain rice to make a casserole - all things that can help to save some money.

 

When I was a talk show host, a lady called one night. She wanted to know what was wrong -with her buying steak with food stamps I told her that what it cost to buy steak for one meal - they could buy hamburger that would last a week.

And as indicated by my "like" I fully agree with Ann! And this is a ministry that our churches could be involved in.

I have stated before, that if a church family needed financial assistance - then the deacons need to get involved! (which by the way is their Biblical duty) Mr. Deacon needs to go to their house and actually see what the need it. If he opens the fridge - and sees a case of beer but no milk for the baby - now we are seeing the root of the problem. Mrs Deacon should be assisting Mrs Jones on how to use hamubger helper - to make that pound of hamburger last longer.
The Deacon and his wife should sit down with the couple and assist them with their budget, ect.......

 

Actually Salty, there have been times that steak has been the better buy over hamburger meat, if you can imagine it! Chicken would be an even better buy. But I don't fault someone for springing for an on-sale steak once in a while because hey, we all need a little something nice every once in a while!! If I can get a piece of steak for $4 a lb., I'll pick it up (it helps to look for the clearance meats when they are available). I pop it in the freezer and if we have most of the kids out, I'll pull out that steak and toss it on the grill and VERY much enjoy myself!!

 

Good Post Ann - and by learning how to properly shop - ect -
and yes there are steaks that are economical.
However, when a person goes out to buy four big juicy T-bone steaks - that is another story.

One other thing - food in C-stores tend to be much higher than a conventional supermarket.
Granted, items such as soda is cheaper - since the quantity brings down the wholesale price.

 

One thing that I didn't realize and some friend had to teach me was that in many instances, people on food stamps don't have cars and can't get to the inexpensive grocery stores so they have to buy at whatever is nearby and in some cases, those places are expensive.

As for the t-bones, I don't buy them ever myself because they are expensive but I know someone on food stamps who DID buy a few really nice steaks and I though it was great. She is a VERY frugal shopper and it was her husband's birthday. He had just been diagnosed with cancer and emotionally they were very down. She had a little extra in her food stamp budget after buying the basics and she decided to splurge for him. So she got two nice steaks. Yes, she could have stretched her money a little further but she said that it was worth forgoing a few other things that week to be able to bless her husband this once. I definitely can see nothing wrong with that.

 

Cable? Wow! I've never seen an apartment include cable. Water and trash are almost always included, electric and heat are sometimes included but more often not. Cable/internet/phone has not been included in any apartment I've seen unless it's in a private home and the tenant comes off of the homeowner's cable.

 

I personally think that cable/internet is an "extra" and I've been teaching my daughter that. Unless you absolutely need internet (and there are other ways to get it other than having it at home), it is not a life necessity. MANY friends of mine go to Panera and Starbucks or the library to get free wifi. TV? Forget it. Have videos and deal. ;)