More families using food stamps to feed kids

[Jenn! 918]

As you can see in the info below a family of three can bring in gross 2 grand a month and they will get $526 per month for food.

I am in a family of three and I know for a fact, I don't spend that much for food.... even with cleaning supplies, dog food and toilet paper.

If you're making less than $2,000 a month gross, I think it's fair to say that you really can't afford to pay any of that towards groceries (I don't know how much rents are in NC though). But you're right that $526 is way too much. A family of 3 could easily get by on $200 if you're a smart shopper.

[NickD 203]

Wonder if it ever occurred to the idiots running this country, instead of dishing out cash, they could be collecting cash if they kept our jobs here. And exactly who appointed us to be the police department of the world?

[Susita 175]

Depends on what you're cooking at home. If you eat a lot of pasta and beans you can feed a family of 5 on $5 easy.

Even with penny pinching, with my family of 4 I usually spend more than that... maybe just the chicken & rice costs me $5 for one meal but we also eat a lot of fresh produce in this house. Depends on where you live I guess.

However, it works out to be about the same price as that junk and the difference is that the junk doesn't require any work. Laziness is a problem in this country too.

[SMR 368]

Even with penny pinching, with my family of 4 I usually spend more than that... maybe just the chicken & rice costs me $5 for one meal but we also eat a lot of fresh produce in this house. Depends on where you live I guess.

However, it works out to be about the same price as that junk and the difference is that the junk doesn't require any work. Laziness is a problem in this country too.

Well, I believe the reference was to a vegetarian diet. If you eat meat, it will be more expensive. But beans and rice together provide all the protein you need. Even if you want to add fresh produce, you could make it work on $5.

[Susita 175]

Well, I believe the reference was to a vegetarian diet. If you eat meat, it will be more expensive. But beans and rice together provide all the protein you need. Even if you want to add fresh produce, you could make it work on $5.

If I tried to give my Peruvian husband a meal without meat he'd look at me like " "

I agree minus the meat would be super cheap. That's what costs the most.

[Jenn! 918]

If I tried to give my Peruvian husband a meal without meat he'd look at me like " "

I agree minus the meat would be super cheap. That's what costs the most.

Oh, of course. My husband would as well. But for those people who are on food stamps, then you've gotta do what you've gotta do, kwim?

Even with meat, you can stretch it far. For example, I made a batch on chicken soup over the weekend that made a good 10 meals. Used a whole chicken, fresh veggies, everything cost about $9.

I think alot of people just don't know how to cook healthy on a budget (or they don't want to).

They should have those sorts of classes in high school.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Costco over here in So. Cal. sells very lean pork loin for $1.99/lb. It's usually in 4 packages bundled together. IMO, pork in general is healthier than eating beef.

[Nina~ 431]

Costco over here in So. Cal. sells very lean pork loin for $1.99/lb. It's usually in 4 packages bundled together. IMO, pork in general is healthier than eating beef.

They are very easy to cook too.. Slightly pricier at Sam's, but I usually buy them when they reduce the price for quick sale.

[chri'stina 190]

If you're making less than $2,000 a month gross, I think it's fair to say that you really can't afford to pay any of that towards groceries (I don't know how much rents are in NC though). But you're right that $526 is way too much. A family of 3 could easily get by on $200 if you're a smart shopper.

You mean $200 a month? Or week?

My husband is a vegetarian, the only animal form he eats is eggs(he does eat dairy too). We actually think sometimes it would be cheaper if he wasn't a vegetarian. I got a frozen bag of tilapia for like $5 and it lasted me 4-5 lunches.

Fake meat, tofu, protein alternatives are more expensive than meat. You can't just eat rice and beans every day for dinner. It's a recipe challenge for me every night lol. I make a lot of the same things over and over again and we get so tired of them. Fresh vegetables and morning star products are not cheap hehe.

We spend like $150 a week now on groceries + getting food from somewhere else 1-2 times a week (don't usually eat out, we might order pizza or Chinese etc, my husband hates spending money ).

So for us it's easily up to $600/month for food, diapers, supplies - and that is with us denying ourselves some nice food things we'd like to buy but don't want to spend the extra $ on it.

(argh fixing major typos)

Edited January 13, 2010 by chri'stina

[Susita 175]

Speaking on saving money on food I'm calling grandma we're going to her house tonight

[Jenn! 918]

You mean $200 a month? Or week?

My husband is a vegetarian, the only animal form he eats is eggs(he does eat dairy too). We actually think sometimes it would be cheaper if he wasn't a vegetarian.

Fake meant, tofu, portein alternatives are more expensive than meat. You can't just eat rice and beans every day for dinner. It's a recipe challenge for me every night lol. I make a lot of the same things over and over again and we get so tired of them. Fresh vegetables and morning store products are not cheap hehe.

We spend like $150 a week now on groceries + getting food from somewhere else 1-2 times a week (don't usually eat out, we might order pizza or chinese etc, my husband hates spending money ).

So for us it's easily up to $600/month for food, diapers, supplies - and that is with us denying ourselves some nice food things we'd like to buy but don't want to spend the extra $ on it.

$200/month. I know, it's not much, but it can be done. yeah, no one wants to eat rice and beans every night, but that's what you do when you're poor.

Ok, you guys spend $600/month, we spend more than $200 as well. but we're not on food stamps. IMO you shouldn't be spending $526/month if you're on food stamps.

[chri'stina 190]

$200/month. I know, it's not much, but it can be done. yeah, no one wants to eat rice and beans every night, but that's what you do when you're poor.

Ok, you guys spend $600/month, we spend more than $200 as well. but we're not on food stamps. IMO you shouldn't be spending $526/month if you're on food stamps.

Wow 200/mo for even 2 ppl? If you have done that, teach me your ways. I already am a big bargain shopper, I hate paying full price...so that amazes me.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Wow 200/mo for even 2 ppl? If you have done that, teach me your ways. I already am a big bargain shopper, I hate paying full price...so that amazes me.

Go to your local Indian grocer and get the cheaptest big bag of rice (it won't taste like basmati cuz it isn't) and the cheapest big bag of daal (it will have bugs in it so you'll have to clean it).

Eat nothing but rice and daal every day, for every meal. Watch your portions.

$200? Easy, no problem.

I'd hate to live like that but it can be done.

And if rice-daal ain't yo style, PBJ is cheap too.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

You mean $200 a month? Or week?

My husband is a vegetarian, the only animal form he eats is eggs(he does eat dairy too). We actually think sometimes it would be cheaper if he wasn't a vegetarian. I got a frozen bag of tilapia for like $5 and it lasted me 4-5 lunches.

Fake meat, tofu, protein alternatives are more expensive than meat. You can't just eat rice and beans every day for dinner. It's a recipe challenge for me every night lol. I make a lot of the same things over and over again and we get so tired of them. Fresh vegetables and morning star products are not cheap hehe.

We spend like $150 a week now on groceries + getting food from somewhere else 1-2 times a week (don't usually eat out, we might order pizza or Chinese etc, my husband hates spending money ).

So for us it's easily up to $600/month for food, diapers, supplies - and that is with us denying ourselves some nice food things we'd like to buy but don't want to spend the extra $ on it.

(argh fixing major typos)

That's just about what we spend as well $150 per week/ $600 a month. We buy most of our meet at Costco, most of our veggies at an Asian market, and the rest of our groceries at our neighborhood grocer.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

We get our meat at a neighborhood halal grocer. Similarly priced to Costco, much better tasting!