BEWARE! I am going to SNAP.

[LisaC]

For some crazy reason, I agreed to sign up for the SNAP challenge at work this week. This means that I have committed to spending the next FIVE days living off of what one person receives in SNAP benefits. I have a food budget of $29.73 ($22.73 SNAP benefits and $7 discretionary funds). Only the $7 in discretionary funds can be used to eat out (or buy Starbucks). I'm giving everyone fair warning, put your crazy away for the next five days or this sister might snap. :Ninja


Now, does anyone know how to operate a stove? :dunno

[attachment deleted by admin]

 

[Guard Dad]

Sounds like liberal stuff.

 

[deewee]

Tell us which day you get to have your Starbucks please. I'll stay away the other days. )

 

[LisaC]

Sounds like liberal stuff.

As someone who grew up in extreme poverty, this is important to me. Honestly, you should try it - it will give you a light glimpse into the lives of the poor.

 

[LisaC]

Tell us which day you get to have your Starbucks please. I'll stay away the other days. )

I'm pretty sure it will be obvious... :whistle

 

[Guard Dad]

Sounds like liberal stuff.

As someone who grew up in extreme poverty, this is important to me. Honestly, you should try it - it will give you a light glimpse into the lives of the poor.

Can't really say I've been poor, but I've been in financial trouble more than once. So far, I seem to have a knack for digging out of those holes though.

 

[deewee]

You should get with Mrs B. She can tell you 5,911 things to make from a soup bone.

 

[LisaC]

Sounds like liberal stuff.

As someone who grew up in extreme poverty, this is important to me. Honestly, you should try it - it will give you a light glimpse into the lives of the poor.

Can't really say I've been poor, but I've been in financial trouble more than once. So far, I seem to have a knack for digging out of those holes though.

When I think about the number of families that we see on a regular basis at our church's food ministry, I'm reminded just how blessed I am now. Most of the parents in these families work full time and they can't afford much food after paying rent and utilities. There are probably a lot more families like that than even we can imagine and it might even include some folks we know. Unfortunately, far too many children in our community are affected by this.

I encourage you to take the challenge - if for no other reason than to see how far can you "stretch" $30 to feed you for a week and how can you do it in a healthy manner so you don't have to live off of processed crap.

 

[unionmom]

So when is this? This week?

 

[Guard Dad]

Sounds like liberal stuff.

As someone who grew up in extreme poverty, this is important to me. Honestly, you should try it - it will give you a light glimpse into the lives of the poor.

Can't really say I've been poor, but I've been in financial trouble more than once. So far, I seem to have a knack for digging out of those holes though.

When I think about the number of families that we see on a regular basis at our church's food ministry, I'm reminded just how blessed I am now. Most of the parents in these families work full time and they can't afford much food after paying rent and utilities. There are probably a lot more families like that than even we can imagine and it might even include some folks we know. Unfortunately, far too many children in our community are affected by this.

I encourage you to take the challenge - if for no other reason than to see how far can you "stretch" $30 to feed you for a week and how can you do it in a healthy manner so you don't have to live off of processed crap.

While I'm sure your intent is honorable; how does this help poor people in any way?

I can probably help them more by spending lots of money to help grow the economy and create jobs.

 

[Blondie]

In all honesty, about 4 years ago my hubby was laid off due to lack of work. He drew unemployment and we got food stamps. We made MORE money with him sitting home (counting unemployment and food stamps) than him working. He was out of work for 8 weeks. He was going crazy not having a job. As a family of 5 we were getting 700 a month in food stamps. That is more than we pay for groceries even now.

 

[Madea]

For some crazy reason, I agreed to sign up for the SNAP challenge at work this week. This means that I have committed to spending the next FIVE days living off of what one person receives in SNAP benefits. I have a food budget of $29.73 ($22.73 SNAP benefits and $7 discretionary funds). Only the $7 in discretionary funds can be used to eat out (or buy Starbucks). I'm giving everyone fair warning, put your crazy away for the next five days or this sister might snap. :Ninja


Now, does anyone know how to operate a stove? :dunno

$30 for 5 days for one person???

That's NOT poor, that's freaking middle class. That's about (or less than) what we average per week on groceries. And, since last December, I've cooked 6 nights out of 7 most weeks. :dunno

 

[Winchester]

For some crazy reason, I agreed to sign up for the SNAP challenge at work this week. This means that I have committed to spending the next FIVE days living off of what one person receives in SNAP benefits. I have a food budget of $29.73 ($22.73 SNAP benefits and $7 discretionary funds). Only the $7 in discretionary funds can be used to eat out (or buy Starbucks). I'm giving everyone fair warning, put your crazy away for the next five days or this sister might snap. :Ninja


Now, does anyone know how to operate a stove? :dunno

$30 for 5 days for one person???

That's NOT poor, that's freaking middle class. That's about (or less than) what we average per week on groceries. And, since last December, I've cooked 6 nights out of 7 most weeks. :dunno

We've seen times when it was $30 a week for 2 adults. It's tough but possible. Hope we never get to that level again but with things shaping up in DC like they are.......

 

[honeybunny]

For some crazy reason, I agreed to sign up for the SNAP challenge at work this week. This means that I have committed to spending the next FIVE days living off of what one person receives in SNAP benefits. I have a food budget of $29.73 ($22.73 SNAP benefits and $7 discretionary funds). Only the $7 in discretionary funds can be used to eat out (or buy Starbucks). I'm giving everyone fair warning, put your crazy away for the next five days or this sister might snap. :Ninja


Now, does anyone know how to operate a stove? :dunno

$30 for 5 days for one person???

That's NOT poor, that's freaking middle class. That's about (or less than) what we average per week on groceries. And, since last December, I've cooked 6 nights out of 7 most weeks. :dunno

:ditto

 

[justgettingby]

That is almost twice as much as the average monthly income for the average family here in Costa Rica. Then again, we can buy a week's worth of fruits and veggies for $20. And then there is the abundance of free fruits that either rot on the ground or get eaten. I'm guessing there are no Mangos and oranges falling from the trees up there in Georgia.

Edited to add: I read the OP incorrectly. That's not twice as much as the average income, but instead it is close to the monthly total income.

 

[deewee]

Sounds like liberal stuff.

As someone who grew up in extreme poverty, this is important to me. Honestly, you should try it - it will give you a light glimpse into the lives of the poor.

Can't really say I've been poor, but I've been in financial trouble more than once. So far, I seem to have a knack for digging out of those holes though.

When I think about the number of families that we see on a regular basis at our church's food ministry, I'm reminded just how blessed I am now. Most of the parents in these families work full time and they can't afford much food after paying rent and utilities. There are probably a lot more families like that than even we can imagine and it might even include some folks we know. Unfortunately, far too many children in our community are affected by this.

I encourage you to take the challenge - if for no other reason than to see how far can you "stretch" $30 to feed you for a week and how can you do it in a healthy manner so you don't have to live off of processed crap.

Honey, I don't need to take that challenge. That's my life.

 

[deewee]

In all honesty, about 4 years ago my hubby was laid off due to lack of work. He drew unemployment and we got food stamps. We made MORE money with him sitting home (counting unemployment and food stamps) than him working. He was out of work for 8 weeks. He was going crazy not having a job. As a family of 5 we were getting 700 a month in food stamps. That is more than we pay for groceries even now.

A to the men. I brought home more on unemployment than I do now. We were on food stamps for 2 months while Marc was out of work and we ate much better then, than we do now.

 

[Blondie]

In all honesty, about 4 years ago my hubby was laid off due to lack of work. He drew unemployment and we got food stamps. We made MORE money with him sitting home (counting unemployment and food stamps) than him working. He was out of work for 8 weeks. He was going crazy not having a job. As a family of 5 we were getting 700 a month in food stamps. That is more than we pay for groceries even now.

A to the men. I brought home more on unemployment than I do now. We were on food stamps for 2 months while Marc was out of work and we ate much better then, than we do now.

Just about every week when we get home from the grocery store, my kids will say, "I miss being on food stamps. We got a lot more food." We are right above the cut off, and I mean less than $100 too much. The last time I checked it was closer to $50 over.

 

[honeybunny]

http://www.freedomworks.org/content/snap-challenge-not-so-challenging-unless-youre-out-touch-congressman

http://www.mediaite.com/online/sorry-snap-challengers-meager-meals-misrepresent-food-stamp-program-says-wapo-fact-checker/

Just sayin... :whistle

 

[Madea]

Okay, sorry. But, I've done some math. I've lost all sympathy. $5.94 per day x 4 (for my family of 4) x 365 and then divided by 12 equals $722.70 per MONTH for groceries for a family of four.

My family of 4 does not spend that much per month on food if you INCLUDE our weekly trip to Happy Hawg and lunches out.

Now, your PDF states: According to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, the average monthly SNAP benefit per person receiving benefits in Georgia is $136.40.

PLEASE ALSO REMEMBER! Food stamps were NEVER intended to be the sole source of your food. It was a "supplement" program.

BTW, a friend of mine posted on Facebook over the weekend that SNAP benefits could be used to purchase food seeds. (I did not know this.) That means that folks could additionally supplement the food they eat with home grown goods.