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Well, my parents moved in with me couple months ago. They are going to living with me temporarily. My nephew (five years old) is living with me as well.
I consider myself and my parents middle to upper middle class. So it is not like we are struggling financially.
I have a discussion with one of my friend today. He is a software engineer who makes six figure a year and he is living with his mom and little brother. He also has a 7 years old son.
For a four members household like his, his monthly food budget is $750/month. My (household of four) monthly food budget is $650/month. We both eat very healthy and we pretty much eat what we want to eat. (Neither one of us buy a lot of candy, processed food, etc.)
well, The table below shows the maximum monthly food stamp allotment for households of different sizes. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, a household should be able to buy a month's worth of healthy food with this amount of money.
SNAP Food Stamp Program
Maximum Monthly Allotments
People in Household October 1, 2012 through September 30, 2013
1 $200
2 $367
3 $526 4 $668
5 $793
6 $952
7 $1052
8 $1202
Each additional person $150
These amounts are the most SNAP food stamps you can get. The amount of SNAP food stamps you will actually get depends on your income and expenses. You are expected to spend about 30% of your household income on food. In 2011, the average monthly food stamp benefit in Massachusetts was about $240 per household.
It looks like folks who receive foodstamp shouldn't be complaining at all. In my opinion, for a household of four people, a monthly budget of $668 is more than enough.
yes, 668 seems like a lot for 4 people, but you have to remember some grocery stores sell cigarettes to people who use food stamps, even though they arent suppose to. also, ive seen food stamp users buy the super expensive stuff, high quality cuts of meat and all the name brand items. i was like so, use working folks that pay taxes to help you out budget and use coupons and get deals and have to go out of our way so you can collect tax money and buy high quality, i wasnt surprised though...
nevertheless its always has been an issue and always will be...PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERYTHING.
then you see people on food stamps purchasing soda, chips, sugary foods, ect.
i know this is america and most people want freedom, but where does the line need to be drawn? the #1 killer in america is cardiovascular disease, a reason our medical bills, medicare taxes, etc continue to skyrocket...you want freedom, hope you enjoy paying for it (not only with your health and lives, but with your pocket books)
Most people who get food stamps do not get that much. When my husband got laid off from his job and his unemployment was only $800/month, we applied for food stamps and got $662/month. I shop pretty carefully and that was much more than we needed, so I stocked up on canned foods and also filled my spare freezer with meat when it was on sale for a good price. That took us through a couple of lean patches in the two years after that.
Several years later, my husband's work hours were cut from 60 to 40 per week and we applied for food stamps again. That time, with a monthly income of $2200 (before taxes and health insurance), we got $115/month of food stamps. My husband's take home pay was 1800, mortgage 1000, bills 500, gas to get to and from work 200. So that left us 100, plus the $115/month food stamps. It's pretty challenging to feed a family of four on $215/month.
It looks like folks who receive foodstamp shouldn't be complaining at all. In my opinion, for a household of four people, a monthly budget of $668 is more than enough.
Your thought? Thanks
I don't know how on earth I would spend that much at the grocery store. For me and my son, it's a high month if I spend $200. What the hell are these people buying?
I don't know how on earth I would spend that much at the grocery store. For me and my son, it's a high month if I spend $200. What the hell are these people buying?
How old is your son? Two adults and two big children can easily eat $500 worth of groceries in a month. In the summer when all the veggies are so nice, if I can afford it, I spend $60/week just on vegetables and fruit.
Food and quality of food is one thing I refuse to go cheap on. Good quality food and fresh produce is more important to me than a car, cell phone, or designer clothing.
then you see people on food stamps purchasing soda, chips, sugary foods, ect.
i know this is america and most people want freedom, but where does the line need to be drawn?
Well, I'd probably draw the line right around telling people what they can or cannot eat/buy... regardless of where their money comes from, illegal means notwithstanding. Speaking of illegal, that would describe selling cigarettes directly for food stamps (in a commercial business). So that is an irrelevant point when discussing this issue, if you want to discuss it fairly & honestly.
As for how much I personally spend on food, it's hard to say... maybe $150-200/mo at the grocery store, and another $100 or so in "take out" (i.e. deli sandwiches, burritos). I'm a single working woman with no roommates, so cooking isn't a daily activity for me.
alot in the mix here- some months it is very very low, this household coupons bigtime, so we wait for the sales, and double up on coupons,,,some items are totally free,,, most are deeply discounted..
i will buy meats in bulk, when on sale - i will buy the whole primals,,and cut them myself, i have a grinder and grind my own chicken, pork, and beef
and i try to buy locally , not just the farms, but the iga store.
get to know the owner- have him/her email you the warehouse over-runs... or damages...
we eat well, very well.
i use to go out to eat alot when younger, then i kept a tally one month,,,and was shocked with the amount of money we spent,,
so, we looked at food, on the disposable income budget,, and became very frugal misers
i get alot of wild game for helping my friends and family cut up the critters, also i get alot of veggies given to us on family gardens
SNAP Food Stamp Program
Maximum Monthly Allotments
People in Household October 1, 2012 through September 30, 2013
1 $200
2 $367
3 $526 4 $668
5 $793
6 $952
7 $1052
8 $1202
Each additional person $150[/url]
It looks like folks who receive foodstamp shouldn't be complaining at all. In my opinion, for a household of four people, a monthly budget of $668 is more than enough. They are now below your threshold. Are you happy?
Your thought? Thanks
Thanks to the bloodsucking Republicans who think like you do, always trying to think up new ways of making poor people poorer, the current rates are now as follows. Happy now?
1 $189
2 $347
3 $497 4 $632
5 $750
6 $900
7 $995
8 $1,137
Each additional person $142
Last edited by KaaBoom; 11-13-2013 at 03:12 AM..
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Happy now?
