Lawmakers Find $21 a Week Doesn't Buy a Lot of Groceries

[squirrely girl]

on a side note, i just wanna throw it out there that i usually don't post a whole lot on GC in general, let alone a single thread. but i'm REALLY passionate about the topics of eating patterns and obesity and particularly how environment and situation effect them. i'm not trying to rant or pick on anybody. really. its just hard to spend my time studying and researching these phenomenon and have uninformed people saying *what i personally perceive to be* cruel and ignorant things.

i apologize if anybody is offended but that's just how it is.

- m

[OneTimeSBX]

@ squirrely...

there is an article on CNN's blogspot about how childhood obesity is being blamed on WOMEN, and the fact that we are working now and not staying home with the kids...very interesting...

http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/blogs/pagi...ity-among.html

[susan314]

Just to clarify - when I made my comment above about people not knowing how to maximize their grocery shopping, I think it goes across all income levels. I'm not trying to say that "people on food stamps just need to learn how to shop better" by any means. Most people could learn to shop better...I used to spend $700 a month to get essentially the same stuff I now get for $300. We weren't in dire need of getting our grocery spending down, but honestly...why give that extra $400 to the grocery store when it could stay in our pockets instead?

(An added perk is that by learning how to manage my grocery spending, I'm able to pick up extra on some of the great deals and donate it. There are many organizations always in need of personal hygiene products, etc. By maximizing the money I spend, I'm also able to maximize the volume of stuff I can donate. )

I definitely understand that not everyone is able to just "get another job." (Yes, I think there are people who abuse the system and that irks me. But I don't think its the majority of people.) For those of you who think otherwise, I'd highly recommend reading the book "Nickled and Dimed" if you haven't already. Even if you don't completely agree with the author's premise, it will get you thinking about issues in a whole new light.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by susan314

Just to clarify - when I made my comment above about people not knowing how to maximize their grocery shopping, I think it goes across all income levels. I'm not trying to say that "people on food stamps just need to learn how to shop better" by any means. Most people could learn to shop better...I used to spend $700 a month to get essentially the same stuff I now get for $300. We weren't in dire need of getting our grocery spending down, but honestly...why give that extra $400 to the grocery store when it could stay in our pockets instead?

(An added perk is that by learning how to manage my grocery spending, I'm able to pick up extra on some of the great deals and donate it. There are many organizations always in need of personal hygiene products, etc. By maximizing the money I spend, I'm also able to maximize the volume of stuff I can donate. )

I definitely understand that not everyone is able to just "get another job." (Yes, I think there are people who abuse the system and that irks me. But I don't think its the majority of people.) For those of you who think otherwise, I'd highly recommend reading the book "Nickled and Dimed" if you haven't already. Even if you don't completely agree with the author's premise, it will get you thinking about issues in a whole new light.

You need to start a "Susan's spend less at the grocery store tip of the week" thread.

[susan314]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

You need to start a "Susan's spend less at the grocery store tip of the week" thread.

Well, the first tip I will offer is that grocery stores tend to run their sales in cycles...approximately 12 week cycles, give or take.

The critical mistake that many people make is replacing something as they run out of it, and quite often getting stuck paying full price because they run out when there's no sale on that particular item. With proper planning, you can arrange your grocery shopping so that you never pay full price for an item.

(Except, of course milk and fresh produce which need to be replenished each week. But if you're saving money on all the items which you can stock up on, it doesn't hurt the pocketbook quite as much to splurge on those fresh items.)

There is actually a website that tracks grocery store sales and puts out a weekly list for each store. Highlighted on the list are items which are at their rock bottom price, so you know which sale items that week are worth stocking up on. It is a subscription based service which costs $5 a month to get your local store's list. Now, a person could certainly track this information on their own, but it would take a lot of time and effort to put that information together. I subscribe to the list because the $5 a month is worth it to me in exchange for not having to spend hours each week reviewing sale ads and tracking the information myself.

It does take me about an extra hour per week to prepare for my shopping trip, but given that I'm saving $400 a month over what I was spending before for essentially the same stuff that extra hour is worth it!

I'll give the link, but I want to make 2 things clear first:

1) I don't get anything for promoting this site. (Yes, if you had my personal e-mail address to enter w/me being your "referral source," I'd get a month free. But, since none of you have my personal e-mail address I get zilch for recommending it.)

2) There is a message board associated with the site that has some very overzealous ladies on it (not all of them are that way, but many are). Some of them do go a little overboard with their stockpiling, etc. I don't tend to frequent that board, but occasionally you can look at it and get some interesting money saving tips. However, I can assure you that you can still save money with the grocery lists without being fanatical about it.

Here's the site - you can get a 4 week trial for $1. http://www.thegrocerygame.com/ I was a little skeptical at first, but figured "what have I got to lose for $1?" As I said, you could piece together this information by faithfully tracking sale ads yourself without the assistance of this site...I chose not to do that, b/c I have neither the time nor the patience. I'd rather let someone else do the dirty work for me.


ETA: Somewhat related to the topic at hand...if you browse the message board, you can see the stories of some single mothers on food stamps who have used that particular system to make a huge difference in their lives. Because, of course, while food stamps help you cover some of your food expenses, they don't cover a lot of the other stuff...cleaning supplies, personal hygeine stuff, etc.

[Kevlar281]

No one is starving in America.

21 dollars a week means that they choose to not to supplement their government aid.

A person soliciting donations on a street corner IMO would earn a minimum of a dollar an hour. If they solicit for eight hours a day they would earn an extra eight dollars per day.

So let’s see here. $21.00 + $56.00 = $77.00 for food per week.

[JWithers]

Originally Posted by Kevlar281

No one is starving in America.

21 dollars a week means that they choose to not to supplement their government aid.

A person soliciting donations on a street corner IMO would earn a minimum of a dollar an hour. If they solicit for eight hours a day they would earn an extra eight dollars per day.

So let’s see here. $21.00 + $56.00 = $77.00 for food per week.

I DO think there are children who are starving in America, b/c of the bad choices their parents/caregivers have made. Children should be assisted by being removed from the homes of negligent parents who abuse drugs, alcohol and their own children. My sister and her husband ,today in fact, officially adopted TWO children, siblings , 9 and 4 who were in a home just like that. Big day for our whole family!

However, these parents do not deserve one thin dime of the money my family works hard to earn. The parents of THESE children are both in jail for running a meth lab.

[macallan25]

I agree with both of you and especially kevin.

What is wrong with some of you people? Daemonseid.........why in God's name should I have sympathy for some crack head junkie living off of the street? I would gladly "look them in the eye and tell them to get a job". Sure I would, with pleasure. People like that disgust me.

As far as Katrina victims.........I have told them to get a damn job.....many times. Houston and Austin had a major influx of them......totally ridiculous..........as if Austin needed more homeless people.

....at what point did we stop holding people accountable for their actions? Jesus Christ.......there is absolutely no reason for me or my family to spend our time and hard earned money trying to be a savior to people that are so completely worthless that they don't even have the gumption to go look for work.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by macallan25

I agree with both of you and especially kevin.

What is wrong with some of you people? Daemonseid.........why in God's name should I have sympathy for some crack head junkie living off of the street? I would gladly "look them in the eye and tell them to get a job". Sure I would, with pleasure. People like that disgust me.



As far as Katrina victims.........I have told them to get a damn job.....many times. Houston and Austin had a major influx of them......totally ridiculous..........as if Austin needed more homeless people.

....at what point did we stop holding people accountable for their actions? Jesus Christ.......there is absolutely no reason for me or my family to spend our time and hard earned money trying to be a savior to people that are so completely worthless that they don't even have the gumption to go look for work.

mac...it's people with attitudes like yours that disgust me.

that crackhead CAN EASILY be you...whether you like it or not...u have no idea what lead that person to be where they are...


Who are you to judge without first taking that long look in a mirror?

Katrina victims...well hmmm...suddenly displaced?

Kinda hard getting a job when your address IS A FLOODED OUT HOLE IN THE GROUND hmmm?

Hell..the Superdome that was for a month a 3rd world country has been fixed up in less than a years time and the lower wards in New Orleans are STILL after 2 years ghost towns...you want those homeless people out of your area in Texas....here is challenge for you...whatever purpose you serve in your area...get up and take a trip over there with those homeless and help rebuild their communities.

Too much for you?


Oh yeah ...too much like right...


When did we stop holding people acountable....?

Go back to 1939 when the welfare system in this country officially kicked off...since that is what we are discussing in this thread before we digressed to homelessness.

But you know what...we are gonna call it a day on this thread....we have offically agreed to disagree, but just in case you happen to wind up in a living condition much less than what you are used to and forced to get food stamps but you don't wanna be a burden on our government?

...do yourself a favor.

GO GET A JOB !!

[squirrely girl]

i am completely okay with the idea that not everybody thinks like me. i'd much rather have the debate than to completely ignore the issues. i sincerely think its great that there is participation in this thread. from ALL sides of the issue.

- m

[KSigkid]

I can see both sides of the issue; as someone who grew up in a household where money was tight, and who worked full-time to pay for undergrad (and is doing so through law school), part of me just wants to say "get a job, pick yourself up and make yourself into something." My parents weren't able to help, so even with a bunch of academic scholarships paying for most of my undergrad, I had to do 40+ hour workweeks in undergrad (and around 40 now) to pay my way through.

Then there's the part of me that realizes I grew up in a morally-supportive household. There's the part of me that has volunteered and seen people who didn't even have that level of support, kids who are now in the poverty cycle and who have their own kids.

I tend to go more towards the side Kevin is arguing in all of this, only because I don't know of an easy answer. Would people be ok if taxes skyrocketed for more programs, like the maternity leave program in Australia? Would people be ok if other programs were cut in favor of increased funding for the homeless? Do people want all their paychecks to go to taxes? Do you put your energies on the older people who are now homeless, or do you focus more on the children and teens who have an opportunity to turn around their lives?

I don't know, I just don't see it as an easy issue. I agree with Monet that education is a huge (probably the biggest) part in this whole thing. I also agree with squirrely girl that these types of conversations are/can be solid and productive. I just don't think some people should be getting so defensive about other's differences in opinions.

[JWithers]

Originally Posted by squirrely girl

i am completely okay with the idea that not everybody thinks like me. i'd much rather have the debate than to completely ignore the issues. i sincerely think its great that there is participation in this thread. from ALL sides of the issue.

- m

ITA. If we all posted the same philosophies on every subject this would get boring in a hurry.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

that crackhead CAN EASILY be you...whether you like it or not...u have no idea what lead that person to be where they are...

I'm not mac.. but no, that crackhead couldn't be me. Crack is whack. I've never touched an illegal drug in my life. Never will. Chances of me ending up a crackhead = 0%.

Who are you to judge without first taking that long look in a mirror?

Again, not Mac, but if I look in the mirror and see someone who is working his ass off to be successful, I guess that gives me the right to judge those who refuse to put forth the same sort of effort.

Katrina victims...well hmmm...suddenly displaced?

Kinda hard getting a job when your address IS A FLOODED OUT HOLE IN THE GROUND hmmm?

Not really. Construction crews are hiring all the time. They're so desperate taht they'll hire illegal immigrants to do work at the risk of criminal penalty.

Of course, most Katrina "victims" were pretty screwed up before the storm hit due to their own stupid choices prior to the storm.

Hell..the Superdome that was for a month a 3rd world country has been fixed up in less than a years time and the lower wards in New Orleans are STILL after 2 years ghost towns...you want those homeless people out of your area in Texas....here is challenge for you...whatever purpose you serve in your area...get up and take a trip over there with those homeless and help rebuild their communities.

So what you're saying is that they're too lazy to do for themselves, so we ought to get off our collective asses and provide for them? No.. sorry.. busy providing for myself. Thanks.

When did we stop holding people acountable....?

Go back to 1939 when the welfare system in this country officially kicked off...since that is what we are discussing in this thread before we digressed to homelessness.

Your point?

But you know what...we are gonna call it a day on this thread....we have offically agreed to disagree, but just in case you happen to wind up in a living condition much less than what you are used to and forced to get food stamps but you don't wanna be a burden on our government?

Many of use, due to the fact that we've saved a lot of money, were able to pursue a decent education, etc. aren't going to end up in that sort of situation. If you make good choices in life, that sort of situation simply does not happen.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by Kevin

I'm not mac.. but no, that crackhead couldn't be me. Crack is whack. I've never touched an illegal drug in my life. Never will. Chances of me ending up a crackhead = 0%.



Again, not Mac, but if I look in the mirror and see someone who is working his ass off to be successful, I guess that gives me the right to judge those who refuse to put forth the same sort of effort.



Not really. Construction crews are hiring all the time. They're so desperate taht they'll hire illegal immigrants to do work at the risk of criminal penalty.

Of course, most Katrina "victims" were pretty screwed up before the storm hit due to their own stupid choices prior to the storm.



So what you're saying is that they're too lazy to do for themselves, so we ought to get off our collective asses and provide for them? No.. sorry.. busy providing for myself. Thanks.



Your point?



Many of use, due to the fact that we've saved a lot of money, were able to pursue a decent education, etc. aren't going to end up in that sort of situation. If you make good choices in life, that sort of situation simply does not happen.

Pull your pants up man......your entire ass is now showing....thanks for enlightening us on your 'fascinating' opinions on how everyone, as far as you have 'judged', everyone....will be able to avoid getting food stamps.

Elitist selfish and classist statements if I ever heard any.

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

mac...it's people with attitudes like yours that disgust me.

that crackhead CAN EASILY be you...whether you like it or not...u have no idea what lead that person to be where they are...


Who are you to judge without first taking that long look in a mirror?

Katrina victims...well hmmm...suddenly displaced?

Kinda hard getting a job when your address IS A FLOODED OUT HOLE IN THE GROUND hmmm?

Hell..the Superdome that was for a month a 3rd world country has been fixed up in less than a years time and the lower wards in New Orleans are STILL after 2 years ghost towns...you want those homeless people out of your area in Texas....here is challenge for you...whatever purpose you serve in your area...get up and take a trip over there with those homeless and help rebuild their communities.

Too much for you?


Oh yeah ...too much like right...


When did we stop holding people acountable....?

Go back to 1939 when the welfare system in this country officially kicked off...since that is what we are discussing in this thread before we digressed to homelessness.

But you know what...we are gonna call it a day on this thread....we have offically agreed to disagree, but just in case you happen to wind up in a living condition much less than what you are used to and forced to get food stamps but you don't wanna be a burden on our government?

...do yourself a favor.

GO GET A JOB !!

1.)That crackhead can "easily be me"? No, I really don't think so. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that you have to first start using crack to become a crackhead. I don't see that happening too soon.

2.)Who am I to judge? Sport, I have looked in the mirror. I see someone who has busted their ass in school......worked when I haven't had too, and made connections that will hopefully secure my well being later on down the road.

3.)Hurricane Katrina struck two years ago this August 23rd. I think in two years you can find a job doing something. Furthermore, can they not rebuild their own homes? Did I miss something here? Why are you trying to make us feel like we OWE it to them to drop everything we are doing and help them fix their own lives. Again, they should take some damn initiative and stop feeling sorry for themselves. Yeah, Katrina was horrible....but its over. Do you know how easily these people could get hired doing construction, road work, oil field roughnecks? Ridiculously fast.

4.) I have a job. Thanks. And if I was ever dealt a bad hand and forced to live a life for a while that I was unaccustomed to........I would damn sure not settle for being a leech on a street corner with a change jar. In all honesty, I don't see anything like that happening to me though, ever. I have made good choices, at a young age, with my money which will benefit me down the road. IRA's, mutual funds, trusts...........those are all there so that those "down on your luck" situations won't happen.