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

[AGDee]

Actually, that brings up a good point. Are there truly enough jobs for every adult in this country? Jobs that people can really support themselves on? We're experiencing a serious crisis in Michigan and there are not jobs that people are qualified to do. They aren't there. They don't exist and we don't have a huge immigrant population up here doing jobs that "Americans won't do". The number of foreclosures is unreal. The number of houses for sale right now is astounding.

I read some things on here that just aren't consistent with my experiences and reality. For instance "Sports are free" because I have never found a free sport for my kids to play. AYSO soccer is $155 a season. Parks and Rec baseball is $50 for a 6 week season. Oh yeah, and they need $45 shoes to play, and shin guards, gloves, bats, balls, etc. Find me a free sport and my kids will be signed up. Scouts, an all American healthy kid activity are costing me at least $600 a year between the two kids. And now we've added marching band to the mix.. at $500 a year plus equipment, uniform parts, instruments, etc. I would love to find a free sport, club, ANY activity for my kids.

I work so incredibly hard as a single mom and I have a decent job which I hope and pray is secure. It's very difficult for me to keep my head above water and keep my kids involved in good healthy activities and in a good school district and safe neighborhood.

I keep reading that there is Social Security disability available but there seems to be a lack of realization that if you haven't put anything into the system, you can't get anything back out. Everybody gets those annual statements from Social Security now telling what you'd get if you were disabled, retired at certain ages, etc. If you haven't made much money and put much into the system, you don't get much back.

I looked into apartments when I got divorced so I wouldn't have to put myself on such a tight budget by buying a house. The only 3 bedroom apartments in our current school district were "moderate income only". To get an apartment for $875 a month, I had to make less than $35,000 a year, gross. Supporting two kids on that income with that level rent isn't very realistic.

There are people who are working 2 and 3 minimum wage jobs trying to make ends meet. You think if they had a real opportunity to work only one job at a decent rate, they wouldn't jump on it?

Susan: I have become the queen of maximizing the grocery shopping since my divorce and I spend about half what you do each month! I work the sales for sure, buy generics a lot (because I've found that 90% of the time, they are just as good as the brand name items), store hop to get the best deals. It is definitely more time consuming. However, when I go to the fruit market, I can get 10 times the amount of produce for half the price than if I buy produce at the grocery store. It's an art, but I've become good at it.

[JWithers]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Actually, that brings up a good point. Are there truly enough jobs for every adult in this country? Jobs that people can really support themselves on? We're experiencing a serious crisis in Michigan and there are not jobs that people are qualified to do. They aren't there. They don't exist and we don't have a huge immigrant population up here doing jobs that "Americans won't do". The number of foreclosures is unreal. The number of houses for sale right now is astounding.

I read some things on here that just aren't consistent with my experiences and reality. For instance "Sports are free" because I have never found a free sport for my kids to play. AYSO soccer is $155 a season. Parks and Rec baseball is $50 for a 6 week season. Oh yeah, and they need $45 shoes to play, and shin guards, gloves, bats, balls, etc. Find me a free sport and my kids will be signed up. Scouts, an all American healthy kid activity are costing me at least $600 a year between the two kids. And now we've added marching band to the mix.. at $500 a year plus equipment, uniform parts, instruments, etc. I would love to find a free sport, club, ANY activity for my kids.

I work so incredibly hard as a single mom and I have a decent job which I hope and pray is secure. It's very difficult for me to keep my head above water and keep my kids involved in good healthy activities and in a good school district and safe neighborhood.

I keep reading that there is Social Security disability available but there seems to be a lack of realization that if you haven't put anything into the system, you can't get anything back out. Everybody gets those annual statements from Social Security now telling what you'd get if you were disabled, retired at certain ages, etc. If you haven't made much money and put much into the system, you don't get much back.

I looked into apartments when I got divorced so I wouldn't have to put myself on such a tight budget by buying a house. The only 3 bedroom apartments in our current school district were "moderate income only". To get an apartment for $875 a month, I had to make less than $35,000 a year, gross. Supporting two kids on that income with that level rent isn't very realistic.

There are people who are working 2 and 3 minimum wage jobs trying to make ends meet. You think if they had a real opportunity to work only one job at a decent rate, they wouldn't jump on it?

Susan: I have become the queen of maximizing the grocery shopping since my divorce and I spend about half what you do each month! I work the sales for sure, buy generics a lot (because I've found that 90% of the time, they are just as good as the brand name items), store hop to get the best deals. It is definitely more time consuming. However, when I go to the fruit market, I can get 10 times the amount of produce for half the price than if I buy produce at the grocery store. It's an art, but I've become good at it.

In order for me to stay at home with my kids, we cut costs HUGELY. I cut our grocery bill by a third. I work PT at my daughters preschool to pay for tuition and other expenses. And we still manage to put some in savings each month.

I would love your tips on saving at the grocery store!

[susan314]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Susan: I have become the queen of maximizing the grocery shopping since my divorce and I spend about half what you do each month! I work the sales for sure, buy generics a lot (because I've found that 90% of the time, they are just as good as the brand name items), store hop to get the best deals. It is definitely more time consuming. However, when I go to the fruit market, I can get 10 times the amount of produce for half the price than if I buy produce at the grocery store. It's an art, but I've become good at it.

That's pretty impressive. I'll be happy when we get out of the diaper stage - that adds a lot to the budget. (Figure I have about 6 months left on that...) The dog food adds a hefty chunk to the budget too...he eats like a horse...but he's part of the family and good for the kids, so I suppose its worth it.

I could probably trim a little more out of the budget if I tried, but we've already saved so much money over spending levels from before ($700 dropped down to $250-300) that I'm not ready to scale back further yet. My husband has certain things/brands that he likes, which could be eliminated if absolutely necessary. But, since we're managing with where we are, I let him and the kids have a few splurges. (I could probably get meat a little cheaper at the grocery store, but we have an amazing local butcher shop that offers excellent service. I just try to stock up when they have stuff on sale - thank god for big freezers. )

Speaking of produce markets/fruit stands, I have a question that's semi-on topic...I've heard that in many inner cities, there just simply isn't a place to buy fresh produce, or at least at reasonable prices. Seems like I read an article a while back which gave examples of the lengths a person (who didn't have a car) would have to go to get fresh produce. When I think about it, there aren't any large grocery stores really in downtown Toledo anymore - a person would have to somehow get out to the outlying areas to get to the big stores which might have bargain prices, or be stuck with the small quickie marts w/less selection and higher prices. I'd assume it might be the same in other cities too.

If I were in a financial position to do so, I'd open a fruit market in that area with pricing just to cover operating expenses, not turn a big profit. It scares me that there are kids in those neighborhoods who might not ever get fresh fruits and veggies b/c its either too great of an expense or hassle for the parents to obtain.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by susan314

That's pretty impressive. I'll be happy when we get out of the diaper stage - that adds a lot to the budget. (Figure I have about 6 months left on that...) The dog food adds a hefty chunk to the budget too...he eats like a horse...but he's part of the family and good for the kids, so I suppose its worth it.

I could probably trim a little more out of the budget if I tried, but we've already saved so much money over spending levels from before ($700 dropped down to $250-300) that I'm not ready to scale back further yet. My husband has certain things/brands that he likes, which could be eliminated if absolutely necessary. But, since we're managing with where we are, I let him and the kids have a few splurges. (I could probably get meat a little cheaper at the grocery store, but we have an amazing local butcher shop that offers excellent service. I just try to stock up when they have stuff on sale - thank god for big freezers. )

Speaking of produce markets/fruit stands, I have a question that's semi-on topic...I've heard that in many inner cities, there just simply isn't a place to buy fresh produce, or at least at reasonable prices. Seems like I read an article a while back which gave examples of the lengths a person (who didn't have a car) would have to go to get fresh produce. When I think about it, there aren't any large grocery stores really in downtown Toledo anymore - a person would have to somehow get out to the outlying areas to get to the big stores which might have bargain prices, or be stuck with the small quickie marts w/less selection and higher prices. I'd assume it might be the same in other cities too.

If I were in a financial position to do so, I'd open a fruit market in that area with pricing just to cover operating expenses, not turn a big profit. It scares me that there are kids in those neighborhoods who might not ever get fresh fruits and veggies b/c its either too great of an expense or hassle for the parents to obtain.

My dog eats one 30 lb. bag of Eukanuba a month, not too bad for a 92 pound dog!

In all fairness too, by divorcing, I eliminated one adult male to feed and only feed the kids every other week. The week that they are with their dad, I don't really cook for myself. Or, I make a big batch of pasta and eat it all week. I eat rice or cereal or ramen for dinner those weeks, so that helps!

You are right about fresh produce (although the city of Detroit has Eastern Market... the city is so big that it's quite a distance for some). Big chain grocery stores are non-existant in the city of Detroit proper and there have been news stories about how the grocery stores that are in the city are more expensive than those in the suburbs, opposite from how it should be based on income levels. I go to a store called Randazzos for my mom and so I get my stuff there too. I can walk out of there with several bags of produce for less than $15. Cucumbers there are 4/$1, green pepers are 33 cents a piece, etc. They have a lot of different fruits and veggies, so the kids and I have been trying things we wouldn't try otherwise, like mangos and star fruit.

[Kevin]

Here's what a local ministry has going for $25:

(4) 5 oz. New York Strip Steaks
(1) 4 lb. I.Q.F. Chicken Thighs
(1) 40 oz. Beef & Bean Burritos
(1) 28 oz. Banquet Beef & Noodle Dinner
(1) 2 lb. Breaded Frying Chicken
(1) 1 lb. Ground Beef
(1) 12 oz. Pepperoni Pizza Sticks
(1) 2 lb. Popcorn Chicken
(1) 1 lb. Bean Soup Mix
(1) 8 oz. Biscuit Mix
(1) 7.5 oz. Mac & Cheese
(1) 12 ct. Corn Tortillas
(1) 26 oz. Pasta Sauce
(1) 16 oz. Pasta
(1) 24 oz. Hash Brown Potatoes
(1) 16 oz. Mixed Vegetables
(1) Dessert Item

When my wife's father was disabled, divorced and dependent on the government, he did just fine. Even lived with cancer for several years on this sort of stuff.

[squirrely girl]

omg i love those co-op buying situations. we have a few local churches that do that and i think its GREAT! i just wish more groups would get in on that...

-m

[OneTimeSBX]

im back from the weekend, what the heck happened to the original topic? lol

in re: to your list above, kevin, none of that food is necessarily "healthy" (please, any health care professionals correct me if im wrong). i see a loooot of sodium and carb laced food! which goes back to the original problem of yeah, you can eat for $21, but not well/healthy.

[squirrely girl]

booooooooo on original topics. ha!

as for the foods, yes they're carb/sodium laced but at least its not fast food. the co-op clubs around here also include fresh fruits and veggies, but mostly cause they're buying from local farms too.

- m

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by OneTimeSBX

im back from the weekend, what the heck happened to the original topic? lol

in re: to your list above, kevin, none of that food is necessarily "healthy" (please, any health care professionals correct me if im wrong). i see a loooot of sodium and carb laced food! which goes back to the original problem of yeah, you can eat for $21, but not well/healthy.

So you're saying that we don't only owe lazy people free food in exchange for sitting on their asses.. but we also owe them healthy, expensive, luxurious food? Nice.

Healthy food is a luxury, not a right. Poor people don't get to have luxuries -- and yes, in this case, they'll lead shorter lives (which is probably better for society anyhow... shaving an extra 10-20 years off of their lives will save us all bundles of cash). I don't think that's intentional -- but it's certainly a fringe benefit.

You might raise the issue of children.. well, I do think we ought to be doing more in our schools to ensure that at least there, they get healthy food.

The trouble is that schools often have to choose between feeding their students a healthy diet and feeding their students enough calories to keep them from becoming malnourished. Further, even if the parents did have the $, they'd probably spend it on junk anyhow. Junk is easier to prepare and generally, when kids are faced with the choice between a taco town taco and an apple, the kids are going for choice "A."

[OneTimeSBX]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Healthy food is a luxury, not a right. Poor people don't get to have luxuries -- and yes, in this case, they'll lead shorter lives (which is probably better for society anyhow... shaving an extra 10-20 years off of their lives will save us all bundles of cash). I don't think that's intentional -- but it's certainly a fringe benefit.

did i just read that right?? let me see if i got this straight...poor, unhealthy people who eat bad food die early, and that is a fringe benefit for everyone else who pays taxes???

healthy food is not a luxury. organic, radiated apples grown on only 3 trees in america is a luxury. a bag of salad or a banana is not. free range certified corn-fed beef is a luxury. a pack of chicken hot dogs is not.

that has got to be one of the coldest things ive ever heard! hell, why feed children healthy foods? i guess the earlier we kill them off too the better society is!

pardon my sarcasm everyone, but that just wasn't right!

[CutiePie2000]

Originally Posted by OneTimeSBX

none of that food is necessarily "healthy" (please, any health care professionals correct me if im wrong).

I totally agree, but then again I compete in Figure/Fitness, so I'm not really a good person to ask. But none of that stuff would not get me "stage ready" (i.e. none of it is considered "Eating Clean".). Bring on the skinless chicken breasts and the sweet potatoes, baby!