Food Stamps

[bobtheenchantedone]

http://theboard.byu.edu/questions/73384/

Obviously everyone's situation is different, but I don't think that food stamps should be the absolute last resort. To try to take on Concord's schedule would likely land me in the hospital, and while I'm sure most people would not have such a bad reaction, there are probably very few who could handle it for more than a semester or two.

I also don't think that $25 is at all a decent food budget. Last time I spent that little per week I was basically starving myself, and most people I know who have tried such a budget subsisted mainly on super-cheap processed foods. That's not worth it. Where Concord suggests trying everything to avoid debt or government assistance, I would do anything rather than fill my body with crap for four years. Debt and assistance are temporary, but eating poorly can ruin your body for life. It has mine.

I also would suggest bypassing Church help. The best they can do is get you access to the Bishop's Storehouse, which is a hassle (you can only go "shopping" once a week or two weeks, the storehouse may be fairly far out of the way, it may be more embarrassing because you have to make your "shopping" list with the RS president) and which mainly consists of food-storage type food and is pretty lacking in fresh fruits and vegetables. From what I've heard, food banks are much the same, only the selection is likely to be even worse.

Getting on food stamps has been one of the best decisions I've made recently. It takes away the stress of trying to figure out how to get one of life's basic necessities, and gives me the freedom to have a fairly healthy diet.

[Whistler]

Well, I lived on $20/week for food as a college student, and my diet was mostly eggs, bagels, cereal, potatoes, pasta, and apples. And canned chili with rice. It was pretty boring, and lacking in fresh vegetables, but it is possible. I don't think I ever thought of food stamps because I was frugal out of a desire to save as much money as possible, not because it was all I could afford (although I really couldn't afford much). It almost makes me wish I had thought of applying for food stamps, because eating well is a great pleasure in my life now.

[Genuine Article]

Debt and assistance are temporary, but eating poorly can ruin your body for life.

I don't think of government assistance as temporary - being on food stamps will follow you wherever you go. Job applications and tax return forms always ask if you're a veteran or if you've ever been on food stamps.

[Integrating Editor]

I average about $20/week right now, and I eat at least 5 servings of produce a day. Part of that is that I'm a vegetarian, which helps cut costs considerably. Most of my protein comes from whole grains paired with vegetables, with some eggs thrown in for good measure. I bake my own bread as well as just about anything else. So I buy grains in bulk, frequently even borrow my sister's grinder to make flour, and spend most of my money on fruits and vegetables. My diet ranges from stir-fries to homemade veggie burgers to enchiladas to homemade waffles and muffins. Not bad overall. While I'll probably buy more expensive things like chocolate instead of cocoa someday, it works out all right for now.

[Katya]

Debt and assistance are temporary, but eating poorly can ruin your body for life.

I don't think of government assistance as temporary - being on food stamps will follow you wherever you go. Job applications and tax return forms always ask if you're a veteran or if you've ever been on food stamps.

I don't ever recall a job application asking if I've been on food stamps.

[NerdGirl]

Job applications and tax return forms always ask if you're a veteran or if you've ever been on food stamps.

Seriously?! I've never applied for a job in the US and never will (other than the jobs I had at BYU), so I really have no idea, but that seems surprising and like an invasion of privacy to me.

[thatonemom]

I don't think that's quite right. I always thought that food stamps were a voucher-type program (like WIC) where a person had vouchers for $X to be used on certain foods at approved grocery stores. As opposed to pay-out programs, like Social Security, disability, unemployment, etc. where a person receives a check for $X to do whatever with. Pay-out programs are income, and go on your income taxes for the year you receive them. (For the most part... I think there's a certain amount of unemployment that's untaxable but I couldn't give numbers off the top of my head).

Anyway, voucher programs are not taxable. At least, not federally. And taxes are almost always interested only in whatever year you're doing them for. (For the most part, unless you've got credits being recaptured, or you're depreciating stuff, or a host of other things that don't apply to most people)

tl;dr -food stamps aren't reported on income taxes More than you ever wanted to know about food stamps/SNAP.

[Imogen]

Debt and assistance are temporary, but eating poorly can ruin your body for life.

I don't think of government assistance as temporary - being on food stamps will follow you wherever you go. Job applications and tax return forms always ask if you're a veteran or if you've ever been on food stamps.

I don't ever recall a job application asking if I've been on food stamps.

Me either, and I just spent the summer filling out tons of them.

[suebee]

I also would suggest bypassing Church help. The best they can do is get you access to the Bishop's Storehouse, which is a hassle (you can only go "shopping" once a week or two weeks, the storehouse may be fairly far out of the way, it may be more embarrassing because you have to make your "shopping" list with the RS president) and which mainly consists of food-storage type food and is pretty lacking in fresh fruits and vegetables.

I served as a Relief Society president for 5+ years and filled out who knows how many food orders. I also helped several people fill their order, so I'm very familiar with the Bishop's Storehouse. I think you may be confusing the storehouse with the cannery. The cannery most definitely carries mainly food-storage type food items. However, the storehouse looks just like any other small grocery store, complete with fresh fruits and vegetables. Only difference is there is no cash register or check out at the end of your "shopping trip."

[bobtheenchantedone]

No, I certainly mean the storehouse; I've been there several times. What I meant was that it is heavy in canned and boxed foods, though they do also have some breads and such. And unless things have recently changed, they only carry about half the vegetables and a couple of the fruits I regularly eat.

[Portia]

I average about $20/week right now, and I eat at least 5 servings of produce a day. Part of that is that I'm a vegetarian, which helps cut costs considerably. Most of my protein comes from whole grains paired with vegetables, with some eggs thrown in for good measure. I bake my own bread as well as just about anything else. So I buy grains in bulk, frequently even borrow my sister's grinder to make flour, and spend most of my money on fruits and vegetables. My diet ranges from stir-fries to homemade veggie burgers to enchiladas to homemade waffles and muffins. Not bad overall. While I'll probably buy more expensive things like chocolate instead of cocoa someday, it works out all right for now.

I'm very impressed. This sounds like both a healthy diet and really keeping in the spirit of "provident living" as they say.

I will demur to reveal how much I spend weekly on food, but it ain't no 20 bucks. Kudos.

[Marduk]

I'm just curious what produce you can get that gives you 35 servings for less than $20.

[Integrating Editor]

From my last shopping trip: oranges, bananas, apples, peaches all for $5.75. That was 24 servings of fruit right there. Bell peppers, broccoli, and jalapeno brought it up to $7.11. That makes it over the 30 servings mark, at least. I still have a large head of romaine in the fridge and lots of dried beans, so the only other vegetable addition was 6 servings of tofu, bringing the total to $9.09. I might need tomatoes later, but that's most of my fruit and vegetables for the week. The rest of my money will go to hoisin sauce, oil, eggs, milk, and peanut butter.

[Concorde]

Hey guys, I thought I'd pop in to clarify a few things in response to your points. First off, if I could edit my response, I would. I dashed it off without more thought and it was mostly my weak, one-sided opinion. I shouldn't have even mentioned my own circumstances, because with reflection it looks like I'm saying something along the lines of "Look at me! Look at me being all Wonder Woman. You all must be as amazing as me!" And it totally reeked of embarrassing arrogance. So I'm sorry for that and I'll do better!

Going back to the opinion part, I suppose I should explain my "last resort" approach to food stamps so my extreme-ness at least makes a little bit of sense. I grew up in a very poor area and most of my friends were part of SNAP, and most of their families completely abused the system (everyone had iphones and nice cars and able-bodied parents would not seriously look for jobs). My family was always extremely frugal and I grew up being almost neurotic about it. When I wrote that answer, I had a specific talk about food stamps in the back of my mind ("Ministering to Needs through the Lord’s Storehouse System" from President Ezra Taft Benson) that says we shouldn't receive anything from the government like that. Upon further reflection, it is dated and I am not (and should not!) be a judge of who should or should not receive food stamps. The question did ask for my opinion about going on food stamps, but perhaps I should have moderated my "end-all, be-all" opinion to be a little more open-minded.

However, I do stand by my statement that you can eat relatively cheaply and healthily as well. I spend about 60 dollars every two weeks for groceries and I eat almost entirely fresh, healthy foods.