Food stamp use skyrockets: How one family puts food on the table
Filed under: Food, Shopping, Economizer
While most of us are preoccupied with gorging ourselves on turkey and stuffing, it can be easy to forget about the growing number of people who are struggling just to eat one meal a day. In fact, a recent government survey found that more than one in seven U.S. households are finding it difficult to afford putting food on the table.Those 14.5% of U.S. households, representing about 49 million people, make up the highest rate of "food-insecure" households since the U.S. Department of Agriculture began monitoring the issue in 1995. As the recession has deepened, so has the number of people using food stamps from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, with participation growing by 23% in the last year, according to Hans Billger of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The situation would be far worse if not for food pantries and federal food assistance programs, such as SNAP. For the nearly 35.9 million people who receive SNAP benefits, they're a lifeline to survival. In July, more people were using SNAP benefits than at any other time in the history of the program.
The average SNAP benefit for one person is $101.53 per month with a maximum of $200. For a household of four, the average benefit is $226.59 per month (the maximum benefit is $668 per month). WalletPop recently spoke with a few families who rely on food stamps to find out just how hard it is to stretch their resources and put healthy meals on the table.
Feeding a Family of Four on Food Stamps
With $36 per person per week to buy groceries for her family of four, Brooke (whose real last name isn't being revealed because she doesn't want her friends and family to know she's receiving food stamps) of Arizona has just enough money from SNAP to keep everyone fed and healthy.
Brooke and her husband work as writers from home and earn about $20,000 a year, which puts them below the poverty level for a family of four. They have two children, ages 3 and 7, and receive the maximum benefit in SNAP.
Interestingly enough, Brooke says her family eats better now than they did before. Prior to using food stamps Brooke used to try to buy food and toiletries on $80 a week. To help her along the way, Brooke uses online grocery coupons, which she says saves her at least 30% off her grocery bills each week.
WalletPop asked Brooke to keep a diary of what her family ate over the course of one week, and the total came to $105.07. The list doesn't include much junk food other than some sodas and often doesn't include food for her husband, who fixes his own meals and is out of the house often. She added some of his grocery purchases at the end of the list.
Monday:
Breakfast
We woke up late and skipped breakfast.
Lunch
My toddler had six chicken nuggets, $.75
I had a chicken patty on hamburger bun with cheese, $1.45
My daughter had Top Ramen noodles, $.15
Total: $2.35
Snacks/Drinks
Water that I bought at Wal-Mart for $.25/gallon at a vending machine (probably drank 1 or 2 gallons)
Flavored water - $.62
Trail mix - $.75
2 bananas - $.50
Milk - $.50
Total: $2.87
Dinner
Grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup.
2 cans of tomato soup for $.60 (bought on sale with a coupon)
6 slices of bread at a cost of 50 cents
Shredded cheese (50 cents)
Olive oil for cooking (the olive oil didn't cost me anything because i won it on RachelRay.com)
Total: $1.60
Total for day: $6.82
Tuesday:
Breakfast:
2 yogurts for a total of 80 cents
3 bananas for $1.25
Total: $2.05
Lunch:
1 can of chili for $1
2 peanut butter & jelly sandwiches made for $1.00
3 pears for $1.25
Total: $3.25
Dinner:
2 boxes of Shells and Cheese for $5
2 ears corn fpr $2
Total: $7
Total for day: $12.30
Wednesday:
Breakfast:
2 yogurts for $.80
3 bananas for $1.25
Total: $2.05
Lunch:
Top Ramen for 15 cents
2 hot dogs (no bun) for 40 cents
1 French Bread Pizza for $1.50
Total: $2.05
Drinks:
2 apple juices for $2
Dinner:
3 roast beef sandwiches
Roast beef for $5.50 (the meat was on sale, leftovers available)
3 sandwich rolls $2.50
3 carrots $1.00
Total: $9.00
Total for day: $15.10
Thursday:
Breakfast:
Homemade Fruit Smoothies that included fruit, juice, and sherbert mixed in the blender for $3.50
Lunch:
Leftover Roast beef sandwich from last night - $0
3 ham sandwiches: $2
Dinner (we had a guest for dinner on this night)
Pork chops stuffed with stuffing: $6
1 pound of green Beans for $2
Mashed potatoes $2
Total: $8
Total for day: $11.50
Friday:
Breakfast:
2 yogurts for 80 cents
3 bananas $1.25
Total: $2.05
Lunch (we had an extra guest for lunch):
2 pot pies for $1.50
2 hot dogs (no bun) for $.40
1 Can of chili for $1
Total: $2.90
Snack:
3 flavored waters - $.95
Trail Mix - $.75
Dinner:
Fish for $7
Green Beans for $1.50
Pasta: $1
Total: $9.50
Total for day: $16.15
Saturday:
Breakfast:
2 yogurts for 80 cents
Banana smoothies for $1.25 (friend gave us some of the fruit we used)
Total: $2.05
Lunch:
Top Ramen noodles for $.15
4 pears for $1.25
One can of soup - $1
Total: $2.40
Dinner:
Pizza for $3
Total for day: $7.45
Sunday:
Breakfast:
4 slices of toast for $.50
2 bananas for $.45
Total: $.95
Lunch:
2 Banquet Turkey Meals for $2
1 Banquet Pizza Meal for $1
1 Banquet Chicken Nugget Meal for $1
1 Healthy Choice Microwave Meal $2.40
Total: $6.40
Dinner: We made French toast and sausage with eggs
1 Package Sausage - $1.50
8 slices bread - $1
6 eggs - $.85
Total: $3.35
Total for the day: $10.70
Miscellaneous:
6-pack of soda for $3.35
5 Microwave meals for $13
Jones Cola Fridge pack -$4
Gallon of milk for $2.50
6 gallons water for $1.50
Total: $24.35
Approximate total for week: $105.07
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 26)
11-25-2009 @ 10:22AM
mary said...
Being a food stamp recipient you really have to stretch your dollars I use coupons too and have a family of five It's hard but can be done.
Reply
11-30-2009 @ 8:28AM
Corey said...
Ummmm.....no offense meant, but if you are commenting that means that you have the internet. Granted, you might be on a public computer, but if you are paying for the internet wouldn't it make more sense to cancel that subscription to save money?
11-30-2009 @ 8:29AM
PEKI said...
LISTEN NY STATE PEOPLE,
ASK YOUR STATE TO FIX OLD BUILDINGS AND REVAMP THE WELFARE SYSTEM BY GIVING HELP TO PEOPLE WHO REALLY CAN AND ARE WILLING TO HELP THEMSELVES BY MAKING GOODS HERE IN OUR OWN STATE. ANY ONE WHO CAN SIT THINK OR FUNCTION CAN DO SOMETHING PUT THEM TO WORK AND SUBSIDIZE THEIR INCOME AND SEE HOW MUCH WE SAVE,,MAKE TOYS AND SHOES AND POCKET BOOKS AND CLOTHES AND AND AND AND....
11-30-2009 @ 9:02AM
Cooper said...
Corey - Good point. I tend to think the same way, but I've been through some rough patches in the last several years and Internet access is one thing I make sure to keep paid no matter what. It's my lifeline to job searches - virtually every job I've had since about 1994 was found and applied for on-line. (It's also useful for filing unemployment weekly check-ins, etc.). It's just not practical (usually) to use a library computer for an hour at a time with all the inherent distractions to mount a serious job search. Walking to a library isn't even always practical and with gas at $2.50/gallon+ it's probably cheaper to just keep the ISP bill paid up. . . In my budget, it's the last thing to go before utilities and the mortgage. I can ride a bike to work if I have to, but I can't do a Monster.com search without an ISP.
Now, if we were talking about cigarettes, that's another story. But, you can't buy cigarettes or alcohol with "food stamps" (actually an "EBT" now).
11-30-2009 @ 10:03AM
Di said...
Another way to strech food $$ is through Angel Food ministries. They can be found at www.angelfoodministries.com. It works like a co-op, and the savings are multiplied because all the labor is volunteer.
11-30-2009 @ 10:07AM
sieben13 said...
STOP GIVING MONEY & FOOD TO PEOPLE OTHER THAN AMERICAN,S UNTIL you take care of your OWN FIRST
11-30-2009 @ 10:40AM
Inkling said...
UH-HUH, as I have stood in line countless times in the grocery store waiting FOREVER while the woman ahead of me pays for each separate item with WIC or food stamps, I've had plenty of time to analyze the recipient of this freeloader system. I notice how they have very young children, (WHY they got pregnant with no viable source of income to support them...I have no idea). One time I noted that the woman using the welfare system to buy her groceries was dressed very nicely in new clothes, shoes, etc. It took her over 15 minutes and various WIC and food stamp checks to finally finish. When I got to my car I noted that she was parked right next to me. Can you imagine that? She had a really nice, brand new, Cadillac. MAN! Our government treats freeloaders really well. Go cry in your government and taxpayer funded food. If it is so hard for you to make ends meet you should've thought about that before having so many kids and went to work instead of making babies whose mouths you can't feed. I would've rather seen my tax dollars go for a mandatory abortion than to feed your illegitimate kids until they are 18, and most of the time the daughters end up just like their mothers...pregnant at 15, uneducated, and living off welfare.
11-30-2009 @ 10:59AM
Flo said...
I noticed that all the items she fed her family were frozen meals. She would have done much better cooking (chicken legs - approx. $2.00 for large package), chopped mean (when on sale), etc. I raised 3 kids on my own (without food stamps or child support) and we ate lots of pasta. Making the sauce yourself also helps with the cost. I feel sorry for those kids that have to eat ramen noodles. Pasta salad would be much better.
11-30-2009 @ 10:57AM
Amylulu said...
It is smart to stretch your dollars..or food stamps...by using coupons. Just a remark to the idiots on here...I work 40+ hours a week and I still get food stamps. I am a widower; not a leech. I'm sorry my husband died of cancer--that doesn't make me a good for nothing that just wants to mooch off the state. I pay taxes too and should be able to get help when I need it! Next time your JUDGING, remember that you don't know everyone's situation
11-30-2009 @ 12:28PM
katie said...
i give you a lot of credit. i watch my grown children do this and they also get help once a month from local churches. they do quite well.
11-30-2009 @ 12:41PM
George said...
I think everyone ,except my family, is recieving food stamps that lives on my street. This is providing a means for them to aquire illeagal and prescription drugs, and alcohol. If we were more strict on who recieved food stamps maybe those who really need it could get more use from it. There needs to be a penalty for useless people who don't work because they don't have to. I have someone offer to sell me their food stamps every day. "you give me cash, I'll give you this card for $25 it's worth $100" Get a job. Hey did you know you can also get school grants to pay for drugs? Wake up state and federal stop pissing our money away.
11-30-2009 @ 1:43PM
Bob said...
its sad, but not the kids fault you can't keep your legs closed
11-30-2009 @ 2:57PM
Inkling said...
It is EVERYBODY'S responsiblitly to REPORT WELFARE FRAUD AND ABUSE. If you are a customer in a store and see it, a cashier, or a person that has neighbors that is abusing the system...REPORT IT!!! Don't be afraid to stand up and do what is right. WE must end this fraud. The government should deal with those people and punish them so others can see that this system cannot be taken advantage of. We have watched Welfare recipients pull up to collect their "free money" for over 30 years in their Caddys and no punishment is enacted. We are sick of seeing the abuse and want to see things change and responsibilty and accountability. We are all sick of the abuse that we pay for. We need to get proactive on this lame freeloading system.
11-25-2009 @ 10:34AM
Ashley said...
I have received food stamps for a couple of years now. In my state you get an ebt card that works like a debit card - so people behind you in line don't know that you're using food stamps. It makes life much easier knowing that no matter how many hours I work I can put food on the table. I have sort of made it my personal crusade to encourage people I know that could use it to apply - knowing the ins and outs and the convenience of it means I can explain it to them from personal experience.
Reply
11-30-2009 @ 10:12AM
Ruth said...
Every state had EBT, as far as I know there's no "food stamps" left anywhere. And you're right, it's like a debit card. We also put the cash part of the case on that card so people aren't waiting on checks either.
I see a lot of prepackaged items on this family's menu. She could do better on her shopping and eat healthier. Rice and beans really are good for you. They need to eat more vegetables.
Staples: chicken, rice, beans, vegetables, cheese, tortillas, eggs
11-30-2009 @ 10:22AM
Linda said...
Get a 2cd or 3rd job and quit taking handouts! If you've been using food stamps for two years-you need to do something different. Are you going to rely on the gov't to buy your food the rest of your life? It's supposed to be only temporary.
Use Obama money and go back to school free and get a higher paying job. I'ms sick of having money taken out of my paycheck to be given to people like you that use the system to live on.
Work harder! It won't killl you! It will make you stronger and independent-like you should be.
11-30-2009 @ 12:54PM
anna said...
I'm sure you didn't mean it to sound this way, but the sentence "no matter how many hours I work, I'm still able to put food on the table" is just wrong. It SHOULD matter how many hours you work if you're receiving government assistance. It SHOULD matter, because other people out there work hard both to stay off the food stamps and to pay for yours. Food stamps are meant as a temporary help for people who are working their way out of trouble, not as a way of life, like for that family in the article.
11-25-2009 @ 11:13AM
NORMA C. said...
I don't get food stamps but wish I could, my Social Security doesn't go very far and at the end of the month I litterly have nothing. Yes I am an eldery senior.
Reply
11-30-2009 @ 6:57AM
kimber said...
You should call meals on wheels kiddo!
11-30-2009 @ 8:30AM
PatP said...
Norma Apply again and again and they will get the message.