Food Stamps Challenge?

[Deleted]

I've been thinking about this a lot. We spend an obscene amount of money on food, and throw a lot of stuff away. Of course, I feel that liberal guilt. So I want to try to live on the SNAP amount for a week to see how I can better meal plan, and try to have a better appreciation for all I have.

Is anyone interested in joining me? We'd start the same day (probably next Monday?) and have daily check ins.

Let me know and I'll set it up, I'll post the rules, how much you are allotted based on your family size, etc.

and I expect Bliss to participate, lol.

[mollz007]

That sounds interesting. I'll give it a try. I feel like we spend a lot on food too.

[takeonyou]

I'm in!

[aspentosh]

Part of me wants to say yes but I truly don't think I could do it.

[lindyanne]

How much is it for a family of 3? I have no idea if I could without utilizing our pantry which defeats the purpose. Even with DH going out to eat for lunch three days a week, I don't think I could. I'm actually OOT three days next week so I couldn't do it anyway. Just curious.

[cjeanette]

I am in!

[Deleted]

Dec 5, 2012 12:34:28 GMT -5 lindyanne said:

How much is it for a family of 3? I have no idea if I could without utilizing our pantry which defeats the purpose. Even with DH going out to eat for lunch three days a week, I don't think I could. I'm actually OOT three days next week so I couldn't do it anyway. Just curious.

$526/month, so divided by 4.3 weeks is $122 a week.

[Deleted]

I just looked at the numbers and I would have to INCREASE my grocery budget to get to the SNAP amount. My current budget is $680 and SNAP would give me $793. So, I basically do this challenge every month and didn't even realize it. : )
And yes, it is easier to save money when you shop for a large family because of bulk purchasing that doesn't make sense/would be wasteful for a single person.

[Deleted]

www.fns.usda.gov/snap/applicant_recipients/eligibility.htm

[cookies]

Dec 5, 2012 12:39:32 GMT -5 @iheartcosmos said:

Dec 5, 2012 12:34:28 GMT -5 lindyanne said:

How much is it for a family of 3? I have no idea if I could without utilizing our pantry which defeats the purpose. Even with DH going out to eat for lunch three days a week, I don't think I could. I'm actually OOT three days next week so I couldn't do it anyway. Just curious.

$526/month, so divided by 4.3 weeks is $122 a week.

Really? That much. We rarely eat out and our grocery bill usually adds up to about that much each month. We shop at Whole Foods too. So if that's the case, I'm in for the challenge. Ha.

[aspentosh]

Dec 5, 2012 12:39:32 GMT -5 @iheartcosmos said:

Dec 5, 2012 12:34:28 GMT -5 lindyanne said:

How much is it for a family of 3? I have no idea if I could without utilizing our pantry which defeats the purpose. Even with DH going out to eat for lunch three days a week, I don't think I could. I'm actually OOT three days next week so I couldn't do it anyway. Just curious.

$526/month, so divided by 4.3 weeks is $122 a week.

Wow, really? That is actually higher than I thought it would be. (NOTE: not high)

[Deleted]

Dec 5, 2012 12:40:27 GMT -5 @forcuatro said:

I just looked at the numbers and I would have to INCREASE my grocery budget to get to the SNAP amount. My current budget is $680 and SNAP would give me $789. So, I basically do this challenge every month and didn't even realize it. : )
And yes, it is easier to save money when you shop for a large family because of bulk purchasing that doesn't make sense/would be wasteful for a single person.

There are certain foods you can and cannot buy, though. So for this challenge, only foods within the SNAP guidelines can be bought.

[rubytue]

My intern was doing this for class a few months ago. Even as a single, college kid it was hard. But her teacher also said they couldn't take free food or handouts.

$30/week for one person? I want to try, but I know I'll fail. Especially if my pantry is off limits.

[ssmjlm]

I would, but DH's work lunches are hit or miss, so it would be hard to keep him accountable.

[winnied]

Wow, I'm surprised that just based on H and I as a HH of 2 would get $91.75/week. That's about what we spend now, including organic food and wine.

Still, say we had a family of 4, including teenagers, it would be a struggle to keep growing teens boys, for example, well fed.

I guess I'm in.

[takeonyou]

Ok, well I do that every week then. I feed my family of four PLUS my daycare kids on less than $668 per month. The only thing that would push us over that is eating out. I can cut that out.

Anyone have a link to SNAP eligible foods?

[auberge]

I'll do it with you. So I get $122 for seven days? (family of 3)

[Deleted]

I'd get $50/week according to that link. That's what I already spend each week on groceries. Including my weekly 6-12 pack of beer.

So piece of cake.

[aspentosh]

Dec 5, 2012 12:46:35 GMT -5 takeonyou said:

Anyone have a link to SNAP eligible foods?

Yeah, I'd be interested to see this now.

[pitterwoo]

I'd join in. I fully expect to fail, but it would still be a good exercise.

[makingithappen]

I can't afford to do it; the amountis twice our current budget...I guess that means we do it every month though (minus no hot foods)

[Deleted]

I think its easier when you have more family members, or if you have access to a place where you can buy in bulk or get good prices.

I know part of the issue, in Newark at least, is what is called a "nutrition dessert"-- where people don't have access to regular supermarkets that stock healthy foods, or would have to take a bus to get to one, thus precluding cost savings such as buying in bulk, etc.

If you can only buy what you can carry in your arms, and dont have a car, you aren't going to go to Costco and buy 5 lbs of chicken thighs for .99/lb in bulk- you buy one pound for $4/lb at the corner store. That adds up.

I think this will be much easier for the general MM population than it would be for someone in Newark.

[cjeanette]

How are people seeing what they would get? All I can get is what income qualifies you?

[takeonyou]

Dec 5, 2012 12:51:45 GMT -5 @iheartcosmos said:

I think its easier when you have more family members, or if you have access to a place where you can buy in bulk or get good prices.

I know part of the issue, in Newark at least, is what is called a "nutrition dessert"-- where people don't have access to regular supermarkets that stock healthy foods, or would have to take a bus to get to one, thus precluding cost savings such as buying in bulk, etc.

If you can only buy what you can carry in your arms, and dont have a car, you aren't going to go to Costco and buy 5 lbs of chicken thighs for .99/lb in bulk- you buy one pound for $4/lb at the corner store. That adds up.

I think this will be much easier for the general MM population than it would be for someone in Newark.

Agreed. I live within .5 mile of a grocery store and 1 mile of 3 more. I also have a farmer's market a half mile away. I have easy access to these foods.

[winnied]

Dec 5, 2012 12:51:52 GMT -5 cjeanette said:

How are people seeing what they would get? All I can get is what income qualifies you?

Scroll to the bottom of the page.

[Deleted]

So you CAN buy skittles on SNAP. very interesting.

[Deleted]

Dec 5, 2012 12:47:30 GMT -5 blissanity said:

I'd get $50/week according to that link. That's what I already spend each week on groceries. Including my weekly 6-12 pack of beer.

So piece of cake.

I wonder why Cory Booker is doing less.

Maybe because most people don't get the max since its offset by salary? hmm

[auberge]

wait a sec.... I just came to the realization that even if I don't go over my allotted amount I can't eat out or can I?

[Deleted]

Also, you need to divide the monthly amount by 4.3, NOT 4, to get your weekly rate.

So Bliss, you actually get $46.50, not $50.

[Deleted]

Dec 5, 2012 13:00:22 GMT -5 auberge said:

wait a sec.... I just came to the realization that even if I don't go over my allotted amount I can't eat out or can I?

No eating out!