FOOD STAMPS: To eat or not to eat

Mayor Cory Booker/others just don't get it. While options may/may not be limited, it *IS* feasible to eat a variety of healthy foods-occasional “goodies” too-on food stamps. The KEY to success is making changes/adjustments. The problem many (not all) have is lack of willingness and/or self-discipline to make necessary changes/adjustments. Some people have/had a hard time (like me) or simply cannot/will not make changes.


Related article: Cory Booker: Food Stamp Challenge Resulting In Hunger Pains, Caffeine Withdrawal


I used to be a Starbucks addict! I was introduced to Starbucks back in ‘97; I was hooked in no time! By 2009 I was spending as little as $200, as much as $400 PER MONTH on my coffee (drop/”froofy”)!!

Luckily for me, my Starbucks habit, for all intents-and-purposes, had already been broken. In mid-2009 my boyfriend had me write my Starbucks purchases for the current month as well as past 2-3 mos. I FREAKED when I saw how much I was spending! I realized I had to cut my Starbucks habit... not my coffee, just Starbucks… if not cold turkey, then as soon as possible. I began making coffee purchases when I happen to gas up my car (some locations have decently priced good coffee), took a small coffee maker to work for during the week. Eventually graduated to making/taking own coffee from home. I still go to Starbucks on occasion, perhaps once every 2-3 mos. When I started making (and still do) my coffee at home, I’ll buy fair trade by the pound, costing only a fraction of what I used to shell out. It took me 2-3 months to kick that habit. BOTTOM LINE: I had to be willing to make the change!

I like to eat out/bring in; I used to eat out 2-3 times PER WEEK. Like my Starbucks habit, I needed to cut back. I still eat out, maybe 2-3x per month. Leftovers, if any, are eaten (not thrown away) later at home.

If/when I had errands to run, they weren't always planned to be made during same trip. While I've always done fairly well as recycling/reducing and reusing, I still had my share of "waste" whether it was food, money, products. I now plan my errands, making as many as I possibly can in same trip, resulting in time/gas saved as well as a smaller carbon footprint.

I was never a "shopaholic" but still enjoyed my share of nice things. I've lived in my share of apartments, but always looked for a "deal" to catch a break on rent.

Like so many others, I, too, lost my job... for me it was mid-2010. So, am grateful I kicked my Starbucks habit long before and other changes were already in place. It made transitioning from good salary to little/no income much easier.

I moved to a more affordable location, luckily I found/qualified for “affordable housing” - no, it doesn’t mean it’s free. Matter of fact, while it cost a little more than what I used to pay, I have considerably more room (aka “more bang for the buck” – more space for less).

I shop in thrift stores as well as search for free items/events.

I also eventually qualified for SNAP (aka “food stamps”). When it comes to making purchases with food stamps, we average $50/wk for two people ($25/wk for one). On that amount my meals may be repetitive at times, but there’s still enough variety.

We're not a big breakfast eaters, when we do it’s more often on weekends. Regardless of day, breakfasts can be as follows: coffee w/toast or breakfast taco, eggs w/toast or tortillas (or no bread product at all) or w/sautéed fresh veggies, or just coffee.

Lunch (usually more like “brunch,”) tends to be any of the above or … Salad, sandwich, soup, fish, chicken, spaghetti, etc, etc, etc.

Dinner: Salad, spaghetti w/or w/out sauce, fish, chicken (baked, crock pot, etc), tacos (chicken, fish), “finger foods” (buffalo wings). (Note: dep on meal, veggie side incl).

Guess what … doesn’t happen often, but sometimes we even have dessert at times! Ice cream is my fave dessert.


YES, we manage this on food stamps! We’re never “starving” due to lack of food/options. What makes it possible is WILLINGNESS to make/maintain changes, breaking costly habits, giving up luxury food items, shopping for good prices/sales, combining w/coupons when available/appropriate. (There is a trick-learned technique- to making cost-effective purchases when using coupons.)

What also makes it easier, for us anyway, is we’re not big spenders when it comes to (non-food stamp) food/other items, so what little money we do have goes farther. More importantly, there are only two of us... it can be far more difficult when using SNAP for a larger family.

In the end, it all comes down to self-discipline that allows for “bending” (not breaking) the proverbial financial rules, resulting in flexibility, variety, enjoyment, creativity, with proverbial change to spare.