Coupon vs food stamp issues

[strawberrysunrise]

Ok.. I'm almost scared to post this from the threads my attempt to search pulled up... but here goes.


I'm a newbie... have some coupons, had read through a lot of the stuff here... and thought I was ready to go.


But, as a single parent who is currently on unemployment, we are currently getting food stamps (though nowhere close to the amounts listed in one thread here!)... and 2 of my first 3 tries have been totally thrown off by trying to use an ebt card with coupons.


Round 1 was with a local chain (dillons). Everything seemed to go fine... until the payment kept being rejected, and eventually the cashier figured out that apparently he has to go in and manually change totals to charge me tax on anything I used a coupon for... making my out of pocket expenses for non-food actually higher, but giving me the coupon savings on my ebt balance.

But really, making a big deal, taking a lot of the cashier's time, and being a total pain for everyone in the process... not an experience I particularly want to repeat anytime soon.


Second round I tried at walmart and it seemed to be fine... but I had other items besides just food.

Third try was at walmart again... this time not having other items... and this time it didn't go well.

Apparently their system is completely opposite of the grocery store... the normal (or on sale in this case) price of the food is charged to the card, coupon or not, and then any reduction from coupons is made on the general merchandise part of your total, and can't go over the total of the general stuff.

So, essentially, anything I save in coupons has to be spent right then on something that isn't food instead of just reducing the grocery total. Not a huge problem with the smaller trips now that I know about it... just make sure to add in tp etc, use unemployment funds that would have paid for those later towards making up the extra taken from food when needed. A bit of robbing peter to pay paul though.

But probably not a good thing with any big totals.. i mean, i only need so many non-food items from walmart that are actually priority items needing purchased. Getting things I wouldn't have normally paid cash to purchase anyway is sort of a step in the opposite direction...


Anyone have any tips on anything I'm missing on this to make this work right?

Besides aldis, where no coupons apply... there's only one other small grocery store chain in this area left anymore.. and with this track record, I'm almost scared to attempt it.

[bethanyam]

When helping my mother shop I've never had any issues with her using her card and coupons. But sometimes even if she has NO nonfood she does still have to pay tax on the items, but on every occasion it's been calculated by the register. I'm not really sure what to say other than to seperate your food and non food and try again. Try not to be worried about holding up the lines. You have EVERY right to save your families money be it cash or food stamps.

[cearhart]

I have some problems sometimes I separate my transactions from food to non-food and the stores I know that take the coupon amount off the ebt end I just don't mix the deals. So if the store has Kleenex and cheese on one sale with a cat I make sure I buy enough kleenex on one transaction and enough cheese on another or I don't buy it. It will take a little bit to figure it out but you will then it will be second nature to you. If you need any other help feel free to PM me.

[kawakii]

Our food stamps work similar. At our local Shaws, if we use coupons and go to use EBT card the coupons are deducted off the grocery items not then non grocery items we are buying using a coupon. So, like this week I bought cat treats with the Free coupon and in then end that 1.99 came off my grocery total, so I ended up paying OOP for the cat treats.

So, We tend to seperate our transactions out to food, versus non food items. Makes it easier on the cashier and on me. Only I qualify for food stamps so we don't get very much so it's easier to just seperate the transaction and not bother with the tax adjusting. Thankfully in NH --no tax so we dont have to worry about that adjustment.

[meggers]

Sounds to me like you're doing great & figuring out how to make it work for you. I know all about the tax penalty, which is really a shame. I honestly don't think Wal-Mart knows what they're doing. That doesn't seem very consumer-friendly. Have you spoken to someone in management about it? Or corporate?

When you go to your grocery store again, maybe you could ask the manager to walk you through the process so that you can help the cashiers get through it quicker.

From what you're saying this is all new to you & the kinks are catching you off-guard. Couponers really have to grow some tough skin & food stamp recipients who use coupons have to be even tougher. :sad: I know this personally. So, hang in there & keep your chin up & keep finding the best way to utilize your food stamps.

[cpaige]

MEGGERS ~ You are so right in saying that a thick skin is needed!! The first time I used my food stamps (which I no longer get), I had NO idea about some things. Oh, I was bright red by the time I left, sweating and every thing!

I know that w/ FS, (straight FS, not including TANF $$), it's only to be used on food items. No paper products, cleaning products, etc. So if that is what the OP is doing, make sure to have seperate transactions b/c you are basically paying seperatly. Good luck!!

[amy s]

Hang in there.... things will get better and easier. I congratulate you that you were able to ASK to find out how to do this! It takes a stronger person to ask for help than it does to suffer in silence.
I also congratulate you on the choices you are making to better your life. I am proud of you, even though I dont know you. :)

[tmsmalley]

Just wanted to add that you're combining two systems that are both complex and out of the ordinary as far as the cashiers are concerned so you need to do your shopping when you've got plenty of time and aren't stressed. In my book, that means not at "rush hour" when people are just getting out of work or middle of the day on weekends, not with kids (there's no way to think when you're having to say "stop touching" "come back here" "no, we're not getting that"). Don't try to do it when you're rushed or they're rushed. If you find a cashier that seems to get it and doesn't seem to mind, stick to that person's line.

I do most of my shopping early Saturday or Sunday morning (about 7 or 8). No one has had time to get in a bad mood yet.

Also, post on the thread for the stores that you use asking for tips on using food stamps with coupons. You are by NO means the only one and someone there will know the details of doing this at that store.

Good luck and hang in there!

Tess

[tmsmalley]

Oh, one more thing- the threads you came across doing a search were in the Hot Under the Collar forum I'm sure. That's the debate, argue and complain section so please don't take that too personally. Not everyone posts there and most of the people that do post harsh things there would never make the same comments in a store forum. There are a lot of people there that just like to argue and talk without any/much filter. Heck, I posted one day about my 3 year old flooding our living room floor with the garden hose and got slammed. Pretty much anything can turn negative there, but that does not reflect the overall tone of this board one bit. As a group, this is a generous, incredibly helpful and caring bunch (as long as we don't talk religion or politics)!

Tess

[kimandkathess]

Wow, I sure am glad that I don't have probelms in my state (ny). I can go do food and non food, use coupons, and food stamps, and the registers deduct what it needs to from where it needs to and everything works out fine. I hope everything works out better, and as others have said. Seperate your transactions into food and non food.