How do people run out of food stamps?

[loaslaen]

Not everyone lives near a dollar store (a real one).

The closest Dollar storefor me is one hour and 15 minutes away in another state. Should I drive there so that you will approve of my TP choice?

No, stick with the 12 pk Cottonelle. It's double rolls so is equal to 24 regular rolls. That means you would have to buy 6 packs of $1 (4) pk generic to equal it. So that's $6 oop in one trip or 6 separate trips to equal the one pack of Cottonelle. Even for $5.99 - $1 q, that's still a better deal by $1 or 4 rolls.

[MaryMary]

I never said I did incorporate it in the beginning.

Here is the FACT: The Pampers are 10.99. I have a 5.00 EB's reward. I can get a pack of Pampers for 5.99-1.50 manu Q I recently received in the mail. That's a total OOP of 4.49 plus tax. I can't get Target brand any cheaper (even if my son could wear them). I can't get Pampers cheaper at Target (where they are 10.49-1.50 MQ). It's really simple mathematics. And I don't seem to have the trouble grasping it. Perhaps you are the one that needs to further their education.

AFAIK ECB and RR generated WYB an item or hit a specific $$ on specific brands.
If you receive $2ECB from Cheerios deal that's either
1. you have free $2 ECB but paid $2.45 after all discounts, be better off to bring your MQ to Walmart where Cheerios is $2.50 everyday,
or
2. paid 1.45 after all coupons and no free $2 ECB.

[MaryMary]

Repetition is the key to learning.

Very true!

[cbms]

AFAIK ECB and RR generated WYB an item or hit a specific $$ on specific brands.
If you receive $2ECB from Cheerios deal that's either
1. you have free $2 ECB but paid $2.45 after all discounts, be better off to bring your MQ to Walmart where Cheerios is $2.50 everyday,
or
2. paid 1.45 after all coupons and no free $2 ECB.

But still end up having to come up with the money to pay full price of the diapers, right? So you're out the 2.00+ anyway because of that. I repeat: you are NOT the tell all teach all of shopping. I've learned from much better, and I hold classes to teach others. I have many transactions that are many packs of diapers for only pennies OOP + getting EB's back because of turning deals, rolling EB's, etc. I know how the deals work. And Wal Mart sucks. I don't shop there unless I need something in the middle of the night and all other stores are closed. It's another debate, entirely, but they are an awful corporation now that Sam is gone.

How is it that the 1.45 is more costly than 2.50, again?

[CW&M Mom]

You better! And you better be taking public transportation, too, because you're not worthy of having your own vehicle (add extreme sarcasm).

no public transportation out here either. I guess I could steal a horse and ride there to make Mary happy

What most people learn being on food stamps...is that each situation is unique and the reason why they don't put huge rules on FS is that not everyone would be able to use them if they did. I used to live in the suburbs of KC....in the more "slum" area's of KC there are no grocery stores. You can drive for miles and all the grocery stores have left...and your left with things like Dollar Generals, and Pharmacies (walgreens and CVS) to shop for all your food. They have some unique WIC rules in Missouri as well...just for that very reason....because they know not everyone has access to regular grocery stores.

[VANILLAGRRL]

no public transportation out here either. I guess I could steal a horse and ride there to make Mary happy

What most people learn being on food stamps...is that each situation is unique and the reason why they don't put huge rules on FS is that not everyone would be able to use them if they did. I used to live in the suburbs of KC....in the more "slum" area's of KC there are no grocery stores. You can drive for miles and all the grocery stores have left...and your left with things like Dollar Generals, and Pharmacies (walgreens and CVS) to shop for all your food. They have some unique WIC rules in Missouri as well...just for that very reason....because they know not everyone has access to regular grocery stores.

Mary's got a high horse...maybe she will let you borrow it. She is sooooo charitable after all.

[MaryMary]

No, stick with the 12 pk Cottonelle. It's double rolls so is equal to 24 regular rolls. That means you would have to buy 6 packs of $1 (4) pk generic to equal it. So that's $6 oop in one trip or 6 separate trips to equal the one pack of Cottonelle. Even for $5.99 - $1 q, that's still a better deal by $1 or 4 rolls.

all right, no cheap stuff.
RA has Quilted Northern 12 pk for 6.49 minus $2 store video coupon minus MQ.
cmbs said she doesn't have RA, but I'm sure they have some local store offering better deal then $5 Cottonelle after coupons, may be not this exact week but some time before.

There is always another way to get your necessities without wasting your FS.

[MaryMary]

Did you locate that rule? I'd love the link! I know from experience that isn't how it works, so I'm just curious...

The ACTUAL rule is that when a FS recipient has a store coupon for money off, the coupon can be applied to whatever the recipient wants it to, food OR non food items. Plus, a $5/25 coupon is for your TOTAL purchase, it does not apply to specific products. What kind of micromanaging are you trying to do? I mean you have different amounts for EACH item, if anything you would divide the $5 by how many items you bought and subtract that amount from each item.

I wish to have that rule bolded above, but that's not how it works..

The point is that most FS recipients DO NOT coupon. If they want soda or cereal, they WILL spend full price on it. If a FS recipient is ALREADY spending their money on those items, then this is going to be a better deal for them.

If the recipents do not coupon or look for sales they're likely to run out of FS before the end of the month. The problem is not in the amounts they get, but in ability to manage what they have, more money will not solve their problems.
No, it will not be a better deal for them because for the same reason you said, they are not coupon, likely will not even bring that ECB next time they are in store.

[CW&M Mom]

all right, no cheap stuff.
RA has Quilted Northern 12 pk for 6.49 minus $2 store video coupon minus MQ.
cmbs said she doesn't have RA, but I'm sure they have some local store offering better deal then $5 Cottonelle after coupons, may be not this exact week but some time before.

There is always another way to get your necessities without wasting your FS.

No Rite Aid's here either.....Not in this state....I googled it for kicks and jolley's. It will take me 12 hours and 48 minutes to get to the nearest Rite Aid.

[loaslaen]

all right, no cheap stuff.
RA has Quilted Northern 12 pk for 6.49 minus $2 store video coupon minus MQ.
cmbs said she doesn't have RA, but I'm sure they have some local store offering better deal then $5 Cottonelle after coupons, may be not this exact week but some time before.

There is always another way to get your necessities without wasting your FS.

If I don't have CASH that I want to spend for $1 generic TP, how am I gonna buy RA TP for $4.49? Rite Aid does not have a RR or ECB type program.