Help!! I wanna make my Food Stamps last all month or have some left over for next month!!

[majestynoel]

A few years ago my fiance lost his job and we recieved food stamps. I had always used coupons if I had them but never went out of my way to find them. I don't remember how much we got but it wasn't enough to last all month. I started using coupons more frequently and saved a decent amount of money. After he went back to work I was looking for ways to save more money. Someone on another website told me about HCW and I have been hooked ever since. I have been stockpiling like crazy in fear that he might get laid off again. Reading the posts based on the grocery store I shop at alone has helped us out so much. Its so nice when someone points out a great deal on something that I may have missed, esp if it is stuff we use. My fiance just recently got laid off again and I am EXTREMELY thankful for this website. We have tons of HBA items so I don't even have to worry about buying those for a while. I have also stocked up as much as possible on food items like pasta, cereal, manwich and whatever else I have we use often. I still allow my stockpile to grow, and have thankfully had enough food stamps to go around the whole month with a little left over. The only thing I need to stockpile more is meat..but I am working on it.
I have also wanted to start a garden for a long time just to save money period. Only problem is..i can't garden for CRAP!! I could kill a fake plant... haha any gardening advice?

[faeryedark]

A few years ago my fiance lost his job and we recieved food stamps. I had always used coupons if I had them but never went out of my way to find them. I don't remember how much we got but it wasn't enough to last all month. I started using coupons more frequently and saved a decent amount of money. After he went back to work I was looking for ways to save more money. Someone on another website told me about HCW and I have been hooked ever since. I have been stockpiling like crazy in fear that he might get laid off again. Reading the posts based on the grocery store I shop at alone has helped us out so much. Its so nice when someone points out a great deal on something that I may have missed, esp if it is stuff we use. My fiance just recently got laid off again and I am EXTREMELY thankful for this website. We have tons of HBA items so I don't even have to worry about buying those for a while. I have also stocked up as much as possible on food items like pasta, cereal, manwich and whatever else I have we use often. I still allow my stockpile to grow, and have thankfully had enough food stamps to go around the whole month with a little left over. The only thing I need to stockpile more is meat..but I am working on it.
I have also wanted to start a garden for a long time just to save money period. Only problem is..i can't garden for CRAP!! I could kill a fake plant... haha any gardening advice?

I could kill afake plant too, LOL! I think we need ahow-to beginner's (step by step) guide to gardening, anybody know of a good one?

[Queenkim98]

I know I'm a few months late, I just found the thread today.

I would also suggest maybe finding someone else that stockpiles in your area. Since there are things that you can't buy with foodstamps, I wouldn't mind trading 10 boxes of tampons, or 10 bottles of shampoo for 10 jars of peanut butter that you may have gotten for 10¢ a jar.......

Kim

[marof3]

Oh my gosh that is a good idea. Of course everyone of you have some wonderful information. Do you have an update for us?

Happy Couponing!!!

[Paige'sMama]

I have coupons for $3 off $10 in beef or chicken. I would be happy to mail you some. Please send me your address. My email address is lifeoftheparty@myself.com if you send me your address I'll get them right in the mail. Remember that this is just a bump in the road and that there is always more money to be earned. Your family will be in my prayers.

[bluechicken]

My friend, who isn't huge into couponing but likes to save money, has a rule she goes by when she finds a deal. If she normally spends $X on and item and it is on sale for half that price, she buys two. If it is a third of that price, she buys three. What ever she would have spent on it, she still spends but in getting extras. I don't work that way but it works for her so it may be something that would work for you too.

Sign up for all the food freebies you can. Collect them all in one place, then use them for a meal or snack when you have enough. Cereal samples, granola bars, drink mixes, snack packs, etc. They won't be big, but it could be a nice treat.

Don't forget to sign up for seasoning samples too. We have had some nice meals using these. Nothing like a good spice to make a second best "steak" taste great. You can also add it to rice for extra flavoring without having to buy it already flavored.