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

[mommy2mason]

Hi! My family has just recently started to recive Food Stamps, due to my Husband being laid off from work, and I would love to make our food stamps last aleast all month until the next rolls in. I feel like I am doing everything possible!! lol I would love to stock pile while we are getting food stamps. We get $338 a month and there is Me, Hubby, and 18 monthold Son. Any tips or info would greatly be appreciated!! I will repp those who help me!! Thanks soooooo Much in Advance!!

[couponsmakecents]

Ok, lets see what we can do.

Where do you shop?
Do you have stores that double?
What does your food stamps prohibite you from buying?
Is anyone in your family allergic to any foods?

What do you have stockpiled currently?

[dwshrty77roc]

Originally Posted by mommy2mason Hi! My family has just recently started to recive Food Stamps, due to my Husband being laid off from work, and I would love to make our food stamps last aleast all month until the next rolls in. I feel like I am doing everything possible!! lol I would love to stock pile while we are getting food stamps. We get $338 a month and there is Me, Hubby, and 18 monthold Son. Any tips or info would greatly be appreciated!! I will repp those who help me!! Thanks soooooo Much in Advance!!

First of all just want to say I am sorry that your DH got laid off, but remember this is not the end but only the beginning of you gaining control over you lives. Learning to coupon and save money can be one of the best things that you can ever do.

You can start by emailing different companies to compliment them on their products and ask them to add you their mailing list and send you some coupons. Next make sure to get copies of the sunday papers to start collecting coupons. Try to match up as much as possible coupons with whats on sale. Try planning your meal around whats on sale for that week. Only buy whats needed most and not do any impulse shopping. Look for sales all around. Do you have a store close that will double and triple coupons for you, I know some kroger's will do it up to 3 like coupons. Try shopping at CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid to take advantage of any sales that they may have on Baby items. I know right now CVS is giving $5 ECB with the purchase of $20 of huggies products, tie that will coupons 2 $1.50 q's and you can get about 2 packs of diapers/pullups for around $12. You will not develop a stockpile over night, but you will eventually get to a place where you can feel proud of your accomplishment. Also do some trading on here with others who may have what you are needing for any sale coming up. And one last important piece of info. READ, READ AND READ some MORE of what going on around HCW. There are some very smart guys/gals on here. I mean they have really helped me out and more ways that I can count.

I have a budget of $400 a month for grocery and misc., so I know you can make it work. I've had that amount for time now, but I hope to get it lowered soon. HTH

[jillibean_1978]

OP, I understand what you are saying. My husband just lost his job too. I have cut back as much as possible. Unemployment will pays bill. But there's nothing left over for food. So we are waiting to see if we can get food stamps as well.
And I am sorry for hi-jacking and/or getting off topic. I was told by someone who gets food stamps that you can't use coupons or you have to pay cash on the food too?!?!?! Is that true? I know I will still use coupons, but will I have to pay taxes or something? I don't care to pay taxes. I just want to be prepared. Thanks!!!

[amy s]

To clarify:
food stamps are just like cash, except they can ONLY purchase food! Most states have a debit card , so no one really knows you are using "stamps". PLEASE do not worry about using coupons while using food stamps! Not only is it legal, it may be VERY necessary if you want to have the allottment last the whole month!
Don't forget to check Hillbilly Housewife's emergency food plan to get you started saving money!
MODS: I am saying hillbilly housewife as I have seen it posted before. If it is unallowed, plese forgive me, and remove my post of it.

[cearhart]

HI! I get food stamps too and they work just like a debit card but in my state you are not allowed to carry a balance. What you don't use at the end of your month you lose!! You can use coupons on your order the only thing is sometimes if you buy toiletries and food and have coupons for both. The coupons come off the food side so you pay more in cash but have more on your food stamps. Does that make sense?? I just pay the difference but you might want to separate your transactions if you are low on cash. Alot of the discount grocery stores take food stamps too but I usually do better with coupons and the food lasts longer because it does not go bad as fast.

[kktl32]

surf the store markdown sometime you can find really great deals.I was in kroger the were clearancing out the 20% more fiber brown sugar pop tarts 1.09 and they had the 1.00 peelie on them .09 for pop tarts.Just keep a eye out and familiarize your self with the stores.the grocery store can even provide your diapering needs,I found a 80pk of kroger diapers on clearance for 6.89 w/ a 3.00 peelie and their wipes were 2/4.00 with a 1.00 peelie.It was a great deal.The diapers and wipes are compared to huggies.Hope this helps

[mommy2mason]

Thanks for all the replys!! I shop at harris teeter, wal-mart, food-lion. I can double up to .99 cents. I have been couponing for a while now and I watch every ad and always matchup coupons and If I don't have a coupon Then I try only to buy when its on sale. I try to find marked down meats, and I go to a turkey plant to but in bulk for Suasuage, chicken, corn dogs, and lunch meat (they take food stamps) I always have enough food to last all month, but I wanna make it where I can start buying extra stuff to keep in my stockpile. I like top think I have a decent stock pile of toiletries, just not food.

[snafu4me]

check out the angelfood program ~ the take fs in my area

[Grandma Lewis]

Get started trading coupons. This sounds strange to say that a .50 coupon is worth more to me than a .75 coupon, but I'd rather have .50 than .75.

For instance, I can only double up to .50 so if you have a .50 coupon for cheese and I have a .75 coupon for cheese, we both win if we trade.