$900 in food money -- What to buy?

[tivaclare]

I'd like some advice. We have recently fallen on hard times and have qualified for food stamps. It makes me embarrassed, but I'm very thankful for this and want to be smart with them and get a good value for the money. I'm a cashier and see a lot of families just buy junk food and I don't want this to be me.

We have about $900 at present and I think we will get some more money in February ($400 or so). I'm pretty overwhelmed by the amount and am not sure where to even begin. My monthly budget usually for food/everything was under $300!!

We're hoping things will look up soon, but I think we will probably qualify until at least February.

Thoughts? The benefits can be used at pretty much any store and are only good on food items.

PS: We also have an enormous freezer, so buying in quantity is an option.

[nateNnatsmommy]

Sounds like it's time to fill that freezer! Do you have to use the $900 by a certain time frame?

[tivaclare]

You know, I'm not sure. I think that as long as I'm on the program, it does not expire. So -- I'm thinking I have until at least the end of February to use what I have now plus whatever I get Feb 1.

Once our income increases again we of course won't qualify. It is so difficult to get people on the phone to answer questions for me though, they are very busy!

[gettinrevvin2007]

What is your freezer situation right now? Was it filled b4 this happened?
I know you have been w/ HCW a good while, so you know how to shop. You have fully funded shopping power now, so play whatever good deals you can.
Save your RRs and ecbs for the needs that food stamps don't cover...like diapers, tp, trash bags, light bulbs etc.
Very important there.

If you are not working right now, and like to bake; start baking and freezing snacks.

You can do this; you have the know-how.

I think the biggest expense most people have is buying meat, because in some areas those Qs are very difficult to find. So load that freezer w/ meat.

Everything else you can get dirt cheap/free w/ Qs.

Stores that know you as a coupon lady, may pat you on the back, for using fs to your best advantage. Others may roll their eyes and groan, but you are doing this to put your family in a better situation, so ignore them.

[sandygirl]

Don't forget you can use FS to buy items are WG & CVS that trigger ECB & RR - you might consider doing that to bank non-food items purchased with the ECB's and RR's.

Meat for sure.

Treat yourself some - have a nice steak dinner, etc seafood etc.

I've been in the same boat myself - we went to the local whole foods and got things we've never been able to afford.

[houstonmom]

Hi, there is no need to feel imbarresed thats what it is there for. It may be time to stock up on staples since you have more than you say you spend in a month it may be a good time to stock up on things you use alot of so you don't have to keep buying later like canned goods ,frozen veges, sauces, meat,poultry,salad dressings spices rice pasta that kind of stuff if you don't already have an overflowing stockpile lol.For me food is not easy to stock pile because we don't eat alot of packaged food so i see this is as a great oppertunity for you .So pretty much the possabilities are endless. and once you have a good stockple of food it doesn't matter if the benifits continue or not because you will be set.HTH

[tivaclare]

Originally Posted by sandygirl Don't forget you can use FS to buy items are WG & CVS that trigger ECB & RR - you might consider doing that to bank non-food items purchased with the ECB's and RR's. Meat for sure. Treat yourself some - have a nice steak dinner, etc seafood etc. I've been in the same boat myself - we went to the local whole foods and got things we've never been able to afford.

That is a great idea about the RR/ECBs using the fs...I had not thought of that.

Things are pretty rough. I'm trying to get some trades together so I can get freebies/cheaps with coupons. Right now my family is offering to cover the coupon trades if it will help (yeah, things are that tight).

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'd love to go to Whole Foods, but it is about an hour away. It is near a Trader Joes too, so maybe worth the trip if they are having good specials. Does Whole Foods take coupons?

[latte]

Originally Posted by tivaclare You know, I'm not sure. I think that as long as I'm on the program, it does not expire. So -- I'm thinking I have until at least the end of February to use what I have now plus whatever I get Feb 1. Once our income increases again we of course won't qualify. It is so difficult to get people on the phone to answer questions for me though, they are very busy!

I know you said that your normal budget was 300, if you have 900 thats roughly 3 months of regular normal shopping for you---and that you would be getting an additional 400ish in feb.........food stamps dont expire if you dont use all of it in one month, they roll over and are left on your card, the only time they expire is if your card goes 12 months without being used



with that being said------if your used to only spending 300 a month for food, there is no sort of rule that states you HAVE to spend ALL of the 900 or whatever you have


costco? i heard costco takes foodstamps now due to the economy-----costco would be good to stock up on some things -----i know that frozen berries are a good price there (great for snacking, and baking and smoothies) cheese is also a good price (wish i could say what else is a good price there, but those are the only 2 things that i KNOW are good deals off the top of my head there)


your freezer is full already from before foodstamps correct?

stock up on non perishables

riteaid and walgreens both take foodstamps (at least here in my area they do, i assume its the same everywhere----i think cvs does too but i dont have one to verify )-------buy some foodie items there, and use the rrs, rebates, ecbs and catalina coupons to cover the NON FOOD stuff

[sandygirl]

Originally Posted by tivaclare That is a great idea about the RR/ECBs using the fs...I had not thought of that. Things are pretty rough. I'm trying to get some trades together so I can get freebies/cheaps with coupons. Right now my family is offering to cover the coupon trades if it will help (yeah, things are that tight). Thanks everyone for the advice. I'd love to go to Whole Foods, but it is about an hour away. It is near a Trader Joes too, so maybe worth the trip if they are having good specials. Does Whole Foods take coupons?

I've also managed to do some rebates with food items purchased with FS. Just another thought.

[vickib50]

Each state can make certain rules about FS, even though it is a federal program. Here in TN, if you do not use your EBT card for a 90-day period, the balance will disappear and you can't get it back. Make sure you use the card for anything, something small, as soon as you can so that you don't fall down the black hole of no FS.

Please don't be embarrassed by disclosing this information to your HCW family. I'd be willing to bet that there are thousands on HCW that are in or have been in your circumstances. I know I have. The thing that should "perk you up" is knowing how to do the deals, getting the very most for your money, and taking good care of your family. Good luck to you.