To Heck With the Food Stamps, I'm Mad about the Manicures!

Messed Up Priorities

Published on March 12, 2004 By JillUser In Blogging

There has been a lot of talk about the rules and regulations regarding food stamps. A lot of us seem to experience the same observation, these women tend to have beautiful nails! *Notice I didn't say they all have* I would love to have beautiful nails. I don't. You know why? I don't have the time because I am taking care of my home and family!

Before children, I would get acrylic nails because I have a hard time growing my own. It is expensive and very time intensive. You have to sit there for at least an hour every week to two weeks. You have to make it a priority. Once I had kids, it simply wasn't a priority anymore.

I am wondering A)How do these women afford it? and B)Why is it they have time to sit on their butts getting their nails done?

I am sure I will get the "They deserve to feel normal too" argument. Manicures are another luxury item. Not a necessity at all! Designer clothes and coiffed hair, more luxuries. Seem to see a lot of those accompanying food stamps too.

Even seeing an example of this once (which I have seen much more than that) is enough to make you feel a bit bitter about paying for these peoples' groceries. People who deserve the assistance can feel defensive about people citing these instances, but it is one of those frustrating flaws in the system. I have so much respect for the woman with the calculator and pile of coupons in tote as she shops. She plans out a list, estimates the cost and sticks to her plan. I can't say I have ever seen a food stamp user ever reference a list or use a coupon. That is just my experience though.

Another thing I can't figure out is the cell phones. How is it they have cell phones too? Example I saw yesterday, leather coat, designer glasses, manicured nails, talking on the cell while yelling at 3 kids to stay out of the candy. All 3 kids had new sneakers, designer clothes and new coats.

I'm all for helping the needy. I am all for seeing kids get the nourishment and clothing they need. I am not for paying for luxuries I don't even have for myself or my family. My family is buying sneakers from Pay-Less and they are wearing Nikes. That just isn't right.

I am not sure how we are going to get there, but I think somehow our society needs to return to the times when people were proud to make the best of what they could with what they had. They would do anything they could to avoid hand outs. Anyone who doesn't believe that government assistance is a handout is fooling themselves. It used to be people were fine working their way up. Now any job other than the top is beneath them. Why work for less than you can make getting assistance? I'll tell you why, you can start a work record and work toward better jobs. Gain experience. Learn new things. Do for yourself and see how rewarding it is. That is how I was raised and it has worked out pretty well so far.

Comments (Page 5)

KarmaGirl

on Mar 31, 2004

Dharma, I make meal plans even now. I'm just spoiled and eat more elaborate meals than I need. However, during times that money is tight (like when car insurance is due, property taxes, etc.) I have ways of getting my food bill way down. Planning around grocery sales is one of them, as well as buying bulk (like ground beef is cheaper in larger quantities, you then just have to break it up and freeze it). i also have super cheap but nutritious meals like my spinach, rice and cheese dish. You take a bunch of rice (which probably ends up about $.50 for 6 servings), a package of spinach ($.99 for the "good stuff) and 1/4 of a large thing of Velveeta ($1.10) and milk to thin the cheese ($.25). So, you have 6 generous servings (which ends up providing lunch for my husband and I also) for less than $3.00. That is $.50 a serving and it is healthy and filling (veggie, protein, and carbs all in one yummy package). But, I have a feeling a lot of people don't cook, and they won't eat "cheap" meals. When needed, I get my grocery bill (including household products) under $50. You would be amazed at how much veggie soup you can make for cheap. It's filling, good for you, and cuts down how much "other" food you need....mmmmmm....I wish I had a bowl of that right now.......

dharmagrl

on Mar 31, 2004

I do too, Karma,and I pin it on the fridge. It allows me to spend less on food, and everyone knows 'what's for supper', causing less arguments about who wants what to eat.

Ooohhh, I like the spinach cheese and rice idea. I'm going to have to try that one. I also draw from my mother's teachings...we traditionally had a roast on sundays, and leftovers on Mondays. She made 'bubble and squeak' - leftover mashed potatoes and cabbage, mixed together and fried in a little oil until they're browned, then topped with a bit of shredded cheese. Sounds funky, but tastes really good! If we have roast chicken I'll save the carcass and make stock out of it, then throw in the leftover meat, a few veggies and some egg noddles and voila! Home made chicken noodle soup...tastes better than the canned stuff, and is more nutritious.

KarmaGirl

on Mar 31, 2004

never heard of the "bubble and squeak" but I may have to try it (I love potatoes...) It's funny, you sound like your household runs the same as mine. I love the meal plan on the fridge. My mother in law thinks I'm insane for doing it. But, it really keeps my shopping to a minimum and I hardly ever have to throw out food. Simplifies the shopping process, too, and I hate shopping so that makes me happy!

Home made soup is so much better for you. Just read the sodium content on canned soup. Ack...it's high blood pressure in a can.

crimson

on Mar 31, 2004

Kole and I spend approximately 100/m Cnd on food and supplies. I actually like grocery shopping in order to see how much I can get for so little money. Our staples are rice and egg dishes, plus, I've learned how to make bread, which is sooo cheap. We eat a lot of tuna in place of red meat, and it pretty much goes with anything... pasta, rice, in sandwiches, soufles. Our produce that we get is also cheap and I've gotten her into the habit of thinking that fruit is as much of a treat as sugary junk food. I like that you guys are sharing recipe ideas. Any more?

JillUser

on Mar 31, 2004

My grandma grew up during the depression and can make a casserole out of anything. Here is the Master Casserole Recipe

1/3 cooked meat, fish, cheese or hard cooked egg
1/3 sauce, soup or gravy
1/3 cooked potatos, vegetables, rice or pasta

mix together, season to taste, cover and bake at 400 degrees until top looks browned (about 40-50mins) Voila, cheap and easy meal.

KarmaGirl

on Mar 31, 2004

1 package mac and cheese (I like the shells kind for this)
1/2 bag defrosted frozen broccoli (can use fresh, too, it just takes longer to cook)
8 oz mushrooms
1/2 cup sour cream

make macaroni to package directions. Slice and lightly cook mushrooms. Mix all ingredients in casserole and cook at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. Cheap, easy, and fairly healthy. A salad on the side is a nice compliment.

crazy lady

on Mar 31, 2004

Some choices made are bad choices. I own up to mine.
My ex-husband and I got married when I was 16. My son was born, I was 17 years old. Ok, my choices. I didn't see any other alternatives at the time. He wouldn't "allow " me to finish night school to get my GED. I had to work instead. (Jerk) < lessons learned. A year later, we divorced, and he got everything, including our son.< my choice, no excuses. Lesson learned.
I had another son, two years later. All the while working a full time job and supporting myself and my boys.(I paid child support too) We did just fine for awhile.
Some years later, I decided to go back to school, tired of working dead end jobs. I couldn't get financed for community college, so I tried a trade school...of sorts. I took Cosmetology.(mistake3) I was working full time, plus some. I was going to school nights. I couldn't keep up with work and school. I was getting about 4 hours of sleep a day. I eventually cut my hours at work, mostly just the overtime, and got on food stamps for me and my youngest son. I only recieved $243. a month. I was only able to get that much as long as I was working and going to school. Right after I graduated, I no longer accepted food stamps. I didn't wait until I found a job, or waited until it ran out in 2 more months. I stopped it immediately.
If it wasn't for the system, I would not be as productive as I am now. I give back to the community, more than I did back then.
Most of you probably believe what I did was wrong, but I used the system as intended. It is there to "give a leg up "
I don't believe it's there to give more than that though. Like, furthering your education.
It is there to help people get their GED's or go to a trade school to join the working world. Maybe to START a career, but not to finish a graduate school.

KarmaGirl

on Mar 31, 2004

how long were you on it, though?

Draginol

on Mar 31, 2004

I was looking at what I've eaten today.

Breakfast: Oat meal, grape fruice, orange juice. Total cost: ~$.35

Lunch: 2 Peanut butter and Jelly sandwiches: ~$.20

Dinner: Left over chicken, salad: ~$1.00

That's pretty typical for me. Let's say though I got that up to $2 per day to take care of unusual days. That would be $60 per month. I don't have to life taht way, I can afford more and we often do get other goodies like fresh fruits, wine, roast. But there's no way we'd get up to $600 per month with 5 people.

If you don't eat out, food is dirt cheap.

What pains me is that I actually do support having a social safety net. But I want that safety net distinctly defined: No American should go hungry or have no shelter. We're a rich nation. But if you're going hungry in the United States, it's probably a failure of common sense, not a failure in the system.

I also support very generous grants for schooling. It should come in the form of tuition grants for those who are a) needy and keep a very high grade point average while in school (i.e. 3.0 or better).

But there should be limits on many of these things. 4 years collecting food stamps (as poetmom mentioned) seems to me to be way too long.

KarmaGirl

on Mar 31, 2004

I really don't see why anyone should need them past a year. After that, it can't really be considered temporary. I also don't think that people who can't work because they are going to school should get food stamps. I think that they should get a very low interest loan even though they have no money that they can use for school (have to maintain a passable GPA to collect) and for things that they *need*. They then can really pay back what they owe.

crazy lady

on Mar 31, 2004

It was barely a year. Like 10 months..... I went to school for 2 years.

crazy lady

on Mar 31, 2004

In the state of NM you are required to re-apply for assistance every 3 months. That way they can keep a closer eye on you. Thinking about it, I was probably on it for a shorter period of time. I remember applying only twice. It hardly worked though. (the check up system)
While at school, I learned a lot....so many of the women there were on full welfare, recieving full benefits. All of them, and I mean, ALL of them were able to work. Hello! If your able to go to school to learn a trade.....I think you can work! What are you going to do when you graduate? Now that is definitely abusing the system.
My biggest issue, was that most of them hardly spoke a word of English. (illegal aliens)

propagandhi

on Sep 15, 2004

two words: hood rich

dharmagrl

on Sep 15, 2004

hood rich

Huh? Can you explain what that means? I think I know...but I'm living the white-bread-vanilla-flavored life at the moment and am not familiar with the terminology...

liveletlive

on Sep 15, 2004

I'd like to add a bit of insight into this debate , because some of these comments are just unreal.

I used to work in "the ghetto" . Sometimes the things I heard and saw just amazed me , but for the most part, I saw a loving Community that had some major flaws, no matter what the blame or share of blame. I also learned that, at the time , MOST of the people on welfare were white.

This didn't matter to me , because being in need is being in need. Yes, some "milk it " ,and most don't. Rules have tightened up on welfare and food stamps , so it's harder , but not impossible to defraud.

There's a Church here that serves the homeless , and they do it in style . They are amazing. They ask for donations from Corporations , and clothing. BUT , they don't want used clothing , they want new, name brand clothing - and they get it. WHY?

As their Pastor says : These people have very little , sometimes nothing. The lift in their esteem , especially for the children , when they are fed , and get a nice new pair of shoes - cannot be measured. The smiles and the tears are proof enough.

Some of these people have a great deal of pride. Dressing up for Church is important. And possibly dressing nice while they use their food stamps ( an embarrassing thing for many ) is important , too.

As for the nails , many women, especially the Black community , have parties at home where they do this themselves. It's just another part of the looking nice . It's not costly if there's no labor.

As for the tax dollars, I pay taxes too, and so do others , so just pretend that I am paying for it , and not you. We're talking pennies here, folks. You spend more on Lattes.

Many many years ago , I lost my job, as did my friend , for no reason other than our company benefits would soon be free. The company had a history of this, so we filed for unemployment. Worried about money until the unemployment came ( if we got it at all ) , we applied for food stamps as a one time thing , which we received.

I have never been so embarrassed than using those stamps , but we had to. Everything worked out fine. Remember - usually the percentage of people abusing the system
is really quite small.

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