Could you live on $33 for food for a week? What would you buy?
Mayor Cory Booker of Newark, New Jersey, spent last week living on food stamps. He had $33 for food for the week.
Some people think it’s a publicity stunt because he announced he is considering running for governor. However, I think it is still a legitimate question. Could you live off of $33 for a week of food, and what would you buy?
Here is how Booker did it, and I don’t think he chose very wisely.
“Booker’s experiment, launched Dec. 4, got off to a rocky start when he spent most of his $33 budget on several cans of beans, a large bottle of olive oil, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potatoes and bags of salad. Posting a picture of his food for the week on Instagram, he admitted he could have spent his money better.”
” ‘I am regretting not thinking through some of my food choices for the week. In hindsight, investing more of my SNAP budget in eggs, and perhaps some coffee might have helped me later in the week. I am growing concerned about running out of food before this is over–especially as I try to resist the urge now to have another sweet potato before I go to bed tonight,’ Booker wrote on LinkedIn.”
“Throughout the week, Booker has written about his empty stomach. On his third day, he opted to eat his dinner of peas, black beans, cauliflower and broccoli in small bites late in the day to “allay some of his hunger pains.” Over the weekend, as his food supply dwindled, Booker lamented accidentally burning one of his last sweet potatoes—making an already meal even smaller….”
“I’ll be honest with you. I take so much for granted, even going to Starbucks and buying a cup of coffee is more than my daily food allowance right now. And so we really need to expose the problems on a national level by denigrating programs that actually empower our economy in the long run,” Booker said.”
My family has never had to live on food stamps (thank God) and I don’t ever want to. I think it would be terribly stressful trying to make the money stretch and buy nutritious foods and interesting foods. But as someone who shops for groceries every week, here’s what I think I would have chosen.
I think you have to focus on foods with lots of fiber to help you feel full, and I think you have to look for inexpensive proteins like milk and eggs. I think you also need to focus on non-processed foods because they will be cheaper. But you definitely won’t be getting anything that is organic, and it will be a very bland, repetitive diet. I think you have to be careful about getting enough protein and not getting an upset stomach from vegetables. (The homeless guys that lived on our block in New York never wanted vegetables or fruit. They said it would upset their stomachs.)
I think you buy a dozen eggs. If you don’t buy organic or free range, you can get them fairly cheap. You would have almost two eggs a day. I also think you buy a big bag of rice, big container of oatmeal, dried beans (cheaper than canned), apples and bananas. I guess margarine for your fat (or butter if you could find a good price). You could cook with it and use it in you food.
I think you would also buy milk – again not organic – you could probably get it for less than $4 for a gallon, and it is very filling.
And maybe a can of instant coffee for caffeine? (I am going to look for at prices when I go to the grocery store.)
Before I would have said peanut butter and a loaf of bead but peanut butter has gotten so expensive. Maybe I would had in peanut butter and jelly and a loaf of wheat bread.
I’m not sure you could buy any meat. I guess the chicken would the be least expensive but would still take a hefty chuck of the $33.
UPDATE TO MY POST: So I went to the grocery store after I wrote my post and took some notes on prices. I shopped at a Safeway, which they don’t have in Georgia to my knowledge but I think it’s probably comparable to a Publix. I could probably have found some of this stuff for less at the Kroger or Walmart. With that said, here is what I found:
Eggs — basic eggs, not organic or free-range – $1.99 for large dozen
Wheat bread- brand name was on sale for $2 a loaf.
Margarine -- 99 cents (Butter was on sale for $2)
Gallon of Milk — $3.39 is the one I would have chosen. It was not organic but does say no steroids, hormones or antibiotics for the cows. There was a cheaper brand at $2.77 but does not have the pledge about hormones on it so that makes me nervous.
Rice — 5 lb bag was $4.49. You might choose to save some money at go with the 2 lb. bag for the week at $3.19. (The brown rice was $4.99 for a 5 lb bag and should be more filling.)
Black beans (dry) 1 lb. bag $1.49
Peanut butter store brand 28 oz. jar $4.99
Jelly store brand 18 oz. $2.39
apples 3 lbs $3.99
bananas $1.62 bunch of bananas
I forgot to look up oatmeal and the instant coffee.
If I add up all the bolded items, I’m at approximately $26.08 without my oatmeal or coffee and I am not sure if I need to leave money over for taxes. Do they tax food stamps? Those items would feed you but it would be a sparse and very boring week of meals. (I would say oatmeal and fruit for breakfast. PB&J and fruit for lunch. Rice and beans for dinner. Could swap the eggs in for dinner or breakfast to change things up.)
The other quandary here is you can save by buying in bulk but it cost more at the time. Also then you have to distribute the bulk out over time.
I mentioned the idea to the young woman cashier and high school bagger and they were very interested in what the mayor chose. The young cashier told me that he chose horribly and that she was emancipated from her parents at 15 and that would have chosen much better than that. The young man who was bagging my groceries told me that he would buy protein bars. He said he knows they sell them for 99 cents each and that would fill you up. I told him I thought it was interesting that he went for a processed food instead of an all-natural food. So it was interesting to hear young people’s opinions on it.
So what would you buy if you only had $33 for a week of food for one person?
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95 comments Add your comment
wes
December 13th, 2012
9:57 am
Nobody starves to death in this country unless it’s some crappy neglectful parenting taking place.
This “Mayor” is a total clown loser.
Jessica
December 13th, 2012
10:00 am
Other than some staple items, of which one generally buys when starting a house hold and is not something that needs to be purchased every time or at all (Olive oil? Really?!) $33 can go a long way for one person. As a single person I often spend maybe $120 a month on food..and that is with me buying steaks and expensive cut meats. Also, the dollar tree is a good place to pick up things like spices and basics when you are broke.
For $33 a week, I could eat well. And that only makes for boring meals if you’re not able to cook well. Because honestly it is herbs and spices and the method of preparation that makes meals not boring.
A whole chicken bought on sale can be bought for around $8. The chicken can be butchered and portioned for several different meals. Or can be roasted whole, with portions being used for chicken salad, or chicken pot pies.
rice (which can be steamed, boiled or fried)- $3,19 (Total 11.19)
Frozen veggie bags, the stir fry mixes can generally be purchased on sale for less than or at a dollar. Buy three varieties, from experience I can get four meals out of a bag, and I generally steam them with some garlic powder -$3.00 (total 14.19)
Eggs, but I’m buying them at my dollar store for $1 a dozen. (total $15.19)
For variety, I’m gonna get a small pack of pork tenderloin, generally four to a pack for ~5 bucks. (total $20.19)
loaf of bread- cheapest variety available- $2.39 (22.58)
Fresh veggies in the form of a couple of tomatoes, a large onion, and a bell pepper.
Well under $30 and good healthy, nonboring meals.
I’ve blessedly never been on food stamps but I’ve been broke. You learn to cook with what you have and make do.
As far as how people have cash and food stamps, they don’t require you not have cash ever to get on food stamps and food stamps don’t cover things like toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning solutions, shampoos, toothpaste, or other things we consider needs. Just because you don’t agree with the items the person is spending their limited cash on, doesn’t mean that their children don’t need food items.
Also, this is $33 a person, not a family, And processed junky foods are generally cheaper than healthy ones. It’s part of the issue with obesity in lower income familys. You’re not eating a lot, what you are eating is junk, and you’re body is retaining everything.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
December 13th, 2012
10:07 am
“I cant believe how people try to group all people receiving benefits into that same sterotyped group. ”
No one said “all” people.
Beta
December 13th, 2012
10:11 am
For $33, I could purchase enough food for one person for seven days without too much trouble. Provided I had access to an Aldi’s store. Here is what I would buy: Whole Wheat Bread, small jar of peanut butter, gallon milk, 16 oz. deli turkey, one box pasta, 2 pounds carrots, bell peppers, 3 pounds onions, garlic, 4 pounds oranges, bananas, three slicing tomatoes, mustard, canola oil for cooking, box of single serve tea bags, box of sweetener, dozen eggs, frozen chicken. With that and assuming access to a stove and fridge with freezer section, salt and pepper available, there would be enough food and some to share. I am diabetic, have to avoid the white carbs. Buying Aldi’s produce specials, you can have a varied diet for lower costs than at stores like Kroger or Publix. Also, knowing how to cook helps a lot. Being in need of food assistance doesn’t have to mean an unhealthy or drab diet. Still, I would not want to have to be on so tight a budget.
ATLWmn
December 13th, 2012
10:15 am
For one person, $33 is plenty. I spend that most every week. Ground beef can make three dinners’ worth of meat loaf, 1/3 lb of meat from the deli is only $2, cheap bread, frozen vegetables ($1/bag), milk, eggs, canned or dry beans. Also, a 1 lb bag of lentils goes a long way. Lentil soup is hearty and easy to make, and costs about 25 cents a serving, even with the chicken bouillon I use. It’s about shopping wisely, not necessarily making sacrifices.
Now if I had $33 for two people or more, that would be tough.
DB
December 13th, 2012
10:16 am
Out of curiosity, I checked the New Jersey food stamp program on-line — it varies from state to state. A single person making less than $14K a year doesn’t qualify for food stamps. So, on the qualification survey, I put in a salary of $1200 a month, and since it’s New Jersey, I put in housing expenses of $700 (since it’s NJ) and no dependents, etc., just to see what the benefits would be. The website calculated $97 per month for SNAP benefits. That’s less than $25 a week. It’s designed to be a supplement, not completely support. Also, it’s paid monthly, so a recipient would have to be careful to budget their money, or else the end of the month is going to be pretty hungry.
My problem with food stamps: I only wish that I felt that benefits such as food stamps were being distributed fairly and responsibly. There’s so litle oversight on the assignment of benefits, and yes, I do think people lie about their income in order to qualify for more benefits. Food stamps, welfare, etc. were initially designed to be a TEMPORARYmeasure to help someone get on their feet, etc. Unfortunately, it seems that it has become an entitlement program to an entire segment of society who has never known anything different. In Illinois, there was a scandal about millions of dollars of benefits being paid to people living OUT OF STATE — Hello? Did NO ONE notice that these benefits were going to people with non-Illinois addresses?! It’s these kinds of bureaucratic waste that make me skeptical of the government administering anything — especially healthcare — efficiently or effectively, to make sure that the people who need it get it.
kimmer
December 13th, 2012
10:19 am
I believe one could make it easily on $33 a week. I know for a fact I made it on about $10-12 dollars a week when I was in college in the 80s. The mayor did make terrible choices which would concern me if I was a citizen of Newark. My mayor, who is responsible for allocating and spending millions of dollars for complicated projects couldn’t manage $33 dollars in food stamps.
One question though. Does the gov give any guidance to FS recipients on how to make their allotment go as far and as healthy as possible?
My thoughts
December 13th, 2012
10:20 am
@Mayhem – you stated the following: “They are behind on their bills, and cannot pay their rent, and are constantly having their water and cable cut off. BUT, they have plenty of beer.”
They have plenty of beer because they choose not to pay their bills, not necessarily because they have SNAP benefits. If you take away the SNAP benefits they would still be behind on their bills, and not paying rent, and constantly have their water and cable cut off. Now we can conclude that they will still have plenty of beer, but with have nothing to eat.
Please note that while the majority of people on Section 8 receive SNAP benefits, the majority of people with SNAP benefits do not receive Section 8. In order to receive Section 8, an individual will literally have to be at or below poverty levels to receive discount housing and generally this benefit is usually left to families consisting of an adult and child(ren). Single individuals will rarely receive Section 8. However single individuals can receive SNAP benefits as a supplementary income for food. SNAP is based upon size of family and income vs bill ratio. Bills consist of rent & utilities, does not factor in luxuries like cable and cell phone.
The maximum benefit for a single individual is $200/month ($50/week), however depending upon your income this can be as low as $40/month ($10/week) for the individual. The $200 amount is usually reserved for individuals that make significantly below the poverty level. If you have any type of job, the usual amount is about $100-$125/month for an individual.
For a family, the maximum benefit is of course higher and depends upon the size of the family and the combined income of the family, but again the lowest amount that can be expected probably $100/month ($25/week) for the family.
@homeschooler
In order to receive SNAP in college, a person must have to have a job, family, or literally prove financial hardship (no parents, no family, etc). Being jobless does not automatically qualify an individual for SNAP benefits while in college.
Techmom
December 13th, 2012
10:38 am
I could live on $33/week. It would be tough at first if I didn’t have some kind of stock of the basics but I know how to shop wisely and live on a budget. It’s not fun but it’s doable.
I too think there should be stricter restrictions on what can be bought with food stamps/SNAP more like WIC. If it’s meant to be supplemental, then just make it like WIC- you can buy only certain things and then use your own money to supplement whatever else you need. I actually think MJG’s idea isn’t bad. Standing behind someone buying energy drinks and Cheetos with SNAP makes me want to scream.
I do remember being on WIC when I was really young (my father left my mom with a 3 & 5 year old and no job and refused to pay child support) and standing in a long line to get a box of basics. I remember getting a huge block of cheese and how it made the grilled cheese sandwiches taste funny. I assume that’s where the term “government cheese” came from.
Anon for this one
December 13th, 2012
10:43 am
We had a period where we were living very lean, work-wise. Neither of our jobs provided benefits, and we had to cut out our self-paid health insurance, which was $600 per month.. I was willing to go without health insurance for myself and my husband, but I was not willing for our kids to be uninsured. Peachcare was $45 a month for both of them and was a godsend. We were able to stay with our regular pediatrician. We ended up using Peachcare for about 10 months, until our finances were back on an even keel. I was so happy to tear up that card.
Cory Booker: I have ‘policy differences’ with Christie – USA TODAY
December 13th, 2012
10:49 am
[...] Acclaim nationally, still slogging in NewarkPhiladelphia InquirerNew York Times -Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -New York Magazineall 13 news [...]
Mateo
December 13th, 2012
10:49 am
As someone with a close family member that had to go on foodstamps in the last year, one thing that they don’t tell you is that a lot of times they force you to buy the name brand items instead of the store brand. So you have to spend a larger portion of your allowance on food because that is what is covered by the program. At least it is that way in Florida. It is absurd and probably due to some lobbyist working for the large food corporations.
My thoughts
December 13th, 2012
10:54 am
@Mateo
You are speaking of WIC. WIC has those restrictions, food stamps/SNAP does not. However, if that is the case for Flordia, I would tell that individual to wait until those items go BOGO: Buy One Get One Free, that way it will double the amount of food they are able to receive and the stores will honor their WIC/SNAP vouchers/cards.
Lane
December 13th, 2012
10:56 am
There wasn’t a single vegetable in your entire list. And a lot of fat with the peanut butter and margarine. Rice, oatmeal, and bread–that’s living on a lot of those white carbs that are calorie rich but not very nutritious. Jelly? Really? How about a veg or an onion. Add up the calories for that shopping list. Not counting all the margarine and giving normal serving amounts, the rest of that list and it’s about 2340 calories per day–about 20% over what a normal person should eat.
DB
December 13th, 2012
10:58 am
When I was in college in the late 70’s, my parents gave me $100 a month for food and whatever. It was survivable, bu if I wanted anything other than basics, it was up to me. I supplemented it with a job at a transcription service and also typed papers for poor souls in the pre-word-processing era who didn’t know how to type. (That electric typewriter I got for graduation made me a FORTUNE in college — usually $200-$300 or more a month at $2 a page! Guys from the dorm next door would show up at my door at 11 pm, desperate, with a 5-page paper due at 8 am — THOSE were $4 a page, and I usually did one or two a week. Took me about an hour to knock it out, and I’d throw in minor editing and spelling correction. My biggest expense was fresh typewriter ribbon and paper. :-)
Mateo
December 13th, 2012
11:00 am
@My thoughts
Oh ok. My mistake. It is a strange regulation to have. I have become a big fan of the Kroger brands and most of the time they are just as good or better than the name brands.
Cheryl
December 13th, 2012
11:02 am
If you haven’t been in the situation where you need help do not judge other people. I agree that there are many that scam the government, but there are more that do truly need the help. I’ve been there and done that and it’s not fun. I worked part time, the only job that my health would allow, after my husband died. I made about 600.00/ month and received 280.00 in food stamps for my son and myself. Out of the cash money, there was rent to be paid, gas for the only car we had, gas to heat the house, electric bill, water bill. Yes food stamps are meant to be a supplement to the income but it normally doesn’t work that way. Don’t be grouping everybody on food stamps into the heading of “lazy, or deadbeats”. I couldn’t afford the gas to run all over town to compare prices, nor did I have the extra money to buy a paper every week to see the coupons. If I had a buck or two left either from the food stamps or a paycheck yes I treated myself or my son to a candy bar or a soda. So until you walk a mile in the shoes of somebody that has had to live that way do not judge.
Phil I. Buster
December 13th, 2012
11:13 am
33 dollars per week? Yeah sure. A 1.5 liter bottle of Evan Williams black and a case of Ramen noodles.
Cheapskate lady
December 13th, 2012
11:20 am
I know a single lady on the $33 a week foodstamps and she eats decently with that allotment. She plans her meals a week ahead of time and when she goes to the store knows exactly what to buy. Chicken, canned veggies, store brand soups, marked down meats if there are any that look good, a pound of ground beef, bread, peanut butter and jelly, milk, etc. You can do it but not if you expect to eat steak, expensive meats, lobster and wash it down with beer.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
December 13th, 2012
11:26 am
DB, you have some really smart parents and they taught you well. Kudos to you and your parents!
People Have No Grace
December 13th, 2012
11:35 am
Go ahead, cut off food stamps and then spend more money building and maintaining prisons as people do whatever is needed to survive.
What this country spends on SNAP and other such programs is miniscule in the overall budget. Most on these programs are women and children.
Some of you are so wrapped up on beer and cigarettes that you give a pass to the people making millions by taking jobs away from our country. I mean really, who is worse, the people on SNAP buying beer and cigarettes, or the people with trillions of dollars offshore in order to avoid pay taxes?
How about insisting on the creation of jobs at wages fair to the worker and owner so people do not have to use these programs in the first place. When there were lots of jobs, welfare and SNAP declined significantly.
You want people off your dime? Insist that there be enough jobs for everyone to work with wages that can accommodate a frugal budget. Shame on those of you who believe people on these programs are only on them for reasons of bad character and not because of the labor market.
homeschooler
December 13th, 2012
11:53 am
@ People have no grace.
It’s difficult to create jobs in a market and with an administration that at best criticizes and at worst criminalizes the job creators. When there were more jobs here there were also incentives for businesses and corporations to hire and to keep the jobs here in America.
Back in 1975...
December 13th, 2012
12:04 pm
…my buddy graduated from college and go married immediately. He then went to grad school – his wife taught school but they still had to apply for food stamps to survive. He quit grad school after only one semester and took a job teaching and coaching in HS so that they could live without the “guvmint” support. I appox. 1980 he quit teaching so that he could “earn a living to support a family”; he started selling life insurance, and eventually became a financial planner.
Flash forward 37 years – the guy is now a multi-millionaire,a nd his wife has never worked another day in her life. Funny what you can do if you are motivated…
People Have No Grace
December 13th, 2012
12:07 pm
@homeschooler, thanks for you response, but I’m not interested in indulging alternate reality. The labor market went to heck way before this administration took over. Unemployment is down, not up and not nearly as low as it must be to move people off of survival programs.
I believe we are all job creators. I believe we should have paid for two wars and tax cuts and Medicare D as they happened.
The very people you designate as “job creators” are the ones who are sticking it to this country. I’m sorry that you live in a world where everything was ok until this President took over, but I, and most who voted this past November, do not have the luxury of your counterfactual world.
Be Well.
FCM
December 13th, 2012
12:21 pm
I make a decent wage and beer is still a luxury at my house (so is booze and wine). I have all of the above in the house, I am just frugal about it’s consumption. Seriously, bought a 12 pk in Sept and have had 3 beers out of it.
OK, "No Grace"......
December 13th, 2012
12:22 pm
…how do you justify this mornings headline about next year’s deficit will again exceed $1trillion, and that spending will increase even with this knowledge already in hand? And, how do you explain Obuma’s stance that taxes increase in 2013, and that he will not reduce any spending, even thought reduced spending is what he promised last year in order to reach agreement over the debt ceiling last year?
Seems you are the one who is living in a “counterfacutal world”…
motherjanegoose
December 13th, 2012
12:22 pm
@ DB and others…my parents gave me ZERO each month and did not contribute to my college bill whatsoever. I got a check for $1000.00 when I graduated in 1983. I had a job working at Wal Mart before and during college. I too survived. I got a sewing machine for HS graduation and sewed for others, on top of my job. I made it through college with no loans and I knew how to stretch a dollar. Still do!
Uh, FCM...
December 13th, 2012
12:23 pm
…better check those “born on dates” on that beer – LOL
Roekest
December 13th, 2012
12:42 pm
The concern for anybody who has to live on the dole shouldn’t be a lack of interesting or “exciting” foods; those are first world problems and only upper-middle class and above folks seem to have that concern.
The main concern for those on the dole should be the ability to feed their families on that much, and you have proven they can; most just don’t want to. To that I say, TS. Being on the dole should make all people strive to get off of it (if they can), even if it means working horrible jobs. A job’s a job and a paycheck’s a paycheck.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
December 13th, 2012
12:45 pm
” Funny what you can do if you are motivated…”
Don’t tell that to Obama supporters. They all want things for free and they hate “evil” rich people.
Karen
December 13th, 2012
12:50 pm
I am amazed about the judgmental posts on this blog about people in difficult circumstances. Everyone wants to determine who “truly worthy” of public assistance. Who made you God?
Liza
December 13th, 2012
12:51 pm
Rich people want to keep on getting rich at the expense of everyone else. Just look at what deregulation got us–more fat cats and gross income inequality. And don’t get me started on corporate welfare and upper income tax perks. Must be nice…
Chiming in anonymously
December 13th, 2012
1:16 pm
OK, it’s actually NOT that hard to live VERY frugally. I had to throughout college and still do, actually.
The secret is finding BOGO sales, using coupons (not extreme couponing, but using coupons from the papers and store coupons on stuff you’d normally buy anyway) and buying things to make ahead and things you can stretch into several meals with leftovers.
Spaghetti, for instance, can be stretched a LOT. Those meals where it’s all in one bag and you just heat it up? Buy on sale or with coupons, buy more rice and some frozen or canned veggies and you can *easily* eat at least two dinners and two lunches from one bag of food. Buy meat on sale and with store coupon savings and you can stretch a dollar farther than you’d think possible. Ditto regarding produce … find the sales and buy that item.
The key is finding the sales and buying those items and buying in bulk when you can.
non committal mind reader
December 13th, 2012
2:21 pm
The trick to living on $33 a week (I almost do that now!) is to buy generic bulk for the lowest cost possible. A person living on this much money would buy a bulk bag of rice/beans/cereal one week, a bulk bag of chicken the next, marked down milk/meat close to expiration, etc. A family with $33 each can actually buy a lot of bulk staples and get ahead of the curve.
Now, this works and is doable IF you have a good grocery store near by. If you lived in the inner city with no grocery store, it would be very difficult. Access to decent grocery stores is a factor that hasn’t been acknowledged much.
non committal mind reader
December 13th, 2012
2:24 pm
I am amazed about the judgmental posts on this blog about people in difficult circumstances. Everyone wants to determine who “truly worthy” of public assistance. Who made you God?
Sorry, but taxpayers who actually pay income tax have a right to their say. You want to live off the public dole? Deal with it. I lived in poverty for nearly 8 years, and never took a hand out. I had no ac, limited heat in the winter, no car, and lived on less than $6000 a year. I’ll judge who I want to judge.
Yes, Liza...
December 13th, 2012
3:30 pm
…it is nice – and I lost my job 2 years ago and still have not found a new one, but you do not hear me complaining.
And, out of curiosity, just how DO rich people “keep getting richer at the expense of everyone else”? And, just what is “gross income inequality”? Is that “gross” as in EWWWW income, or is that “gross” as in total income?
Inquiring minds want to know…
Jessica
December 13th, 2012
3:44 pm
@ Karen, it is morally WRONG for able-bodied adults to live off the hard work of other families for years or even decades. It’s a good thing to provide help to people who are very old, disabled, or temporarily out of work, but it’s quite another to support people who simply don’t care to learn a skill and get a job. People who live on the public dole, by choice rather than true necessity, are moochers.
If your family pays taxes, it should bother you that our government steals from your paycheck to cater to moochers. If you ARE a moocher, you should be ashamed..
Techmom
December 13th, 2012
3:50 pm
@Yes, Liza… can you explain why or how you’ve gone 2 years without a job? Is there nothing out there or it is that there isn’t anything that paid what you were making and you’re able to live off of savings in the meantime? I’m always curious about people who say they’ve been unemployed for that long. I know we could not maintain our current lifestyle if my husband or I went without a job for 2 years. A few months, yes, but not years.
Well, Techmom......
December 13th, 2012
4:30 pm
…since you asked, I had a decent job making decent money, and my spouse made as much as I did for about 25 years, so were able to save well – fortunately, our kids are out of college so it is just “us”. We have no debt except for our house. I am pushing 60, so though I am highly qualified for jobs (advanced degree, 30+ years exp. in my field) the MANY interviews I have had have not worked out. I was middle management and made good money, and in my field (insurance) they can hire people for 40% of what I made, and, even though I was willing to take a 50% pay cut, nobody wants me, and you can figure out why (I must be a really lousy interview – though many years ago with the same credentials, but less experience, I had no problems – lol). Plus, they want people with my extensive experience, but they want that much experience in a 40-45 year old person (good luck with that).
My spouse is already retired so we draw that little pension (my pensions will not start until I am 65); the rest, we are covering through savings. Neither of us can draw Social Security until age 62, so we make do on what I have already mentioned, though we do eat on more than $66 a week!
That is it in a nutshell – and thanks for asking.
Techmom
December 13th, 2012
5:38 pm
Thanks for explaining. We are mid-30s so we have a long time to go before we’d be able to survive till retirement. I do not envy anyone getting laid off in these times but most certainly anyone over 50 is going to have a much harder time finding a job. I wonder if hiring managers think that you just won’t be satisfied if they pay you significantly less than you were making previously?
Mainly, Techmom......
December 13th, 2012
5:59 pm
…they think that I will be after their jobs – and I am very good at what I do – and a lot think that I am “over-qualified” for what they think they want…
Kat
December 13th, 2012
11:15 pm
@KITTY: No! Children do not eat for “free” at school. Taxpayers pay for free and subsidized lunches. This is similar to a Republican pundit (can’t remember which one; Glenn Beck maybe?) saying that kids without computers should go to the library to do homework on those computers because libraries are free and don’t cost anything! Um, where do you think those buildings came from?
Becky
December 14th, 2012
10:43 am
@Karen..I am judgmental about people living off of my tax dollars because I have seen first hand how it’s abused and nothing is done about it..
I have a nephew that for him, his wife, their four kids and my brother (disabled) they get $1150.00 per month food stamps (or whatever you want to call it)..Three of their children get “free” breakfast and lunch at school..The two oldest children are at my house after school, weekends and summer..Yet, every time you talk to her, they have no food to eat..WTF? I work and don’t spend that much a month on food and we have plenty to eat.. It was this way for 9 years, then in Aug, I was given guardianship of the two oldest and they still get the same amt. of money..Found out that she was spending at least $500.00 per month at the convenience store near them..IN my opinion, you should not even be able to use a FS card at a store like this..
Have another niece that lives in KY and they can order pizza delivered to their house and pay for it with food stamps..They can go to the grocery store and buy energy drinks..What’s up with that? Like a lot of the people, I have no problem with people that get help..IF they really need it..If you really need it, show that you appreciate it and don’t abuse it…
catlady
December 14th, 2012
3:31 pm
I’d like to see a REQUIREMENT that folks on food stamps grow some of their own food, unless they live in a skyscraper or something. Food stamps can be used to purchase seeds! What I have seen is lazy, fat, smoking people standing around waiting to get food from the food bank. I have been told that working in a garden is “too hard.” And, of course, for some folks it is inadvisable, but many of our needy actually NEED to get out and work to make their lives better!
catlady
December 14th, 2012
3:34 pm
On the other hand, I would recommend folks read the book, “Nickeled and Dimed” about the working poor and their efforts to live.