Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on May 13, 2011 12:42:53 GMT -5
I find myself at this tiny dive bar once a week for my volleyball league (sand courts out back). I went in to the bar for a drink before my game last week and walked in on the tail end of a conversation between a couple women aren't even there to play - as one woman put it "comparing welfare meals". one had said something about not even being able to afford mac 'n cheese unless it was store brand, while she ordered a $6 glass of wine. blue box is too pricey! ![](http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff155/JiminiChristmas/smileys/8.gif) I behaved myself. rather than point out the bar tab, I suggested that Kraft goes on sale from time to time, down to about 25 cents a box. when that happens, pick up a dozen boxes, put 'em in the back of your cabinet and forget about 'em until you don't have anything else left in the fridge. the two of them looked at me like I was the first person to tell them the sky was blue. wow. I got my drink and walked away. My DH doesn't like stocking up too much on food. It stems from his childhood I think. He's gotten much better over the last 4 years though, esp. since the kids meals get, um, interesting some nights...
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on May 13, 2011 12:43:08 GMT -5
duplicate post 'cause I have no patience today.
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Opti
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Post by Opti on May 13, 2011 12:58:04 GMT -5
I didn't know foodstamps were replaced if lost and that they would replace them so often. Sounds like a lot of fraud could be cut down by just limiting it to at most two replacement cards per year, no exceptions.
I'm sure being homeless is tough, but couldn't you just always keep it in your pocket so it would be hard to steal?
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happyscooter
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Post by happyscooter on May 13, 2011 13:01:56 GMT -5
Co-worker of DH is on EBT. He just got the job and his pay doubled. I am sure he hasn't informed whoever to tell them that he makes quite a bit more money than when he first signed up. Anyway, when they stop for gas, the co-worker goes in and buys $1.29 candy bars, $.99 bags of chips, 20 ounce drinks and says 'hey do you want anything. It's free'. DH slinks back out to the car.
I posted this on another thread.
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Opti
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Post by Opti on May 13, 2011 13:10:42 GMT -5
Co-worker of DH is on EBT. He just got the job and his pay doubled. I am sure he hasn't informed whoever to tell them that he makes quite a bit more money than when he first signed up. Anyway, when they stop for gas, the co-worker goes in and buys $1.29 candy bars, $.99 bags of chips, 20 ounce drinks and says 'hey do you want anything. It's free'. DH slinks back out to the car. I posted this on another thread. Is DH willing to report potential fraud? I think the biggest problem with these programs is not what people buy, but that those who shouldn't qualify are using the program and/or intentionally defrauding the program like losing cards to get replacements so they can get more money from the govt.
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happyscooter
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Post by happyscooter on May 13, 2011 13:20:41 GMT -5
As much as it pisses me off that co-worker, healthy male that he is, is ripping the taxpayers off, he isn't doing any more than the others.
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Opti
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Post by Opti on May 13, 2011 13:26:43 GMT -5
OK. So are you saying while you don't like foodstamp fraud you and DH aren't willing to personally do anything about it if you see potential fraud in action?
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on May 13, 2011 13:29:33 GMT -5
OK. So are you saying while you don't like foodstamp fraud you and DH aren't willing to personally do anything about it if you see potential fraud in action? ![](http://forums.clubrsx.com/images/smilies/yeahthat.gif)
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Cookies Galore
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Post by Cookies Galore on May 13, 2011 13:47:50 GMT -5
I've made my own frosting a few times. While it tasted better and was "cheaper", I gotta admit that sticking a knife in a can is a lot easier than standing there with my puny handmixer beating the tar out of that stuff till it emulsfies into actual frosting. ![:P](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/tongue.png) Butter prices led me to have a coniption. I need to get out my book of substiutions and see how you switch out butter for oil. I don't know if it is a 1:1 ratio or not and if I have to modify the recipe since I am replacing a solid fat with liquid. I can get canola oil and A LOT of it for less than what I'd have to pay for a pound of butter. I told DH those butter cows must be made of gold. ![>:(](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/angry.png) Here's a handy-dandy link for substitutions: www.theppk.com/vegan-baking-the-post-punk-kitchen-shows-you-how/. Half a cup of butter equals 1/3 cup canola oil.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on May 13, 2011 14:02:01 GMT -5
Thanks Meghan! That really helps. I am not giving up butter completely, I LOVE me some butter, but replacing a good chunk of it with canola oil saves me some cash till the next time I feel it is on sale enough to justify purchasing it.
I bought some when it was onsale at $1.99, but I am down to my last pound and I am not sure if that is going to be enough to bake this weekend.
Canola oils is healthier too, which means I can eat more cake! ;D
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Cookies Galore
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Post by Cookies Galore on May 13, 2011 14:07:30 GMT -5
Silver lining! ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) I think variety is a good thing. I have a lot of recipes that are vegan and a lot that call for butter and eggs. All are good in their own right. ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
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spartan7886
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Post by spartan7886 on May 13, 2011 14:34:12 GMT -5
I worked in a low end grocery store one summer during college. Judging by the amount of EBT cards I saw that were broken in half, taped back together, and so old the mag strip didn't work any more, NC does not replace cards willy nilly. I think one coworker told me they charge $25 to replace the card, although it's been years since then so that may not be true.
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april47
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Post by april47 on May 13, 2011 14:49:39 GMT -5
I have a slightly different perspective. I used to volunteer at my DD's school to cook turkeys a couple of times a year to go to families that lived at the battered womens shelter. The kids all got served breakfast and lunch at school. The families did get food stamps also. The problem was actually two fold. Most of them didn't have a car of there own. As a result they mostly shopped a the quicky mart down the street instead of the grocery store. An hour trip, one way, just to get to a grocery store 7 miles away with one bag of groceries isn't exactly a bargain. Then when they get back their "apartment" isn't really a normal apartment. They were really motel rooms with a little cook top and a mini fridge and a microwave on the dresser. It actually sounds better than it was. The cook top was literally on top of the fridge. ![](http://boards.msn.com/Themes/default/emoticons/confused_smile.gif) Every time the burner was turned on it heated the fridge too. So all the residents just kept milk, cheese and mustard in the fridge and bought stuff that they could nuke for food. Otherwise they would use the stamps at the local fast food joint and eat it there. One kid said he like it better that way because at least they could sit together at a table like a family instead of sitting on the bed or eating at the bathroom sink. These are the people that food stamps were meant to help. When people abuse the system they are not just stealing from our tax dollars but from families like these. That was nice of you to help them.
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pepper112765
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Post by pepper112765 on May 13, 2011 14:54:33 GMT -5
I agree that food stamps should be for survival food- not junk. And certainly not bakery-prepared cakes! Even if cake mix weren't allowed, I bet flour, sugar, baking powder, oil, eggs, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and cocoa are allowed. You can make your own cake and icing without a mix- and it tastes a lot better too! I was thinking the same thing! However, most of the blog post was about having decent places in which to buy food in the neighborhoods where the participants live and the rush to judgment about prepared foods, when those complaining do not know if that person has electricity or even living out of their car. I kid you not, I live within 10 minutes of 5 grocery stores. And, I also have access to the farmer's market because I do drive. And no one seems to think of this but those benefits swing both ways...the grocery stores make money and noone is complaining about that, as well as the baby formula makers for peddling formula instead of encouraging breast feeding, the cereal producers, dairy farms as well as the local farmers markets for those that have WIC.
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Post by ty on May 13, 2011 14:58:02 GMT -5
Last summer, I was in line behind someone paying with an EBT card. Her entire purchase was Pepsi, like 5 cases, and Dorrito's (several bags). Neither of the two items were on sale (Coke was having a big sale that week too!). This lady was extremely overweight and she was wearing pajama's at the grocery store. She couldn't bother getting dressed... There are so many mean things I want to say about it. It's almost a year later and I'm still ticked off. Maybe you shouldn't be so nosy at the checkout counter. So what if she was dressed in pj's, that her choice just like you have the choice to go to another register and check out so you don't have to look at it. Also, why are you so interested in her ebt card. Do you have a tendency to watch what cards people pay with at the checkout lines? Spend less time focusing on all others and more time on yourself and then things like this wouldn't be bothering you a year later. ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png)
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pepper112765
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Post by pepper112765 on May 13, 2011 15:32:41 GMT -5
Last summer, I was in line behind someone paying with an EBT card. Her entire purchase was Pepsi, like 5 cases, and Dorrito's (several bags). Neither of the two items were on sale (Coke was having a big sale that week too!). This lady was extremely overweight and she was wearing pajama's at the grocery store. She couldn't bother getting dressed... There are so many mean things I want to say about it. It's almost a year later and I'm still ticked off. I've been guilty of going to the grocery store in loungewear, not my leopard print though!! As a matter of fact, I had on leopard print when taking my son to school and my car conked out on me on my way back to the house. Talk about moritified!!! I had to call AAA and actually had to get out of the car. Maybe you shouldn't be so nosy at the checkout counter. So what if she was dressed in pj's, that her choice just like you have the choice to go to another register and check out so you don't have to look at it. Also, why are you so interested in her ebt card. Do you have a tendency to watch what cards people pay with at the checkout lines? Spend less time focusing on all others and more time on yourself and then things like this wouldn't be bothering you a year later. ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png)
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pepper112765
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Post by pepper112765 on May 13, 2011 15:35:21 GMT -5
Co-worker of DH is on EBT. He just got the job and his pay doubled. I am sure he hasn't informed whoever to tell them that he makes quite a bit more money than when he first signed up. Anyway, when they stop for gas, the co-worker goes in and buys $1.29 candy bars, $.99 bags of chips, 20 ounce drinks and says 'hey do you want anything. It's free'. DH slinks back out to the car. I posted this on another thread. Is DH willing to report potential fraud? I think the biggest problem with these programs is not what people buy, but that those who shouldn't qualify are using the program and/or intentionally defrauding the program like losing cards to get replacements so they can get more money from the govt. That guy will get caught eventually.
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Sum Dum Gai
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Post by Sum Dum Gai on May 13, 2011 15:41:11 GMT -5
That guy will get caught eventually. Maybe, but he'd get caught immediately if the poster talking about him would just report him to the fraud hotline. It's OK though, he's just fraudulently spending a little bit of my money every time. I'd laugh too, and ask for a soda. God knows there aren't better things that we could be doing with the money.
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on May 13, 2011 16:03:12 GMT -5
happyscooter, is DH afraid of the repercussions if he reports his coworker?
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resolution
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Post by resolution on May 13, 2011 16:03:13 GMT -5
Its not necessarily fraud. Some states don't require people to report income changes until they recertify. Others have transitional food stamps that continue at the same level for a number of months after the income increases. They did this a few years ago so people wouldn't be immediately penalized for earning more money. Did he say he was commiting fraud or was it assumed?
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Post by mtshastawriter on May 13, 2011 16:18:45 GMT -5
What I don't like about the food stamp program is that it is not available to the elderly or people who are disabled. Most people don't realize that it is very hard to get food stamps today with having earned income and minor children in your home.
I have a base income of $1100 a month in SS survivors benefits and two kids still in school. We don't qualify for FS because I can't show "earned income" each month. We get by though, so I don't really care. I have a friend who has $1000 in earned income each month and her FS for her and two kids is over $700 a month!
My elderly neighbor used to live on $600 a month, here in California, and didn't qualify because she had a $5K EF for her old age. It was her nest egg. If she spent it, then she might have qualified...
I think there should be some middle ground. I would like to see elderly people and disabled people included in FS's and some of the able-bodied younger people should not get access to them at all.
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Post by mtshastawriter on May 13, 2011 16:19:55 GMT -5
Forgot to add -
Not qualifying for FS, in my situation, provides me with motivation to work and earn money. If we simply got that money on the card every month, there isn't much room for the motivation to work and pay for your own food. Especially since it seems to be an all or nothing venture to get access to Food Stamps.
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ruger2506
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Post by ruger2506 on May 13, 2011 16:20:38 GMT -5
I've been known to turn a person in for welfare fraud. Few things disgust and upset me more than social welfare recipients who are unwilling to better themselves and/or who actively try to maintain their benefits.
We were in the check out line at the grocery store one day and some POS was asking if she could get cash back from her EBT card. Before I could say anything my buddy wipped his wallet out opened it up and asked the welfare POS if she wanted the money directly out of his wallet as well. Once I stopped laughing I was able to applaud my buddy.
We used to work with another POS who took food stamps to feed herself and her herd. Oddly enough, she had plenty of money to buy a pontoon. Hmmm, interesting. We saw her at the beach one day and attempted to convince her we should be allowed to use her pontoon since we bought it for her. She didn't stick around long.
FYI, I don't think all welfare recipients are POSs. Just the lazy ones who think social welfare is a way of life vs. a crutch to get a person/family through a hard time.
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on May 13, 2011 16:20:45 GMT -5
I find myself at this tiny dive bar once a week for my volleyball league (sand courts out back). I went in to the bar for a drink before my game last week and walked in on the tail end of a conversation between a couple women aren't even there to play - as one woman put it "comparing welfare meals". one had said something about not even being able to afford mac 'n cheese unless it was store brand, while she ordered a $6 glass of wine. blue box is too pricey! ![](http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff155/JiminiChristmas/smileys/8.gif) I behaved myself. rather than point out the bar tab, I suggested that Kraft goes on sale from time to time, down to about 25 cents a box. when that happens, pick up a dozen boxes, put 'em in the back of your cabinet and forget about 'em until you don't have anything else left in the fridge. the two of them looked at me like I was the first person to tell them the sky was blue. wow. I got my drink and walked away. My DH doesn't like stocking up too much on food. It stems from his childhood I think. He's gotten much better over the last 4 years though, esp. since the kids meals get, um, interesting some nights... well, I'm absolutely certain that Kraft dinner will be alongside the filling from Twinkies after a worldwide nuclear fallout, so I don't know that I'd call this stocking up on food. ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png)
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on May 13, 2011 17:00:08 GMT -5
Its none of the govt's business what type of food anyone buys. The fact that food stamps were used doesnt change that. The govt has no business giving out food stamps, imo, but that does not change the fact that it is not the govt's business what people buy as long as they're not using the government's money to buy it.
Fixed for you.
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Sum Dum Gai
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Post by Sum Dum Gai on May 13, 2011 17:00:38 GMT -5
Its none of the govt's business what type of food anyone buys. It is if the government is the one paying for the food. Don't want Uncle Sam telling you to stop putting soda in your toddler's bottle, get a god damn job and buy the crap yourself.
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Sum Dum Gai
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Post by Sum Dum Gai on May 13, 2011 17:02:06 GMT -5
I would like to see elderly people and disabled people included in FS's and some of the able-bodied younger people should not get access to them at all. I get your argument, but the other side of it would be something like; why exactly do we have so many elderly people that have worked for four decades and apparently never saved a dime?
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on May 13, 2011 17:12:37 GMT -5
It is if the government is the one paying for the food. Don't want Uncle Sam telling you to stop putting soda in your toddler's bottle, get a god damn job and buy the crap yourself. At least it's not bourbon ;D I get your argument, but the other side of it would be something like; why exactly do we have so many elderly people that have worked for four decades and apparently never saved a dime? ![](http://forums.clubrsx.com/images/smilies/yeahthat.gif)
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april47
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Post by april47 on May 13, 2011 17:25:09 GMT -5
Because they worked for 4 decades at low paying jobs and it took every cent to live and support a family. When these elderlyly people were working, SAHMs were the norm. My parents didn't save and they didn't blow their money on trips and cars or the latest gadgets. We lived pretty simply. Also, many older people were counting on pensions for their retirement and through no fault of there own it went down the drain. Uumm... Do we seem to be a little judgemental on this board?
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on May 13, 2011 17:33:09 GMT -5
Uumm... Do we seem to be a little judgemental on this board?
A lot, actually...
But there are plenty of people running on fumes at retirement because they simply didn't plan properly. It's not usually a matter of "I planned well and just got screwed."
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