Abusing Food Stamps
By vjenkins86
@vjenkins86 (1478)
United States
August 16, 2010 3:40pm CST
There are people out there that need and use food stamps appropriately, but I just heard a story about a person who represents those who give food stamp holders bad names. My aunt was telling me that a neighbor of hers had to start using food stamps this year (with the economy, she's not the only one). Anyway, this neighbor called my aunt asking for money because she ran out of food stamps for the month. However, my aunt remembered that this lady was bragging a few days ago that she bought some gorgeous steaks and premium seafood earlier this month and concluded that's where all her money went. When my aunt suggested that the lady should start using her money wisely by buying things like ground beef or chicken the lady had the audacity to say that she would never do something like- she wasn't going to go down that road. So my aunt being the lady that she is told her neighbor that she wasn't getting her money and hung up.
Its stories like this that make me so frustrated. Here are these people who are given government aid because they can't help themselves and they abuse it by throwing away their money on things they don't need and refuse to budget themselves on items that is within their budget. These kind of people make other food stamp users look bad and give the entire program a bad image. For goodness sake, I'm not on food stamps or anything like but I enjoy buying ground beef. Steak is a luxury not a necessity!
Okay, I am getting off of my soap box. It just irks me.
3 people like this
3 responses
@rogue13xmen13 (14402)
• United States
17 Aug 10
I have seen a lot of people abuse food stamps, and that is why I never want to end up on welfare. I want to be able to buy all of the things that I want and need for my family and I will do whatever it is that I have to do. I will work tooth and nail to make sure that I never end up in that situation.
Food stamps are for food only, people shouldn't use them for anything else. If they cannot use food stamps for food, then they shouldn't use them at all.
@rogue13xmen13 (14402)
• United States
17 Aug 10
Back in "The Great Depression", my great-grandmother was on welfare because everyone had lost their jobs. When things got better, my grandmother vowed to never be on welfare again, and told all of her children and grandchildren to work, go school, and get great jobs so that they never end up on welfare.
My great-grandmother only used her food stamps for food, everything she had, she used for food because she had four children to support. Those were horrible times.
I know that right now this country is in a "depression", but it is nothing compared to what my grandmother's generation went through. Most people have no idea how bad that was.
@vjenkins86 (1478)
• United States
17 Aug 10
It's sad that these kind of people help give the entire program a negative image where they have other people wanting to take money out of food stamps which will hurt the individuals who actually use food stamps appropriately.
1 person likes this
@ANIME123 (2466)
• United States
17 Aug 10
Yes I also don't like it when people abuse of stuff like this like food stamps those are meant to be used if you have no food and no money. You should never buy things that you can't afford is what my mom tells me quite often and I do listen to her because it's the truth right there.
That is frustrating that your aunts neighbor was asking her for money when she was bragging that she bought steaks and preminium seafood. I think that she should be more wise with her money and spend it on food that isn't so expensive because that is a waste right there even I know that. Steaks are luxury and not a necessity you are very true. I never did like people like that.
That is frustrating that your aunts neighbor was asking her for money when she was bragging that she bought steaks and preminium seafood. I think that she should be more wise with her money and spend it on food that isn't so expensive because that is a waste right there even I know that. Steaks are luxury and not a necessity you are very true. I never did like people like that.@vjenkins86 (1478)
• United States
17 Aug 10
Your mom is extremely right. I wish more people would at least try to live within their means. What also frustrates me is that these people expect others to help them when they don't plan accordingly. Oh well. At least my aunt didn't do it.
@lindaharding627 (1442)
• United States
17 Aug 10
I have heard worse. I have heard stories of where some people who are getting food stamps buy an excess of food then turn around and sell it for money. I can't understand how people can do that either. I would have a guilty conscience if I even considered something like that lol. My hubby and I do get food stamps since I am out of work trying to get disability for a heart condition and he is looking for work. We go shopping once a month for our food and stock up on deals that are being offered that week at Giant Eagle then we use the fuelperks for gas and the foodperks for a discount. We saved fifteen dollars on the food bill last time by doing this and another eight by using coupons. If more people shopped with coupons or were more frugal they wouldn't have to worry about running out. There are exceptions. I know some adults that live in group homes and only get ten dollars a month in food stamps.
@vjenkins86 (1478)
• United States
17 Aug 10
Good grief. Everyone is looking to make a quick buck and abuse aid. And who knows what those people are using that money for.
I'm sorry to hear about you and husband. I hope that everything works out for the both of you. I know how hard it is to get disability. My stepdad had to get that after busting his knee while on the job.
ten dollars a month in food stamps? That's peculiar. I wonder why that is? Is it because they are in a group home?
