WEEK THREE
Day One
Went to a friend’s birthday celebration – which means I ate well that night, AND I can stretch last week’s meat purchase a bit longer. I mentioned feeling guilty that I’d eaten so well, and was told: think of it as a visit to a soup kitchen – rare, but wonderful.
Day Two
One thing I hear a lot: “What about beans? They’re good for you, and low-cost.”
Answer: I’m not too fond of beans, especially not as a big part of my diet.
However I AM getting lots of money-saving tips – many of which involve cooking that takes a long time. It’s a trade-off that can work for someone like me, but not for anyone with a low-paying job, long commutes, and/or no kitchen (e.g., if I were living in my car, or at a shelter).
Day Three
A friend gave me three oranges ~ what a treat! Later, at a meeting, someone put out a bowl of red grapes. Fruit TWICE in the same day! In the past, that would not feel like a big deal; on $4.20/day – it’s a VERY big deal.
And since I’m fighting a cold, that fruit feels downright therapeutic. Plus, I spotted some leftover Halloween candy in a kitchen drawer… good news for my sugar-craving (tho’ admittedly not in my budget).
Day Four
Finishing off my potatoes and carrots. Running out of bread; tired of cheap cheese. If this continues, I’ll try to make some different choices, based on what I’ve learned… if I can. However I realized today that I’m going through a lot of cough drops (which I didn’t count in my food budget). While it’s true that I have a cold and cough, I suspect this is really about keeping a taste in my mouth when I’m hungry. Hmmm.
Day Five
It now appears likely that the Conference Committee on the Farm Bill will not finish before Congress adjourns at the end of this week. That means the issue of food stamp cuts won’t be settled til Congress convenes again in January. It also means I won’t be facing the holidays on $4.20/day. A relief.
But I’m keenly aware that everyone who depends on food stamps isn’t so lucky.
Last Day
Dropped another half-pound. Used up the last of the eggs in my fridge, the last of a few other items. If Congress hadn’t adjourned, I’d be heading out to shop for a week’s worth of groceries for $29.40. Everyone should do this for a couple of weeks, especially anyone who thinks getting food stamps makes for an easy life, or prompts people to quit their jobs.
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It is hard to fathom why Congress would “choose” hunger for millions of people by cutting SNAP even more – and yet that’s what’s being proposed when Congress returns in January. Low-income people don’t “choose” hunger. It’s no mystery that SNAP use rises when unemployment rises, and falls when the economy picks up. And while SNAP helps, $4.20/day for food doesn’t make unemployment easy.
In each of my three weeks on a food stamp allotment, I was: thinking of food a LOT; conscious of a growling stomach a LOT; and generally aware of having less energy. Why anyone would wish that on millions of children, elderly, low-wage workers, and people with disabilities – especially in our food-rich country – is beyond me.
So I hope that everyone reading this will send a Holiday Message about SNAP to our two U.S. Senators (Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell) and your 1 U.S. Representative. Not sure how to contact your U.S. Senators or Representatives, visit the Coalition’s website to find their contact information. Your message can be something as simple as:
“In the midst of holiday meals and parties, I hope you will remember all those who are struggling to get by on food stamps. And when Congress reconvenes, ask your colleagues to RESTORE the cuts made on November 1, and REJECT any further cuts in SNAP.”