We were behind a young couple that looked pretty healthy using their card to buy 3 carts of groceries. No cheap cuts of meat. Over $1,100
The maximum monthly SNAP benefit for a four-person household in Texas is $939. Remember the $939 SNAP is 70% of the $1350/mo the government thinks it takes to feed a family of 4. That is ****3 TIMES MORE**** than this household’s budget, which we usually stay under, so thanks to us not living off steak and lobster so others can, grrrr. That’s not counting all the food banks they go to. That’s also not counting the 360 free breakfasts and lunches their kids get at school and more lunches during the summer for ages 0-21. Seems we’re paying double for those meals.
We do not eat out so it is all cooking at home on a very doable $3.75/day/person. 11”x17” pizza = $3. 10 deli sandwiches using a copycat recipe = what 1 costs at the drive thru window. A 3 mu shu and side of rice plate at home = $1. A 40 oz plain cheesecake = $2.50. I’ve never purchased veg or meat broth in my life. A mini version of the Inaugural Congressional Luncheon using what was already at home (no steaks or truffles) of crabcakes with 2 sauces, marinated vegs, au gratin and ice cream with sauted apples and caramel = $3 and had enough leftover vegs for a $0 veg soup the next day. If I can do that, SNAP recipients can get off the couch and do the same. DOGE needs to cut welfare programs drastically.
Being on SNAP gets them free phones, free internet, discounts on utilities, etc.
We can keep some utilities down by sharing the one cheap phone that came with a cheap service, have the lowest internet data program and keeping the elec. bill down by not turning on lights during the day and keeping the a/c off until it is past miserable with 109 temps already but can’t do anything with the garbage bill at a heart palpitating $100/mo. It is a slap in the face to pay for others’.