Disgusting situation at the grocery store today

[mickeyfan2]

They don't ask if you're using credit or debit.

Actually they DO ask us this everytime I pay at the grocery store.

 

[mickeyfan2]

What makes me sick is people who complain that they can't feed their child yet spend any money they do currently have on 3 12-packs of soda.

ITA. If you are hungry then buy food not soda.

I am all for helping others, but NOT for others abusing my help.

 

[DVCLiz]

What makes me sick is people who complain that they can't feed their child yet spend any money they do currently have on 3 12-packs of soda.

It's still none of your business, or anyone else's, either. What in the world gives people the right to feel they can make these kind of judgements?? I'd be ashamed of myself. Oh, and I'd have bought them their groceries, too. Want to tell me how I'm getting ripped off? Don't care - it would have been the right thing to do.

 

[VSL]

How would it have been the right thing to do?

The right thing would have been for them to spend their money wisely if they have so little of it (as was implied when they complained loudly about not being able to feed their child).

 

[Kay1]

Clearly, the couple in the OP didn't make the best choice. Something odd happened to me a few weeks ago. I was trying to pay for something at Walgreens and the machine didn't work when I swiped my debit card. The cashier said, "Is that an EBT card? That thing hasn't been working all day." The two people in line behind me started sighing loudly and making hissing noises. I said, "No, just a regular debit card." They all shut up immediately. For a few seconds, I was able to walk in another woman's shoes.

Btw, I actually did push the EBT button. The machine was old and ratty and held together with masking tape and I thought the button was just missing some letters. My husband had to explain to me what EBT was.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

It's still none of your business, or anyone else's, either. What in the world gives people the right to feel they can make these kind of judgements?? I'd be ashamed of myself. Oh, and I'd have bought them their groceries, too. Want to tell me how I'm getting ripped off? Don't care - it would have been the right thing to do.

so do you buy groceries for everyone who may have forgotten their checkbook, didn't have enough cash, credit/debit card was declined?

I mean--if you do not judge--how do you know anyone's situation whose payment was declined?

They bought 3 12-packs of soda--and you would buy their eggs for them???

How does that make any sense?

 

[Marseeya]

Clearly, the couple in the OP didn't make the best choice. Something odd happened to me a few weeks ago. I was trying to pay for something at Walgreens and the machine didn't work when I swiped my debit card. The cashier said, "Is that an EBT card? That thing hasn't been working all day." The two people in line behind me started sighing loudly and making hissing noises. I said, "No, just a regular debit card." They all shut up immediately. For a few seconds, I was able to walk in another woman's shoes.

Btw, I actually did push the EBT button. The machine was old and ratty and held together with masking tape and I thought the button was just missing some letters. My husband had to explain to me what EBT was.

For the six months or so that I was actually on food stamps, that was my experience on almost every shopping trip.

 

[Evil Queen]

That depends on the state..

And the situation. After Hurricane Wilma I applied for emergency food stamps (a one time deal only), due to the food I lost after the hurricane. At that time they were allowing hot food from grocery stores, even though by the time I had finally gotten my card, I had power back for almost 2 weeks.

And we did buy a couple of mid-range cost steaks etc, but when you live on mainly ravoli's for a week or so,we needed the change in food.

But I agree,too many folks abuse what they are given.

 

[tw1nsmom]

What if someone asked them to pick up some soda for them and gave them the money? I've picked up things for my mom before when I was doing my shopping.

We can sit here and trash all people (and lets face it, I haven't seen anyone talk about someone they know who makes wonderful food choices with their food stamps) based on the actions of a few. We can do that in many situations. Or...we could try to be compassionate and, at the very least, mind our own business.

 

[Southern4sure]

In Alabama, I have several family members who abuse foodstamps. I have reported them but nothing was done... They receive foodstamps because they lied on the application....period. Claimed they were not married, claimed other relatives kids (to get more foodstamps) and etc. They didnt "need" the foodstamps, they just know how to abuse the system. They would throw huge parties and use foodstamps to supply the food. Seeing how "easy" it was for them to abuse foodstamps makes it harder for me not to judge anyone who buys ALOT of junkfood instead of healthy normal foodshopping with foodstamps. In AL, I have never seen a foodstamp user (and there are alot of them) check out with fresh veggies and fruit.

In AL, you can purchase cold prepared food, bakery items, candy, ice cream, soda (which I have no problem with) and etc but no hot prepared food. I have no problem with foodstamps used for a child to have a birthday cake, esp if this is the only way they get it. To be honest, I'd rather see someone buy a hot whole roasted chicken instead of junk with food stamps.

 

[Marseeya]

What if someone asked them to pick up some soda for them and gave them the money? I've picked up things for my mom before when I was doing my shopping.

We can sit here and trash all people (and lets face it, I haven't seen anyone talk about someone they know who makes wonderful food choices with their food stamps) based on the actions of a few. We can do that in many situations. Or...we could try to be compassionate and, at the very least, mind our own business.

You're right.

When I was on food stamps, it was actually a pretty large amount of money we were able to get (Pennsylvania, I believe, used to have the most liberal system). Let's put it this way -- it was more than what we had spent on groceries (food alone) before DH left us. So, I was able to buy good cuts of meats, and just plain good foods. But when it became evident that I could buy treats as well, then yes, I certainly bought ice cream or cookies, and even the rare soda. After that, I still ended up having money left over at the end of the month. So the people who saw me buying the junk had no clue whatsoever what was in my cupboards at home. Then again, I wasn't complaining to some cashier that I couldn't buy food for the kids.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Then again, I wasn't complaining to some cashier that I couldn't buy food for the kids.

This IS the problem with the OPs story. If the people just walked away with their soda this would now have become a post.

If they had put back the soda and bought what they could of the milk/eggs/juice and were short I would have given them the money. But when they only paid for the soda, no way am I helping them buy the other stuff. That is not being judgemental but reasonable.

 

[MAKmom]

I would have paid for their food and have before. A little juice, eggs, milk wouldn't even be a drop in the bucket of my family's monthly food bill.

Your a good person. I would have too.

I try not to judge people I do not know.

We do not really know any one's story. People are cruel to WIC & FOOD STAMP users. My husband's cousin's husband died 2 years ago 2 weeks after they moved into a new house. Left her with 5 children no insurance. She needed food stamps until she could find a job.

Some of the young girls you see have had horrible lives you have no idea who you are judging.How many of you give to the poor with can good drives than make fun of them? Maybe the poor are here to see how good of a person you are.

 

[mudnuri]

You're right.

When I was on food stamps, it was actually a pretty large amount of money we were able to get (Pennsylvania, I believe, used to have the most liberal system). Let's put it this way -- it was more than what we had spent on groceries (food alone) before DH left us. So, I was able to buy good cuts of meats, and just plain good foods. But when it became evident that I could buy treats as well, then yes, I certainly bought ice cream or cookies, and even the rare soda. After that, I still ended up having money left over at the end of the month. So the people who saw me buying the junk had no clue whatsoever what was in my cupboards at home. Then again, I wasn't complaining to some cashier that I couldn't buy food for the kids.

I think this is part of the problem. Here, my neighbor- mom, 2 girls age 6 & 9 get just over $400 a month in food stamps- I know this because she told me. Feeding 3 people on 400 a month. However, she is only feeding the 3 of them dinner 7 nights a week, and breakfast and lunch on 2, I know this because her children receive free breakfast and lunch at school. $400 for 7 dinners, 2 breakfasts and 2 lunches- plus snacks, she generally has $ left over at the end of the month.

Part of the problem, is that a lot of people who receive public assistance, don't have the knowledge, to make the educated choices of buying healthier foods. And, to add to that, if you were to buy 100% good for you food, your food bill would be a lot higher than if you bought frozen- less healthy foods.

Take a walk over to the budget board- there are posts regarding grocery bills, and more often than not, when people make the switch to healthier, fresh foods- they have an increase in their grocery bills. It's cheaper to buy frozen vegetables or canned vegetables than it is to buy fresh ones.

Their is also the possiblity that they are not equiped to prepare fresh foods. Cooking a can of corn, is a lot easier than cooking fresh green beans- face it- its a fact of life. Their are quite a few people on public assistance that are under-educated.

The thing that really irriates me is people who assume because someone is on public assistance they are abusing the situation- yes I know plenty who do- and it pisses me off, however I also know plenty that don't- that are trying to make their lives better, that are on assistance due to events they had litte to do with, and even littler control over.

When I was 3 and my parents divorced- my mom went to college. We lived on campus at Keene State, in family housing. My dad paid $15 a week in child support- when he paid...my mom went on 'welfare' as it was called at that time. She maxed out her student loans, applied for every grant that was available (not much back in the early 80's) and relied on the food stamps to feed my brother and I. She didnt abuse the system, and upon graduation and getting a full time job- she went off all assistance. While in school- full time, she also worked part time as a waitress to supplement what she got. The program worked as it was intended for. She didnt want to be divorced but life with an alcoholic isnt all its cracked up to be....she made the choice to go back to school, and took advantage of what was available to her. The system can and does work (for some)

Brandy

 

[Hannathy]

First it is my business if my tax money is paying for their food. Maybe I can't buy my kids something because with how high taxes are I don't have any extra money for my kids -so it is my business.

When you get something free from the government it is a handout.

If you want to see good use of food stamps come to my town where we have a large group of Hmong people. They tend to use their stamps very wisely because of the way they learned to cook, lots of chicken-and not boneless breasts, rice,fresh vegetables. Sadly many people on food stamps just don't know any better, they never had someone make good food when they were kids and don't know how.

Come to an ER, we see the same mis-use of money. People with unimumnized kids-"because I can't pay for them" 1. you can get them for free!, 2. then why is there 2 packs of cigs. and 10 lotterry tickets in your purse and a cell phone? and are covered with jewelry.Same answer for why they didn't give their child tylenol for a fever, or OTC cold medicine for their congestion.

 

[Nancy]

I don't think things like pop, candy and ice cream should be allowed to be purchased with WIC coupons.

Those things are NOT allowed on WIC.(but they are allowed with foodstamps) So the customers in question would have been paying for the pop anyway. WIC will let you get milk, bbaby formula, 100 % juice, certain cereals, eggs, specific cheese, tuna, peanut butter, dried peas/beans, and $5.00 worth of fresh/frozen/canned fruits or veggies. It is a very closely regulated program. There are so many rules for us at store level that if we don't do exactly what we have to, we don't get reimbursed by the government.

I think the WIC program is awesome, I knew about WIC when I had my kids but never applied for it because I thought the income guidelines were the same as foodstamps...but for WIC the income guidlines are higher, therefore more people have WIC.

 

[Marseeya]

First it is my business if my tax money is paying for their food. Maybe I can't buy my kids something because with how high taxes are I don't have any extra money for my kids -so it is my business.

Well, if that's the case, then I should have a say in this war that's going on!

 

[BabyTigger99]

I don't have an issue with WIC, I think it is a fairly regulated program. I have a problem with the food stamps, or should I say, those that abuse their food stamps. My cousin gets them, which drives me crazy to no end. She has 3 kids (11, 2, and 1), her husband is in and out of jail for drugs, and she could very easily work (she is a Realtor), but doesn't want to put out the effort. We take her oldest daughter a lot of places with her, because she and our DSD12 like to spend time together. I called her last year to see if her daughter could come up north with us (which we do quite often). She called me back and said it would be no problem. She then proceeded to totally FLOOR me by saying that she had just gotten her food stamps, so she could go buy some snacks and stuff for us to take up north with us!!! Um, no, please, feed your babies instead!!! It is those kinds of things that drive me NUTS about food stamps.

 

[Hannathy]

You did it's called elections!

 

[Marseeya]

You did it's called elections!

Uh huh. And how is that different from what you're talking about?

As long as junk food is allowed by the government that you voted for, then it's none of your business if people want to buy it.