Dear Luvd_Lioness & All, I went to Safeway this AM, &, at the great suggest ion of Jo/Capital J in Washington, I got my money back ($2.72) for yams, of which one had gone bad.   She didn't pro-rate the one yam, so I didn't mind that the other thing that Jo had said (that I'd also get new produce free) didn't happen.  (I didn't even ask; I am much too shy to haggle.)  She gave me cash, so I'll record that in my ledger, but it didn't change my Food Stamps balance.

I started with my monthly $162.  (This is the first month in ages that I didn't start with a carry-over from last month; the reason was that on my prior Safeway trip with a gift card, the cashier applied my Food Stamps first, then the gift card, and then gave me cash back/refund on the balance of hte gift card.)

I bought 20 8-oz yoghurts for a total of $10.  I bought 2 lbs of frozen peas for $3.  I bought 2 packages of Eating RIght soy sausage for a total of $5.  (I now have lots in the house, but that is because it's on sale until today.)

I spent a total of $17.99, and have a balance of $144.01 in FS.  Tomorrow, I plan to do teh rest of my monthly shopping, at Whole Foods.

Yours in Him, Deb

 I had the meeting with the fod stamp guy today, we do need to cash and spend an IRA to get food stamps.  I think we should do it, we'llbe lower income/higher expenses for several months if not years.  I think I could use the food stamps to restock the pantry for the next several months, but am waiting for advice from our personal finance writer.  Dh is still wondering what to do.  Did go to a free food site today, and was referred to one more- got a case of ranch dressing, a case of baby food bananas, three baby snacks, margerine, two half gallons of rice drink, one soy milk, two boxes of alfredo sauce, ice cream, Starbucks decaf coffee, 3 Tazo tea bottles, creamed spinach, alfredo sauce, popcorn, water, tea, coffee, two bags of cereal, granola bars,  six boxes of crackers, and about 12 bottles of water.  Makes me think maybe we should wait, but maybe should just get our costs down.  It doesn't make sense when we are lower income to have retirement savings when we have debt we can't afford.

 Any further thoughts?

Dear Tracy Late Night Leader, Well, as you've said, your personal financial advisor should weigh in teher before you make a final decision.

I've been thinkign about you & this problem since you brought it up several days ago.  FWIW, I'm now leaning towards your taking the stamps, which means cashing out the IRA and spending it to reduce debt.  REMEMBER THAT YOU CAN KEEP $2K IN ASSETS (check that out with your food stamps worker, but I've seen that in Nation-wide publicaions.).  I suggest that you keep as much as they'll allow you, so that you have wherewithal to pay credit card minimums in the upcomoing several months.

Love in Him, Deb

Dear Luvd_Lioness, Tracy Late Night Leader, & All, Yesterday, I bought at Walgreen's 7 oz of Tasters Choice coffee (with a 50 cents coupon, not doubled) for $5.49, & a 6-pack of Diet Pepsi for $1.39.  This brought my Food Stamps balance down to $136.83.

Then I went to Whole Foods.  I got a ciliantro plant (food plants are considered to be groceries), red lentils, rye flour, & 6 cans (@ .99) of their wonderful 365-store-brand tuna (the best I've ever tasted).  Obviously, the tuna is in deep storage & I won't open it until I have eaten all of my Chicken of the Sea & Bumblebee tuna up.  These purchases brought my Food Stamps balance down to $124.41.

Yours in Him, Deb

 Deb, I love red lentils. 

We have decided to wait a few weeks to cash the IRA and get some more financial advice.  The personal finance reporter who wrote about our family is looking into it for us, I'll wait until she gets back to us. We have many bank accounts, dh has two, I have two, dd has 4 that I don't have acess to, all the kids except the last two have one.  It'll be hard just to collect all the data needed, 12 bank statements, how IRA is spent.  They allow $7,000 in assets, but don't count any debts!  

In the meantime, a friend brought groceries that didn't fit in her fridge when both she and her husband shopped, and another friend brought over bread.  I feel God is providing-

Dear Tracy/Late Night Leader, I am glad that you are getting multiple and knowledgeable opinions.  I had no idea that the $2K/individual assets ceiling for Food Stamps gets increased due to the number of people in the family.  That's great!

The Good L-rd answers prayer always (though not always in teh way that we expect).  I am so grateful for you for the gifts that your friends brought to you!

Love in Him, Deb

I'm worried about Lioness.  Has anyone heard from her lately?

re-tired

No, I haven't heard from Luvd_Lioness.  THank you for pointing that out, Re-tired.  I'll ask Pat to try to contact her.  Yours in HIm, Deb

Wasn't she going on a trip?

Dear Deb and all... I posted an update on the General: "The Lioness is roaming" to update.

Been spending my Food Stamps wisely and slowly. As of today, I have about $20 until the 13th. Nothing desperately needed. I know I can make it until the 13th on that (actually the 14th). I have to do smaller trip since I can't handle doing large amounts of carrying anymore. My last shopping trip I got 2 boxes Jiffy pizza mix (2/$1.09; I can find cheaper but this was closer), 8oz cans of store brand tomato sauce 5/$1 (I got 5!), and canned mushrooms (and pieces) 2/$1.09 (I got 4). I've been using the ground beef that I bought last fall and the frozen peppers from last fall too along with onions that I've stored in my frig since last fall (down to 3 now and they are yellowing in the middle, easliy cut out). Cheap pizzas!

Using up my freezer goods lately...reason for not really needing to shop. Only item I tend to buy frequent is apples (got a couple pounds for $1.18/lb of braeburn) since I am on an apple/peanut butter kick.