Thanks for posting these, Brandy. I think it's important to note that some programs are not government related and therefore have no income requirements. That is, they are open to anyone. It's not something people lock into for a year or anything, it's a month-to-month decision. If there's a big expense coming up, like a major purchase, or if someone has just suffered a setback due to an unexpected expense, they can order one time. I had some bix car expenses this past year, then a fridge, and still have some other things, plus I am getting older. I see a friend of mine struggling because she is trying to live on Social Security and what little else she put aside before she retired. She is depending upon these programs. I decided, after reading the article in the DS archives, that I would use the programs to conserve now, before retirement. 
